Please see the CHBC XCM Partnership Priorities and Additional Reflections
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Last December, we shared our recommendations for changes in our cross-cultural mission partnerships. This including ending some of our long-term commitments at the end of June. This letter reflects an update and our adjusted recommendations to you, the congregation.
Local and international missions have been an integral part of the Bible Church since its beginnings. Over the past six years, lay leaders have led us in evaluating our cross-cultural missions’ philosophy, goals, and priorities as well as developing priorities for funding cross-cultural missions and partnerships. As a result, we have articulated – and adjusted – partnership priorities, reaffirming our past as well as proposing change.
The priorities are not critical of anyone called by God to minister differently. We celebrate the use of all gifts and efforts which promote the knowledge and discipleship of Jesus Christ throughout the world. However, we recognize that our resources are limited and believe that our calling as a church is to minister in partnership according to these priorities.
In these past months through many channels, the elders and ministry leaders have actively listened to a wide-range of congregational input, engaged in further dialog with our missions partners, and made adjustments to both the priorities and to the proposed changes.
The elders’ revised recommendations to the congregation are:
1) We begin a transition to conclude our financial support for three partnerships: Gary and Vivian Michael, Bill and Pam Rapier, and Warren and Miriam Rich.
2) We develop a longer transitional funding plan to begin sometime in 2010; thus no congregational action proposed at this time.
The elders are hosting a conversation with the congregation on Wednesday, May 27 at 7pm. We hope we can grow the involvement of more in our body leading this ministry.
The elders affirm the adoption of these priorities and their application to all of our current partnerships. We are enthusiastic and excited about both the articulation of these intentional priorities as a church-partner and applying these priorities to our current relationships. Looking ahead to the first months of 2010, we anticipate a congregational meeting where we will act on these proposed changes with a longer transitional timetable.
We have shared these updated recommendations and approach with all of the affected missionaries and commit to remaining in contact with them throughout the proposed transition period. They, like us, realize this is a dynamic time for us as a body.
On behalf of the elders, we ask our church community to join with us in support of the priorities, and our prayerful desire to be good stewards of the resources God has given as we serve the Kingdom well.
On behalf of the Elders,
Norman Acker
Please see the CHBC XCM Partnership Priorities and Additional Reflections
