ABA Mission Policy

The following is copied as sent without any re-editing from yours truly except for some spatial concerns (empty lines, etc.). I believe that this proposed change could solve many of our problems and prevent possible tax & legal problems from occuring on a national level. This would also allow a missionary to designate support for housing, medical, etc. instead of just all salary. Anyway, read over this proposed change and let me know what you think.

PROPOSED CHANGES TO MISSION POLICY

Be it resolved that the Mission Policy of the American Baptist Association be amended by the changes listed below.

CHANGES TO THE MISSION POLICY

SECTION l

Page 223 of Year Book
June 19, 20, 21 – 2007

POLICY FOR THE MISSIONARIES

Section 1 changed to read

1. Each supported missionary must have an endorsement from the
church of his membership. The Missionary may not be the
pastor of his endorsing church, except in the case of a National
Missionary as provided for in Section III, Article 3. In the event
a missionary moves his membership from his sponsoring church
between annual sessions, his endorsement stops, and he must be
endorsed as a new missionary by his new church at the following
annual session.

2. Each missionary may be recommended to receive no-designated
support or designated funds.

3. Each missionary asking for non- designated support or
designated funds must submit an itemized monthly financial
report and a quarterly statistical report to his sponsoring
church, which shall in turn send a report to the Secretary-
Treasurer of Missions using forms supplied by the office of the
Secretary-Treasurer.


Page 226

SECTION 5

1. “Delete” (This should be left up to the sponsoring
church.)

2. Support for endorsed missionaries.

A. The dollar amount of support for missionaries shall be
recommended by the Missionary Committee
annually and approved by the messengers when
meeting in regular annual session.

B. Support shall be paid July 1 through June 30.

C. Support and designated funds shall be dispersed
between the 20th and 25th of each month. Reports
from supported missionaries must be received
before support checks are issued.

D. “Delete”

E. No change

F. Any supported missionary whose endorsement is
discontinued or who is recommended and does not
receive a re-endorsement from the assembly for
the following year shall receive one additional
month’s support from the time of his endorsement
being discontinued.

G. In the event of the death of a supported
missionary, his support shall be given to his
widow or dependent children
for the ensuing six – month period.

H. In the event a supported missionary is disabled,
either by illness or accident and has to resign the
mission field, his support may be continued for six
months upon a request from his sponsoring
church.

3. Time on mission field for Supported Missionaries.

A. Interstate Missionaries shall be given a three-week
leave of absence annually with pay..

B. Foreign Missionaries shall be given a three-week
leave of absence annually with pay. In addition,
Foreign Missionaries shall be permitted a six-
month furlough every four years with pay.

C. National Missionaries shall be given a three-week
leave of absence annually with pay.



Done by order of Heritage Baptist Church, Missouri City Texas, May 25, 2008.

Dr. Charles A. Murphy Sr. - Pastor
Lela Burgess - Church Clerk

MBA Of Texas State Meeting

Tonight I will attend the TBI Alumni banquet and enjoy the food and fellowship. Starting tomorrow, we will have meetings, a few more meetings, and then some meetings. I pray that this will be a productive year and that many of the challenges we face can be addressed. Please pray for a good meeting, safe travel, and God's blessings upon our work. I will post updates later.

ABA Insurance

For quite some time, I have contemplated the idea of the ABA having voluntary group insurance especially since many preachers and their families have no insurance. Such an action would help many churches, families, individuals, etc. afford decent insurance. In fact, there are similar programs (credit union, etc.) already offered for ABA affiliated preachers, etc. The question is, how do we look into such a program and what are the pros/cons of such an action?