Knox Presbyterian Church, Toronto, is committed to the worship of God, the equipping of the believers for effective life and service and global outreach and the spreading the message of Christ’s love throughout the world.

We understand the power of the gospel to be our only hope for renewal and the world’s only hope for change. By responding to God’s grace, we can reinvigorate our service to Christ and our commitment to the proclamation of His message.

Jesus Christ has commissioned us to make disciples of all nations and to spread His Good News to all the nations of the earth (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-49; John 20:21; Acts 1:8, 26:16-18).

KWM TEAM

The Knox World Mission (“KWM”) Team is composed of missions-minded individuals who have been approved by the Session of Knox Church. There is no term of service. Members are free to resign at any time by advising other KWM Team members. KWM team member carry out the following programs and duties:

To develop, manage and evaluate the KWM program by constantly seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

To plan and organize an annual conference to inform the congregation of the current status of worldwide missions, to spark a particular interest within the congregation in the respective ministries of KWM workers and to encourage support for these workers through prayer and the raising of financial resources toward the KWM Budget. [The cost of the conference will be covered by the KWM Budget.]

To encourage interest in and support (including prayer) for worldwide ministries through the following activities and means of communication:

v a monthly prayer bulletin

v periodic special meetings (as on Sunday evenings following the service)

v minute-for-mission announcements and/or ‘live’ interviews with KWM workers during Sunday worship services

v a bulletin board which is updated with current information concerning KWM workers

v regular communication with supported workers

v supporting short-term mission trips

v maintaining a repository of letters from KWM workers

To develop and administer an annual mission budget apart from the regular budget of Knox Church. Financial support will be assigned towards the following individuals and programs:

v national workers (those serving in Canada)

v international workers (those serving outside Canada)

v mission projects

v scholarship assistance (under the George Lowe Fund)

v retirement allowances

To report on mission activities and to present audited financial documents at the Annual General Meeting of the congregation.

To receive and to evaluate support applications submitted by candidates from approved mission agencies. Applicants may apply using the approved KWM application form.

To encourage mission education in Sunday School, small group Bible studies and women’s and men’s groups. It is also hoped that missionaries of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, which are supported through Presbyterians Sharing, may also be made known to the congregation.

To appoint subcommittees to carry out other mission activities.

STRUCTURE OF KWM TEAM

The KWM Team consists of the following individuals:

v the Senior minister (ex-officio)

v 8 to 12 members of the congregation with an interest in missions, among whom will be at least one Session member and from whom the following officers will be chosen:

Ø a chairperson

Ø a secretary

Ø a treasurer

New members may be appointed by the KWM Team with the approval of Session. All KWM Team members must be members or active adherents of Knox Church.

DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Chairperson

v organizes meetings and provides an agenda to all members before each meeting.

v submits reports to the Annual General Meeting or at such (other) times as Session requires.

v normally presides over meetings of the KWM Team.

v arranges for regular communication by letter/email with KWM workers.

Secretary

v assists the Chairperson as required.

v takes minutes at each meeting.

v distributes copies of the minutes as soon as possible to all KWM Team members. [Minutes will be approved at the next meeting.]

Treasurer

v collaborates with the Chairperson in drawing up an annual budget well in advance of the end of the fiscal year. This proposed budget will be finalized at a regular KWM Team meeting.

v keeps accurate financial accounts which will be audited yearly and presented at the Annual General Meeting for congregational approval.

v Researches and evaluates the best means of investing bequests and large donations made to the KWM Program and presents these findings to the KWM Team for its decision.

v [Note: The KWM fiscal year runs from January 1 to December 31.]

Other (non-officer) KWM Team members will be assigned to prepare monthly prayer bulletins and to acknowledge memorial gifts.

MEETINGS OF KWM TEAM

The KWM Team will normally meet monthly for planning and consideration of business.

LARGE ONE-TIME GIFTS OR BEQUESTS

All gifts made to KWM will be used only as directed by the donor and/or by his/her estate. Undesignated bequests will be divided with 50% being directed to an interest-bearing account (with all interest being included in the KWM annual budget), and 50% being used in the current project account (the parameters of this account are currently being established).

APPLICANT

Interested persons may apply to become KWM workers provided that they meet the following criteria:

v They feel called by God to serve in a mission outreach.

v They have been involved in the life and ministry of Knox Church for a period (normally) of at least two years.

v They have been accepted (or are in the process of being accepted) by a KWM-approved mission agency.

v They have been involved in actual evangelical outreach.

v They have submitted the KWM application form contained at the back of this policy handbook.

v They are committed to keeping the KWM Team informed of their activities on (at least) a quarterly basis.

