Church of Excellence
"Recognizing Churches with a Heart for Mission"
2009-2012 Church of Excellence in Outreach
Download Church of Excellence Application (pdf)
Download Church of Excellence Application (Word Document)
Download Church of Excellence Criteria (pdf)
Download Church of Excellence Application (Word Document)
Download Church of Excellence Criteria (pdf)
Amplifying Information for Criteria
Use the Church of Excellence Application form above to provide contact information. List these criteria by number on a separate page to explain how your church has participated in those areas. Forward the information by mail/email to any of the members listed on the bottom of the application form. The deadline for receipt is January 31st of the following year.
1. Implementation of a Mission Strategy
Making Outreach a goal for your church will require direction on the part of the mission leaders. Take time to prayerfully consider your call to mission and outreach by being intentional and Biblically based. You may consider but not be limited by the Biblical affirmations of mission listed below. Choose any biblical verse that exemplifies the mission nature of your individual church.
Isaiah 42:6-9 Mark 1:17
Isaiah 65:17-23 Luke 4:18-19
Micah 6:6-8 John 17:20-21
Mathew 5:13-16 Acts 1:8
Mathew 28:19 Ephesians 4:11-13
2. A mission leader for your church will be the contact point for the District Secretary of Global Missions (District Mission Coordinator). This person must have an active email address and to be in regular contact with the DSGM.
3. The annual mission event is a celebration of the mission ministry of the church and provides an opportunity to display mission opportunities available to the congregation. This event provides opportunities and invitation for those who have been involved and for those who have not been involved. This may be done by testimony of those who have participated in mission or by providing information to those who may not be involved. Support and information is available from your DSGM.
4. Participate in the Covenant Relationship program with a GBGM missionary or an equivalent of a Methodist sponsored missionary program.
The GBGM Covenant Relationship program is established when a church partners with a missionary commissioned by the General Board of Global Ministries. The church provides financial and spiritual support for the program of the missionary and the missionary covenants to communicate and establish a relationship with the congregation. Financial support is specified as $2,500 or more per congregation each year for 3 years or, for smaller churches, $5 per member per year.
This partnership is much more than a financial commitment. It is a dynamic relationship where the church and missionary pray for one another and communicate regularly. By deepening its own awareness of the struggles and triumphs of the missionary, the congregation participates in a work that is truly connectional.
If the missionary if not associated with GBGM the covenant relationship must be documented. A statement of giving must be provided with the application form. The amount given must follow the guidelines of the GBGM financial support as stated above. The missionary must be affiliated with the United Methodist Church (deacon or elder).
2009-2012 Church of Excellence in Outreach
Amplifying information for criteria—continued
5. Local missions are those that are in the vicinity of your church and are of an ongoing nature. It may be a woman’s shelter, food pantry, clothes closet, visitation ministry or any other local ministry that serves your community.
6. A mission project or trip that is not in your local area is a mission trip outside the community of your church. A trip to the Sager Brown UMCOR depot in Baldwin, LA to help assemble material resource kits is an example. Other examples: a project to an inner city area-such as Project Extend at Wesley Community Centers, http://www.ngumc.org/, MUST ministries http://www.ngumc.org/, and Red Bird www.rbmission.org/Ministries. You may know where there is need in your own county or district. A mission trip to another state or an international mission trip also satisfy the criteria. This criteria emphasizes church (not individual) participation in a mission project that may be on going or of limited duration.
7. Pay apportionments in full. Self explanatory.
8. Collect the following offerings or provide financial assistance to each of the following:
Housing and Homeless 2nd Sunday in February
One Great Hour of Sharing 4th Sunday in Lent
Wesley Homes 2nd Sunday in May
The Bishop’s Offering Annual Conference
The Methodist Children’s Home 3rd Sunday in September
9. The church or mission leader of the church subscribes to the New World Outlook to be cognizant of mission activity, emphasis and work of the United Methodist Church through the General Board of Global Ministries.
10. Contribute to The Advance in 4 of the 5 areas listed:
Information for International and National Advance projects is available at http://new.gbgm-umc.org/. Click on the drop down “how to give” and then on “The Advance”.
For material resources click on “UMCOR” and then on the drop down “Get Connected” and then on “relief supplies”. This gives the information for relief supplies that UMCOR stores for emergency supply to areas affected by disaster.
Access the NGC web site for conference sponsored Advance projects.
Check your district office to see if there are District Advances sponsored by your own district.
11. Support the UMC areas of focus established at the 2008 General Conference by the Council of Bishops. Each year has a different are of emphasis established for the North Georgia Conference. Share how your church has supported the area of emphasis for the current year.
2009 Improving Global Health (health)
2010 Growing Churches (churches)
2011 Ministry with the Poor (poverty)
2012 Developing Leaders (leaders)