Partnership in Mission – 2021-03-17
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APWM - Partnership in Mission – 2021-03-17 Partnership in Mission is a compilation of the current policies and procedures of the Australian Presbyterian World Mission. This document will not be published as a hard copy document but will be updated as necessary. The current version of this document can be downloaded at http://www.apwm.org.au/logos/forms/ Contents 1. The Australian Presbyterian World Mission Committee 2. Definitions (includes a statement of the scope of the work of APWM) 3. Partner Church Missionaries 3.1. Application Process 3.2. Safe Ministry 3.3. Training Requirements 3.4. Impact of Marital Status 3.5. Partnership with a Partner Church 3.6. Responsibilities on Field Assignment 3.7. Responsibilities on Home Assignment 3.8. Financial Considerations 4. Partner Agency Missionaries 4.1. Application Process 4.2. Safe Ministry 4.3. Training Requirements 4.4. Impact of Marital Status 4.5. Partnership with a Partner Agency (Dual Membership) 4.6. Responsibilities on Field Assignment 4.7. Responsibilities on Home Assignment 4.8. Financial Considerations 5. Associate Missionaries 5.1. Application Process 5.2. Safe Ministry 5.3. Training Requirements 5.4. Impact of Marital Status 5.5. Terms of Appointment 5.6. Responsibilities on Field Assignment 5.7. Responsibilities on Home Assignment 5.8. Financial Considerations 6. Partner Churches and National and State Committees 7. Principles for Forming Partnerships with a Mission Agency 8. Liaison between APWM and Partner Agencies 9. Short Term Missionary Service 10. The Local Church Mission Committee 11. The Support Team 12. Presbyterian Inland Mission and Indigenous Ministry 13. Job Description for APWM State Conveners 14. The National Director 15. APWM National Policy for APWM-Approved Overseas Students to Study at a Presbyterian Church of Australia Theological College or Other Theological Institutions within Australia Appendices 1. APWM Partnerships 2. Protocols for Forming Church Partnerships 3. Protocols for Working with Partner Agencies 4. Privacy Policy a. APWM Privacy Statement, April 2017 5. APWM Safe Ministry Policy & Procedure 6. Short-term Mission Best Practice Code: Missions Interlink Australia 2009 7. Finances for APWM Partner Church Missionaries 8. Anti-terrorism Policy 9. Moderator General’s Disaster Relief Appeals 10. Documents of the General Assembly of Australia a) Articles of Agreement (2001) b) General Assembly of Australia Committee Regulations Chapter 10 (APWM) c) The Doctrinal Basis of the Australian Presbyterian World Mission Committee 11. Conflict of Interest Policy 12. Partnership Application Process Map APWM Partnership in Mission — 2021-03-17 page 2 Versions and Amendments Published 8th September 2016 – Version 5.1 Amended 8th March 2017 – Version 5.2 o Corrected typographical errors Amended 26th May 2017 – Version 5.3 o Inserted Versions and Amendments page o Inserted Privacy Statement into existing Appendix 4 o Amended Sections 3.3, 4.3, 5.3 – Impact of Marital Status o Inserted APWM Conflict of Interest Policy as new Appendix 11 o Inserted new Section 5.4 – Associate Missionaries Terms of Appointment o Renumbered old Sections 5.4, 5.5, 5.6 to 5.5, 5.6, 5.7 respectively o Updated index page Amended 14th September 2017 – Version 5.4 o Corrected typographical errors on index page Amended 24th November 2017 – Version 5.5 o Inserted new Sections 4.1.6 and 4.1.7 – end of service with a Partner Agency o Inserted in Section 2, Definitions, a statement of the scope of the work of APWM, and the consequent requirement that missionary applications meet certain basic criteria. o Renumbering of pages to accommodate the new sections above. Amended 7th June 2018 – Version 5.6 o Added Partnership application process map as Appendix 12 o Updated Appendix list Amended 29th August 2018 – Version 5.7 o Inserted additional subclauses into Section 3.1.4.2 o Inserted additional subclauses into Section 4.1.3.1 o Inserted additional subclauses into Section 5.1.4.2 Amended 20th February 2019 – Version 5.8 o Inserted additional requirement in APWM Director’s job description, Section 14.11 o Inserted additional subclause at Section 3.1.5.3 – cost of medical assessments o Inserted additional subclause at Section 5.1.5.3 – cost of medical assessments o Amended Section 2 (Definitions) – affirmation of residency or citizenship requirement for APWM membership o Amended Sections 3.1.2, 4.1.2, 5.1.2 – contact the APWM National office to obtain application documents Amended 22nd May 2019 – Version 5.9 o Amended text at Sections 3.1.2, 4.1.2, 5.1.2 to require, in the case of applicants who are ordained ministers of the Presbyterian Church of Australia (including assistant ministers, associate ministers, licentiates, candidates and deaconesses), a reference from the Presbytery of which they are a member. Amended 14th November 2019 – Version 2019-11-14 o Amended text at Section 3.1.5.3 to clarify responsibility for the cost of treatment/therapies arising out of medical, dental and