Definition Mission: a ministry commissioned by a religious organization to propagate its faith or carry on humanitarian work.
I. Purpose
The purpose of the Mission Committee is to select outreach programs from the following two categories:
Community Services & Outreach - To support programs and services provided by service agencies, community action groups, and ecumenical agencies relating to the spiritual, social and economical needs of persons in the local community served by the church.
Wider Mission of the UCC - to support the work of UCC in the US and overseas in such areas as new church development, professional leadership, educational ministries, evangelism, and world missions.
The committee will attempt to maintain a balance of funding for all activities.
II. Monthly Mission Process
The committee will:
· Serve as a clearinghouse for all outreach activities including church fundraising, so a cohesive calendar of all outreach activities can be maintained.
· Research various organizations and utilize the congregation's suggestions.
a. The organization or project should be well known with a proven track record. If not known, the committee will request pertinent information through the Mission Request Evaluation Form.
b. The organization or project should relate to at least one of the two categories list above.
c. Review Mission Request Evaluation Forms and schedule/reschedule project.
· Coordinate/Support on-going programs.
· Sign-up sheets that require funds or in-kind giving must have approval of the Mission Committee.
· Keep the church council informed of all activities and ask for approval when appropriate.
III. Grant Allocation Process
The committee will:
· Publicize grant application opportunities (quarterly) in the church newsletter and bulletin until the Endowment Fund has been depleted for the year.
· In addition to publicizing the grant opportunities in the newsletter and bulletin, in the first year of the grant process (May, 08) a representative of the Missions Committee will attend early and late service and explain to the congregation the grant application process. In all proceeding years the announcement will occur In the fourth quarter of the year prior to allocating funds.
· Congregation member(s) seeking a grant must fill-out a Grant Application Form for approval by Missions Committee.
· All grants must comply with either of the two categories previously outlined above.
· Mission Committee will review grant application and if approved, the chair will mail a solicitation letter to the organization that will benefit from the grant.
· The organization will have 30 days to submit information to the Missions Committee.
· Missions Committee will review information and recommend funding request to Church Council for approval.
· Upon approval chair will notify organization(s) of funding approval and have treasurer disburse funds.
· The Missions Committee will keep track of all allocations by including the allocation and fund balance in all minutes
IV. Communication with Congregation
Keep the congregation informed of selection of Monthly Missions and Grant approval by placing informative literature in pews (Monthly Mission only), writing a short paragraph for the church bulletin and newsletter, and thanking and informing the congregation regarding the dollars raised or allocated.
Recommendation
It is also recommended that we publicly recognize organizations receiving funding at church services with a check presentation and brief comments from organization receiving funds (when possible).