History behind these guidelines In recent years, codes of good practice have been produced for many diverse groups. These include a number of codes of good practice relating both to humanitarian work [i], and to mission work [ii]. Until now, there has not been a code of good practice specifically related to member care for long-term mission personnel who are sent overseas from the UK. This is despite the fact that, as well as having a Christian duty to care for those who serve overseas, any organisation or church responsible for sending or seconding personnel to work overseas has in most instances a legal duty of care for the health and well-being of the personnel.
Requests were made for both a set of core values which every organisation or sending church should aim to meet, and also for more detailed guidelines for those who want further information about how the values might be put into practice. Following consultation, we have opted to use the term ‘guidelines’ rather than ‘code’, as the former indicates that flexibility is needed in applying these, depending on the particular situation, whereas a ‘code of practice’ is a book of rules with sanctions if it is not followed. Guidelines seemed more appropriate for the intended purpose.
The document represents a minimum standard for members of the Global Connections network. Our motivation in producing them is based on our desire that God is glorified in all that we do. We recognise the importance of people working as mission personnel and our responsibility as Christians in supporting them to the highest standards possible.
Basis of the guidelines
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 mainly relate to those who are expecting to be overseas for more than two years. For shorter periods of service, please see the Code of Best Practice in Short Term Mission. [iii]
Churches and organisations may find that certain aspects are also relevant to other groups of people, including national staff [iv] of UK churches and mission organisations, UK staff travelling overseas, and mission personnel who work within the UK. Although the guidelines have been formed specifically with cross-cultural contexts in mind, they can also be useful in UK situations, both same-culture and cross-cultural.
Terminology
There is a huge variety of churches and organisations involved in overseas mission, and different people use different terminology to mean the same things. We have therefore tried to be consistent throughout this document with the use of terms:
Personnel or mission personnel – this term is used to refer to people working overseas, sometimes called mission partners or missionaries
Sending organisation this term is used to refer to the mission agency, organisation or church that takes overall major responsibility for the person’s placement and support. It can therefore be taken to refer to a church that sends independently without the support of a mission agency
Supporting church – this term is used for the main church from which the person originates or is “sent”. They have a major role in working with the sending organisation. They are sometimes referred to as the sending church, but we have used the term “supporting church” to differentiate from a church that sends personnel overseas without the support of a mission agency. It is also acknowledged that mission personnel may receive support from a variety of churches. So in this document, the term supporting church refers to the main supporting church but if the context may include several churches which are supporting in various ways, the term supporting church(es) has been used.
Application for sending churches
Where a church sends people overseas directly without using a mission organisation, it is encouraged to adopt the tasks usually carried out by a mission organisation. Where people are working in secular employment such as running businesses or not formally sent out as mission partners, we encourage them to ask their church and support team to take on the relevant aspects of caring for their welfare, as far as that is possible.
Adapting the guidelines appropriately
All UK organisations should appoint a representative who is responsible throughout the organisation for ensuring that their organisation develops, completes and implements its Member Care policies and that they are consistent with the required standards set out in these guidelines. Organisations that are part of an international structure should ensure the Head Office has appropriate policies and procedures in place and that the UK office is an integral part of any procedures.
It is impossible to provide policies which fit all circumstances and the needs of all groups. The guidelines are therefore designed to help churches and organisations think through and develop their own agreed policies and proceduresEach will need to decide which of the guidelines are relevant and appropriate for their situation. Although the guidelines focus on the care provided by churches and organisations, we also encourage mission personnel to take responsibility for looking after themselves and caring for each another.
Adaptations may be needed to ensure the guidelines are appropriate for people from other cultures. Language issues need to be considered, and a translator or a cultural interpreter used when necessary.
Other guidelines
These guidelines are part of a series of documents from the Global Connections network. The major companion is called “Guidelines for developing Policies and Procedures for families and children serving overseas”. These guidelines should be read in conjunction with this document. Others guidelines include:
- Guidelines for Developing a Child Protection Policy for UK based organisation or UK church sending staff or volunteers overseas
- Guidelines for developing policies and procedures for UK based organisations or UK churches sending staff or volunteers overseas in relation to HIV infection
- Guidelines for crisis management and prevention including working in high risk areas
All are available from the Global Connections website.
Improving practice
Guidelines are useless unless they lead to improvements in practice. The detailed guidelines are offered as goals to aim at, although it may not be possible for every church or organisation to meet them all. Those without the resources to implement the guidelines by themselves might benefit from networking with others. The guidelines are intended to be informative and helpful, and not restrictive or overwhelming. Our prayer is that churches and organisations will work through the suggestions and consider how they can make improvements.
‘Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers’ (Galatians 6: 9-10).
As progress is made, little by little, mission personnel will be helped to serve more effectively and for longer, bearing fruit that will last. To God be the glory.
We welcome all comments on the guidelines. Comments may include areas of disagreement or agreement; examples; suggestions for additions or deletions; resources which you have found useful; and questions. Please contact us using the link at the bottom of this page.
[i] For example, visit www.peopleinaid.org, www.anataresfoundation.org; www.hapinternational.org and www.interaction.org/pvostandards.
[ii] For example the Member Care Codes in Canada and the Netherlands.
[iii]See www.globalconnections.co.uk/short-termcbp and also chapter 34 of Worth Keeping (by R. Hay et al.)
[iv] For detailed information about supporting national staff, see the on-line training module, ‘Supporting national staff’ from www.headington-institute.org/Default.aspx?tabid=2632 .