psychological tests. o Add new clause 4.1.8 regarding approval of second and subsequent applications for Partner Agency membership. APWM Partnership in Mission — 2021-03-17 page 3 Amended 9th June 2020 – Version 2020-06-09 o Amended Appendix 7 (Finances for APWM Partner Church Missionaries) to update cross- reference to main document, and to strike out text referring to discontinued practice (pending future review of this Appendix). o Add new clauses 4.1.6, 4.1.7 and 4.1.8 regarding review of requests for continued membership of APWM after return from overseas service, with renumbering of subsequent clauses to accommodate the additions. o Renaming of Section 4.1 to reflect the inclusion of processes for membership review on return from overseas service (now “Partner Agency Mission Application and Membership Review Process”). o Renumbering of pages to accommodate extension to list of amendments. Amended 11th August 2020 – Version 2020-08-11 o Amended Section 7 (Principles for Forming a Partnership with a Mission Agency) to place responsibility for recommending (or otherwise) the establishment of a partnership in the hands of the APWM National Director rather than APWM State Committees. Amended 10th November 2020 – Version 2020-11-10 o Amended Appendix 1 (APWM Partnerships) to reflect current list of Partner Churches and Partner Agencies (approved 11/2020). o Amended Appendix 3 (Protocols for Working with Partner Agencies) to include a new sample Partnership Agreement (approved 11/2020). o Amended Appendix 4 (Privacy Policy) to reflect the new online location for the PCNSW Privacy Policy (which has been adopted by APWM as its own policy). o Delete previous Appendix 5 (APWM Safe Ministry Policy-2014) and replace with new Appendix 5 (APWM Safe Ministry Policy-2020). o Renumbering of pages to accommodate deletions/insertions. Amended 1st February 2021 – Version 2021-02-01 o Amended Sections 3, 4, and 5 to insert at 3.2, 4.2 and 5.2 a requirement that APWM missionaries note and comply with the APWM Safe Ministry Policy (Appendix 4). o Renumbering of subsequent sections and page numbers to accommodate the addition of additional Sections as noted. Amended 17th March 2021 – Version 2021-03-17 o Correction of typos at Sections 3.2, 4.2, 5.2 (correction of Appendix number for Safe Ministry Policy). APWM Partnership in Mission — 2021-03-17 page 4 1. The Australian Presbyterian World Mission National Committee The Australian Presbyterian World Mission (APWM) National Committee is the world mission committee of the General Assembly (GAA) of the Presbyterian Church of Australia. APWM exists to glorify God by facilitating the spread of the gospel to people overseas, and to Aborigines within Australia. As a committee of the General Assembly of Australia, APWM determines the overseas cross cultural mission policy for the Presbyterian Church of Australia. Each state General Assembly also appoints its own APWM State Committee. Each State Committee carries out its ministry within the policies and procedures determined the APWM National Committee. Together, the National and State Committees seek to encourage the members of the Presbyterian Church of Australia to play their part in fulfilling our collective responsibility to make disciples of all nations. Throughout this document the term ‘APWM State Committee’ will be taken to mean the APWM State Committee of the State in which an applicant lives when they apply to become a missionary. APWM has three subcommittees which meet regularly to manage APWM matters with particular focus: 1 Aboriginal Ministry 2 Administration 3 Timor Leste APWM has the following priorities: 1 Connecting people to mission and caring for them as missionaries both on the field and on home assignment. 2 Educating congregations about the importance of missions, including: a. the identification of potential missionaries, b. the care of missionaries, and c. the necessity of prayer and financial support for missionaries and missions. 3 Liaising with Partner Churches a. Regularly assessing our current involvement with current Partner Churches and the use of our resources. b. Carefully assess our current Partner Church relationships before entering any new relationships; c. Encouraging Partner Churches, including the supply of financial and human resources, training of church leaders in Partner Churches. 4 Ministering to indigenous people within Australia. APWM Partnership in Mission — 2021-03-17 page 5 2. Definitions The scope of the work of APWM The Constitution, Procedure and Practice (the GAA Code) of the Presbyterian Church of Australia defines the scope of the work overseen by Australian Presbyterian World Mission. Article 5 of the GAA Code states: “The mission of the Church is to take the Gospel to people of all ethnic and cultural groupings. That mission is pursued in Australia and overseas according to the following schema:- a) APWM shall give effect to the responsibility of the General Assembly to initiate and support world mission outside Australia and overseas and indigenous ministry within Australia.