Vision
A NEW WAY FORWARD
STRATEGY for 2008-2012
Compiled by the ActionOverseas Board:
Eric Parker [Chairperson], Ade Abiodun, Brian Campbell, Andrew Jenkins, Ian Ross [Jnr.], David Wade.
February 2008
1. Current Focus
- Residential Missionaries
- National Projects
- Central Management of Finance
2. Residential Missionaries
The benefit and requirement of residential ministries is not as great as it once was.
Factors:
- There is significant increase of specialist Mission organisations.
- The potential for travel is greatly improved. The world has become a village.
- Ever-improving communication links and technological support mechanisms.
3. National Projects
It is possible that the future for the Apostolic Church can be:
- International & European eg. residential missionaries
- National Projects
- Cluster Projects
- Local Projects
The potential is great, as the initiative is regained at the local level ie. choices can be made to connect with European Apostolic churches for mission investment together.
4. Ambition
- Establishing a redefined financial approach based on “Promise” rather than “Expectation”.
- That local leaderships have more say about how that finance is spent on Mission.
Gradually as residential fields are decommissioned we release potential for choice in a local church, to invest in mission in a different way. The gradual planned withdrawal from a country would not be driven by this policy. It is important to note that we are faced with a window of opportunity in the next few years as autonomy and relinquishing of control occurs in Mozambique and South Africa. The phrase has been coined ‘decommissioning without disconnection’ and we would always seek to provide adequate support for the future.
The same money raised can now be made available for a variety of options: ie. - local initiative; cluster initiative or National projects.
ActionOverseas would provide a framework of suitable options to ensure investment in approved mission activity.
Distinct advantages.
- The availability of funding will be known in advance.
- Planning to spend can be part of the vision of a local church
5. More Mission - Less Missionaries
As assemblies gain financial autonomy, we consider that many more people will be come integrally involved in mission.
i.e. The planning and preparation of short-term mission could become more attractive, with the understanding that some funding is immediately available.
A range of activities that can be supported would include; sponsorship of bible college students, humanitarian aid projects, teaching and training leaders, etc.
6. Future
As new fields come to us for involvement AO will be far less inclined to be pursuing any option that includes residential missionaries, or serious financial commitment from the National Church (AO).
We are attempting to strategically link interested parties (individual pastors, churches and clusters of churches) with some fields that we currently operate in and also with new fields of opportunity. This will be with the view that increasing responsibility is taken at a local level for initiatives in those areas.
That AO Board will have less and less managerial control of the assembly missionary commitment.
7. ActionOverseas Board
The purpose of Action Overseas Board over the next five to ten years will be to:
- Manage the decommissioning without disconnection process;
- Clearly identify the long term commitment remaining and continue to support;
- Redefine the financial process and release local initiative;
- Clearly identify the options for each assembly;
- Assist in the collaboration process as clusters form;
- Initiate accountability, record achievements and inform the wider body.
