From the May-August 2011 Issue
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE FROM THE EDITOR
Daniel Webber
Daniel WebberMore detail on the future support of missionaries
I made reference in this year’s Annual Report to “A New Method of Providing Support” for those missionaries associated with the work of the European Missionary Fellowship [see Vision for Europe, January-April 2011, pages 10-11]. In this article I want to return to this subject and, more specifically, to provide a little more detail about what this will mean.
Historically, one of the key factors in EMF’s outlook and strategy with respect to the work of missions has been to encourage churches which come into existence through our agency to purposefully work towards becoming financially independent of those churches and individuals (mainly in the UK) which support them. In the Annual Report I not only acknowledged that this objective is already enshrined in EMF’s Constitution, but that the last decade has witnessed considerable progress in this regard. Nevertheless, I also stated that there is still much more that needs to be done and, beyond the date set for my retirement, it will be one of the chief responsibilities of my successors to take this objective forward.
So, precisely what is it that we are proposing to do? I want to try to answer this question by focusing firstly on those who will apply to join the EMF in the future, and then reflect a little on what this will mean for our existing missionary members.
The Support of New Missionaries
Firstly, then, to potential new missionary members. Most of you will be aware that, due to financial considerations, we have already placed a temporary halt to taking on the support of new missionaries. The only exceptions to this rule have been in those cases where either a person has brought newly committed support with them or, in exceptional circumstances, where it has been agreed that the individual will only receive the amount of funding provided by their support base. This approach to the support of new missionaries is liable to remain for the foreseeable future. However, the real change in approach will take place in the subsequent years of an individual’s participation in the work of the gospel with us, to which there will be three stages. In the first stage, not only will there normally be a one or two year introductory placement with an experienced missionary but, towards the end of that period, there will be a formal reassessment of the individual’s gifts and suitability for the work.
The second stage will involve placement in a pioneering situation for a maximum period of ten years. Again, under normal circumstances, it will be expected that the beginnings of a new work will have been brought into being during this time. Then, in the third stage, the new church will be expected to begin absorbing the costs of supporting its own work (including its missionary/pastor) over a period not normally exceeding a further ten years. You will have noticed that throughout the description of this procedure I have relied heavily on the word “normally”. This is simply to recognise that there are “extraordinary” circumstances that may also have to be considered. Nevertheless, it will be our intention to make sure that all new missionaries and their supporting churches understand from the outset that financial support through this agency will proceed along these lines.
The Support of Existing Missionaries
But what of the support of existing missionaries? With them, although the same basic principles of approach already outlined for new missionaries will be assumed, we shall need to proceed on a case-by-case basis. Therefore, beginning in the autumn of this year, it will be part of the joint responsibilities of Martin Leech and Jörg Müller to visit existing missionaries and their churches in order to work out sensitively tailored measures which we trust will be met with the understanding and approval of everyone concerned. Again, as mentioned in my Annual Report, we do believe there are very good reasons for introducing these changes; not least among them is the desire to ensure, under God, that we are able to encourage a new generation of men and woman to take up their particular calling. It goes without saying that from now until the implementation of these changes there will be proper consultation with all those likely to be affected by them.
Our prayerful hope is that all those associated with the work of the EMF – both missionaries and supporters – will welcome this renewed emphasis on churches becoming self-supporting through the agency of this Mission. We are persuaded that it will strengthen the churches themselves and, in the longer term, release additional funding for a new generation of Christian workers.