PROCEDURE FOR SELECTION OF A WORKER

Submission of the application form provided at the back of this policy handbook.

Personal interview with the Senior Minister, the KWM Chairperson and one other member of KWM Team.

Meeting with the entire KWM Team.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF WORKERS

To report to the KWM Team on their ministry’s progress and needs regularly through newsletters, email, etc. Career missionaries must report at least quarterly, and short-term workers must report at least bi-monthly.

To complete evaluation reports as requested by the KWM Team.

To provide prompt notice to the KWM Team Chairperson on any changes in their location, ministry or relationship with their primary mission agency.

To attend the KWM annual Conference whenever possible and to keep the KWM Team apprised of the time(s) of their home visits.

SUPPORT POLICY

In order to be considered for regular support under the KWM Budget, an individual must meet all of the following requirements:

v sign and commit to the KWM Statement of Faith.

v believe in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour.

v be a member or active adherent of Knox Church.

v display appropriate special gifts and a call to ministry.

v have been accepted for service under a mission board whose purpose, doctrine, practice and methods are acceptable to Knox Session.

v maintain regular communication with the KWM Team.

v Agree to notify the KWM Team in advance of any change(s) in their appointment, status, ministry or state of financial need.

Workers who require further studies directly related to their work may apply to the George Lowe Scholarship Fund. Continued support during this study period will be considered by the KWM Team, but will normally be limited to six months.

The amount of KWM support may cover only a portion of the worker’s total required support. The amount will be decided after consulting with the mission agency as to the worker’s total needs and after considering the availability of funds within the KWM Budget.

Support normally begins the month that the worker begins his/her term of mission service. It will continue unchanged through regular furlough periods, provided that the furlough period does not exceed one year.

Workers shall not solicit funds for personal support from the congregation, groups or individuals within Knox Church, either directly or indirectly. Appropriate financial support from the church will be received through the KWM Budget.

SHORT-TERM MISSIONS SUPPORT

Individuals wanting to carry out a short-term mission must announce their project need to the KWM Team well in advance for its approval, prior to advertising the outreach to the congregation.

Proper application for funding must be made at least two months in advance of commencing any project.

The KWM Team will study the proposed plan to determine the effectiveness of the proposed short-term ministry.

As a general rule, short-term missions should be self-funded. However, where there is a genuine need, support will be considered if funds are available.

YEARLY SUPPORT

Support will be reassessed on an annual basis and adjusted according to available (or projected budget) funds.

Requests for additional support should be directed to the KWM Team prior to August 31. Each case will be considered individually and on its own merits, taking into account the overall support level reported by the appropriate mission agency.

Although KWM prepares its budget prayerfully and with sincere faith, in the event of a severe shortfall of funds, any committed support may require reduction.

PROJECT SUPPORT FUND

Projects must promote an evangelical outreach. The proposal must outline how it reaches out with the gospel through the proposed activities.
Projects must be endorsed by KWM workers and related but not necessarily under their supervision. KWM must approve and agree with the supervision and accountability structure.
The worker or supervisor must keep full and accurate financial records for the project which are sufficient for auditing purposes.
Ideally and as a general rule, projects will be seen to completion.
Funding for the project does not form part of the worker’s support.
All funds donated for these particular projects shall be forwarded to the worker in accordance with CRA rules.
Such projects may include: PWS&D workers or projects of Knox workers, refugee support, disaster relief, OOTC as well as special opportunities outlined by KWM workers.
All projects submitted for support must have full support of all members of KWM committee. Projects, once approved by the KWM Team, must be recorded in the minutes.
Projects proposed for consideration must have a time frame of 6 to 24 months.
Applications for project funding must have the following items: 1) a justification of the project, 2) overall goals and objectives of its phases; 3) a detailed budget of how moneys will be spent; 4) a pre-defined time frame for its execution.
Quarterly financial and activities report are mandatory for continuation of funding. Expenditures must be in accordance with budget proposal.
An end of project report is due at the end of the period of each approved project proposal. This report must state whether or not goals were reached and the reasons why they were not when that is the case.
Following project termination according to initial project proposal, renewal is subject to new application and approval by KWM committee.

RETIREMENT SUPPORT

Where a mission agency is unable to provide pension support to its (former) workers, the KWM Team may consider providing a special retirement allowance to long-term KWM workers who have served for more than 10 years. The amount of the retirement support will depend on funds available within the budget.

TERMINATION OF A WORKER’S SUPPORT

It may become necessary for Knox Church to sever its relationship with a worker for the following reasons:

The development of serious personal or moral problems in the life of the worker.

The use of support funds for a purpose other than as agreed to by the KWM Team.

A change in the worker’s status under the mission agency.

