“Member Care is the ongoing preparation, equipping and empowering of mission personnel for effective and sustainable life, ministry and work” [i]
Member Care involves treating enquirers, personnel and their families with love, care and respect. It involves consideration of their physical, emotional, spiritual and social needs, throughout their term of service, so that they can find their ministry fulfilling and be effective in doing God’s will. The point of member care is to launch and sustain resilient individuals in successful ministry.
These Guidelines for Good Practice for Mission Member Care are designed to apply to any church or Christian organisation based in the UK which is sending staff or volunteers overseas. The principles apply to all personnel such as volunteers working overseas, and mission personnel and their families.
The guidelines identify 11 core values and the detailed guidelines for each value can be accessed following the links below. Alternatively the whole code can be downloaded as a pdf document.
Introduction This section is an outline of the scope and content of the Member Care guidelines. It also defines terms used and how the guidelines can be used.
Core value 1: Church involvement
Church leaders have a vital and ongoing role in the assessment and support of those considering mission service
Core value 2: Recruitment, selection and appointment
The individual or family is helped to determine whether this ministry opportunity is right for them, seeking God’s will in every situation
Core value 3: Support structures
Appropriate support structures are provided to enable personnel and their families to function well in their situation
Core value 4: Accountability and direction
Provision is made for accountability and direction in order to encourage, enable and empower personnel for a fruitful and effective ministry
Core value 5: Orientation, training and briefing
Orientation, training and briefing are provided, to enable personnel to be well prepared
Core value 6: Relocation
Sufficient communication, advice and support occur to enable a smooth transition to the place of ministry
Core value 7: Support while serving
Support is offered to enable each person to function well in the ministry and develop their potential in all areas of life
Core value 8: Home assignment
Personnel are helped with issues related to home assignment, so that it can be a beneficial time of re-connecting, resting, refreshment and an opportunity to seek God’s will for the future
Core value 9: Moving on
Sufficient support is offered when personnel move on to the next stage of their life
Core value 10: Children
The needs of children are addressed at every stage
Core value 11: Member Care providers
Member care is provided by people with skills and experience, who receive adequate training and support
[i] Definition agreed by the Global Member Care Network of the WEA Mission Commission in 2008
