Missionaries

THE MINISTRY OF

Qualifications in BODD
Commissioning Checklist
Mission Partners

What is a missionary?

Missionaries (or Cross Cultural Workers) are those who are called to share the Gospel and make disciples cross-culturally.

Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.

John 20:21

What is the ministry of a missionary, according to the Book of Doctrines & Discipline?

Throughout the history of the church there have been individuals called by God and sent by the church to share the good news of Jesus across cultures; to make disciples in distant places and among less evangelized peoples; and to equip emerging Christian communities for growth, faith-sharing, good works, and acts of mercy in Jesus’s name (Matt. 28:18–20; Acts 1:8; Rom. 10:13–15, 15:20; Eph. 2:8–10, 4:11–14).

Ambassadors of Christ, these are vocational missionaries, called to bring the message of peace and reconciliation with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:11–15).

1. Qualifications and the Commissioning of Lay and Clergy Missionaries. Commissioning to the office of missionary in the Global Methodist Church is approved and monitored by the annual conference board of ministry.

a. Anyone who desires to serve as a Global Methodist Church missionary must communicate God’s call on their lives to cross-cultural vocational ministry. The Global Methodist Church recognizes and celebrates both lay and clergy missionaries.

b. Each candidate must be able to testify to the good news of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God as well as his or her conversion to Christ.

c. Each candidate must bear fruit, showing that God has empowered them with gifts to lead others to saving faith in Christ, to make disciples of Jesus Christ, and a commitment to making disciples who make disciples.

d. Each candidate must embrace and affirm the Book of Doctrines and Discipline of the Global Methodist Church, with a commitment to the practices of spiritual disciplines and patterns of holiness consistent with the General Rules.

e. Each candidate must be a member in good standing of a Global Methodist church for at least one year prior to seeking the official role of a Global Methodist Church missionary.

f. Each candidate must have received training for:

  1. Cross-cultural missions (such as Perspectives, or comparable training as approved by the annual conference board of ministry);

  2. Old and New Testament;

  3. Evangelism; and

  4. Equipping for disciple-making (such as Discover Bible Study methodology and an introduction to Disciple Making Movements).

g. Each candidate must receive the endorsement of his or her local church by a vote of the church council, and also the endorsement of the annual conference missions committee or the equivalent. Clergy missionaries must additionally receive the endorsement of their annual conference board of ministry.

h. Each candidate shall provide evidence as to how he or she will receive ongoing pastoral/member care and support, to ensure personal and family well-being while in their field of service.

i. Missionaries must serve with (and under the oversight of) an approved Global Methodist Church ministry or an approved Global Methodist Church missional partner as determined by the Connectional Council of the Global Methodist Church or its designee.

2. Appointment of Deacons and Elders as Missionaries. Missionaries who meet the criteria as a deacon or elder may be appointed as a missionary according to the requirements of ¶ 610.10. Individuals appointed as missionaries to positions outside and beyond the ministry of the local church shall be confirmed annually by the clergy session of the annual conference.

Qualifications & Commissioning Process

Your Annual Conference Mission Team has a role in identifying, nurturing, and interpreting to potential missionaries/CCWs (cross-cultural witnesses) the process by which candidates called to missions from within the GMC may qualify to be commissioned as GMC missionaries.

The Mission Team and Board of Ministry (BOM) each have a role in the commissioning process. 

Prior to recommending a candidate for commissioning to the BOM, the Mission Team should have confidence that the candidate appropriately meets the requirements for commissioning. These requirements are found in Paragraph 515 of the Book of Doctrine and Discipline. The process for approving a missionary candidate may include both the submission of written materials and an interview.

The BOM of your conference will want to know that candidates referred for commissioning as missionaries/CCWs have been vetted by the Mission Team; a report of this confirmation should be provided to the BOM.

Just as pastoral candidates are announced and voted upon during the BOM report, missionary candidates should also be announced and voted upon.

Approved Missionary/CCW candidates should receive commissioning during the Annual Conference gathering; this can appropriately be overseen by the bishop and may be incorporated during a Mission-focused segment of the Annual Conference event.

Here is a checklist for the Mission Team to use when nurturing potential missionaries, and interviewing a potential missionary/CCW candidate:

Checklist of requirements for candidates to receive commissioning as GMC Missionaries:

1. Candidate expresses a call to cross-cultural vocational ministry.

  • Is this a call from God?

  • Is this a call to cross-cultural ministry?

  • Is this a call to vocational ministry?  Vocational ministry is defined by the “Commission on Kingdom Advancement Roadmap” as:

    • Full-time

    • Long-term (2+ years)

2. Candidate must be able to evangelize and give their testimony of conversion.

  • Has the Candidate shown that they evangelize?

  • Has the Candidate shared their testimony of conversion?

3. Candidate has shown fruitfulness in evangelizing, making disciples, and is committed to making disciples who make disciples.

  • Has the Candidate shown fruitfulness in evangelism?

  • Has the Candidate shown fruitfulness in making disciples?

  • Is the Candidate committed to making disciples who make disciples?

4. Candidate embraces and affirms the Book of Doctrine and Discipline. 

  • Has the Candidate expressed full agreement with the Book of Doctrine and Discipline?

  • Is the Candidate committed to practices of spiritual discipline, such as regular worship attendance and regular participation in a band meeting?

  • Does the Candidate have patterns of holiness consistent with our General Rules?

5. Has the Candidate been a member is good standing of the GMC for one year or longer before applying to become commissioned?

6. Has the Candidate received training in these areas?

  • Cross-cultural Ministry Training (Perspectives in recommended, but the Annual Conference BOM may accept other comparable training)

  • Old and New Testament Survey or Introduction courses

  • Evangelism Training

  • Disciple-Making Training (such as Discovery Bible Study or an Introduction to Disciple-Making Movements)

7. Has the Candidate received the following endorsements?

  • Endorsement from the local church by vote of the church council

  • Endorsement from the Annual Conference Missions Committee or equivalent 

  • Endorsement from the Board of Ministry 

8. Has the Candidate provided a plan for ongoing pastoral care and support for themselves and their family while on the field?

9. Does the Candidate serve with an Approved GMC Ministry or Approved GMC Strategic Partner (as listed on the the Wesleyan Network for Global Mission)? https://app.globalmethodist.world/approved_mission_partners