Categories of Service

Brethren in Christ World Missions appoints persons according to the following categories. Appointment is made following establishment of a post by the Board for World Missions. Posts are established based on consistency with the strategic priorities of the Board and the relevant country strategy. Either BICWM or the appointee, with or without cause, can bring all appointments to closure, by giving a three-month written notice.

Missionary: A called person who meets the spiritual, emotional and physical standards and qualifies for a particular assignment in terms of skill, experience and training. The Missionary is appointed for one term at a time, though normally committed to long-term service. Reappointment to subsequent terms is reviewed during each home ministry. Employment normally begins on the date of departure for assignment and ends one to six months after departure from the assignment. Missionaries are eligible for home ministry benefits. Credentialing is normally required. All new missionary personnel will be team-base funded, self-supporting or volunteers.

Missionary Associate: A missionary associate meets the same basic qualifications as a missionary but BICWM does not carry primary responsibility for financial support and program administration. Support for missionary associates may come through another agency or as self-support. Missionary Associates follow the normal process and assignment procedures for missionaries and participate in orientations/retreats as able. BICWM provides logistical assistance as negotiated and serves as a link to the North American BIC constituency.

Missionary Intern: Missionary Interns are persons who would like to test their call to cross-cultural ministry before making a long-term commitment and/or completing a training program. Interns may have completed an intensive discipleship program or have experience in a particular country. The program is designed to be an apprentice experience occurring in the location of ministry outside of North America. Missionary Interns should be age 18 or older. The length of term is normally six months to two years. Financial support arrangements are negotiable.

Missionary in Covenant Relationship: Qualified Brethren in Christ members who are serving long-term with other duly recognized missions organizations working with least-reached peoples where BICWM has no ministry and where such ministry is consistent with the strategic priorities of BICWM. Missionaries in covenant relationship meet the same basic qualifications as a missionary. Missionaries in this category will write quarterly prayer letters and be available to serve in home ministry as assigned on a limited basis. BICWM guarantees up to $300 monthly support per couple ($170 per single) beginning with the date of departure for assignment. BICWM will forward support donations received for Covenant Relationship Missionaries to the primary agency, provided those donations are above the guaranteed monthly amount and do not exceed $1,000 monthly. Re-assignment is contingent upon a positive review of performance by the primary agency as well as BICWM.

Nonresident Missionary: Nonresident Missionaries are appointed to minister within a particular region or for a particular ministry, but are not based in the country or countries of their ministry. Any benefits and the length of term will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.

Joint Agency Missionary: Joint appointment by BICWM and a sister agency symbolizes a mutual relationship with regard to either program involvement or previous service with BICWM or both. Joint appointment is possible for those qualifying as either Missionary Associate or Missionary. Both agencies may share the financial support or the person may be self-supported. Appointment will be formalized by a joint-ministry agreement between agencies and ministry agreement between BICWM and the person.

Global Volunteer: Volunteer missionaries are normally self-supporting. Any financial support or benefits are negotiated prior to assignment on a case-by-case basis. BICWM may issue receipts for funds.

1. Short-term Global Volunteers serve for a period of one month to one year and typically do not receive financial support or benefits. In situations where BICWM requests a ministry assignment, the Short-term Global Volunteer may serve less than one month
2. Long-term Global Volunteers serve in a missionary assignment. These persons meet the same basic qualifications as outlined for the Missionary. Each term of service is for a mutually acceptable period of more than one year but not exceeding three years. Health benefits may be negotiated. Retirement contributions may be negotiated for long-term volunteers serving in the second of two consecutive terms totaling more than six consecutive years.

Pre-service Intern: Persons available for assignment with BICWM but needing additional training and/or experience may qualify as pre-service interns for a period of up to two years. Pre-service interns may seek mentoring and experience in a congregational setting in North America to assist in further development of gifts and ministry skills and prepare a base for decision-making. In certain cases, BICWM may issue receipts for funds in support of persons approved for assignment (requires an approved budget, pre-service agreement). Benefits and the length of term will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.

STEP Participant: Persons between ages 18 and 30, who are seeking further training and experience in cross-cultural missions, may enter this one-year program where they engage in US-based discipleship training , study a foreign language in-country and serve beside national believers in country of training. Participants in the STEP program raise support under the same policies as the "Self-supporting Missionary" with the further understanding that a) the cost of the initial 2-month Discipleship Training is raised prior to participating in that program, and b) the participant's full STEP support budget is raised before deployment to the country of training.

Tentmaker: A trained, self-supporting, Christian professional who uses his/her skills and experience to gain employment in a cross cultural context. A goal in tentmaking is to have relevance in a target community through employment, be self-funded, and be a support to the local BIC church or ministry with finances and service. The tentmaker meets the same basic qualifications as a missionary but without BICWM financial support or benefits. The length of service, ministry agreement and accountability in the country of service will be developed for each individual in consultation with the Regional Administrator and Team Leader and with the approval of the Executive Director.