A worker’s inappropriate solicitation of support, including the following:

v the direction of funds toward personal accounts or directly to mission agencies, bypassing the channel of KWM.

v exerting undue pressure upon anyone within or outside of the congregation of Knox Church or taking advantage of anyone who might not have the means, sophistication or capacity (mental or otherwise) to adequately manage their financial affairs.

If, for any reason, the mission agency decides to discontinue its association with the worker.

The failure of the worker to communicate with the KWM Team over an extended period.
If the worker is no longer able to agree with every element of the statement of faith.

TERMINATION PROCEDURE

Initial communication to the worker of the issues regarding the termination of support will be through a designated member of the KWM Team, either in writing or in person. This initial communication shall be reported to the KWM Team.

If the initial action does not resolve the situation or if the offence is repeated or continued, the worker(s) shall meet with the entire KWM Team. The outcome of this KWM Team meeting shall be binding.

This meeting may include other members of Knox Church–lay or staff. The worker(s) may bring a non-family member to this meeting in order to facilitate understanding and/or to provide him/her with support.

Should the meeting result in the termination of support; the KWM Team will typically continue regular support payments for up to three months after termination.

FLEXIBILITY OF POLICY

Exceptions to this mission policy may be made but must be approved by the KWM Team and, if necessary, by the Session.

REVISION OF POLICY

This mission policy will be reviewed from time to time as necessary. All revisions to this mission policy must be approved by the KWM Team and Session prior to being instituted.

GEORGE LOWE SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Distributions of the capital portion of the fund will be permitted to eligible candidates. The maximum that a candidate may receive is one-quarter of the capital portion of the fund on hand.
Grants from the Fund are to be used for assistance in payment of academic fees or directly-associated expenses for missionaries and/or candidates. The funds are to be used to take courses which will upgrade their skills and abilities in their missionary tasks.
To be eligible, a candidate for a missionary posting must have applied to, and been accepted by, a mission agency.
Courses may vary (e.g. in content, emphasis, course length, etc.) and each application will be examined on its own merits by a Team which has been established to administer the Fund’s use.
The aforementioned Team will be a subcommittee of the KWM Team.

APPLICATION FOR SUPPORT UNDER KWM

Please complete this form and return it to the church office or fax it to the church. Fax: 416-921-5918

Name

Address

Phone Fax

Mission Agency

Address

Phone Fax

Web

Contact Person dealing with application

Location of intended ministry

Anticipated start date

Anticipated duration of ministry

Specific nature of ministry

Support required by mission agency $ per month

Additional expenses specified by mission agency

$ for

Amount of support per month desired from KWM $

Present occupation

Association with Knox:

Member for years or Regular adherent for years

Types of involvement in the life of Knox

Please provide a summary of your call to missions and your expectations on a separate page. Please include your answers to the following questions:

v Tell us about your faith journey

v How did you experience the Lord’s call?

v What are your Spiritual Gifts and how are you using them presently?

References [at least one must be from Knox]

Friend Phone

Employer Phone

Pastor Phone

KWM considers support for Knox members and regular adherents who have been active at Knox Church for several years. Knox only supports those who will be serving with a recognized mission agency serving in Canada or abroad.

Note: Those receiving financial and prayer support from KWM are expected to keep the KWM Team informed of their ongoing ministry, change(s) in status and vision. Monthly prayer items should be communicated to the prayer bulletin secretary. Regular contact must be maintained with those who are supporting you financially and through prayer.

I have read Knox World Mission Policy Guidelines and agree to adhere to the principles outlined therein.

Date Signature

STATEMENT OF FAITH

I accept the central truths of Christianity, as revealed in Scripture, including:

· The unity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the Godhead.

· The sovereignty of God in creation, revelation, redemption and final judgment.

· The divine inspiration and entire trustworthiness of Holy Scripture, as originally given, and its supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.

· The universal sinfulness and guilt of all mankind since the fall, rendering them subject to God's wrath and condemnation.

· Redemption from the guilt, penalty, dominion and pollution of sin, solely through the sacrificial death (as our representative and substitute) of the Lord Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God.

· The bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and his ascension to the right hand of God the Father.

· The presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the work of regeneration.

· The justification of the sinner by the grace of God through faith alone.

· The indwelling and work of the Holy Spirit in the believer.

· The one holy universal Church which is the body of Christ and to which all true believers belong.

· The expectation of the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Date Signature

KWM committee as of May 2009: Danny Fingas, Scott Flemming, Sherin Hanna, Carol Herd, Ricardo Higuera, Nancy Howard, Kevin Livingston, Don Nicol, Katharine Prowse, John Reaves, Don Shugart, Diana Wadsworth and Karen Williams.