Section 3 - Support structures

It is good practice to ensure that areas of responsibility and support for mission personnel are clearly defined for the sending organisation and supporting church. This also includes agreeing methods of communication and systems for maintaining regular contact between the sending organisation, supporting church and mission personnel.

Good practice includes:

3.1 Practical and financial support

• Ensuring personnel are given adequate administrative and practical support, especially on matters such as tax, pensions and NI
• Drawing up a detailed budget to include living costs, travel, education, insurance, medical care, pension, spiritual refreshment, holidays, home assignment, ongoing training and crisis contingency plans. This should include the additional costs of supporting a family.
• Providing appropriate professional indemnity insurance and membership fees
• Agreeing how the budget will funded and raised
• Providing personnel with support raising advice, help and training [i]

3.2 Personal and prayer support

• Ensuring that the sending organisation, supporting church and personnel agree, develop and maintain appropriate support structures [ii]
• Ensuring there are appropriate support structures for children
• Identifying a link person to act as a coordinator on issues relating to personal support, especially prayer
• Encouraging personnel to develop a prayer network for personal, ministry and wider issues
• Ensuring prayer requests are communicated on a regular basis
• Encouraging supporting church(es) [iii]to supplement formal support structures so personnel feel they are valued. Examples include updates of key church activities; newsletters; CDs of services; letters; emails; phone-calls; text messages; cards; books; gifts and magazines, though it is important to discuss the suitability of gifts and to check that personnel are able to receive them
• Discussing and encouraging (where appropriate) visits from supporting church(es), sending organisation, other friends and family members

3.3 Leave and holidays

• Ensuring that there is adequate provision for holidays and this is taken
• Providing appropriate arrangements for sick leave, compassionate leave, and maternity and paternity leave
• Ensuring there is good liaison between the sending organisation and supporting church(es) on the cost of these provisions and that they are appropriately funded

3.4 Wider family

[i] See People raising by W Dillon and Funding the family business by M Wilson. See also www.oscar.org.uk/service/finance/support.htm

[ii] See Serving as senders by N Pirolo

[iii] For further information on how churches can provide support, see Serving as Senders by N Pirolo