Commission To Every Nation Canada Statement of Cooperation
As CTEN missionaries, we enjoy a great deal of freedom to pursue the unique call God has on all our lives. However, with every freedom comes responsibility. According to Romans 13, one of those responsibilities is submission to God through submission to the governing authorities. This document lays out some of the required responsibilities we need to fulfill in order to continue to enjoy that freedom of ministry. Your cooperation with these requirements allows us to remain in compliance with those we, as a mission, are accountable to.
Cooperation in Accountability
For the sake of your accountability to CTEN Canada as your employer, you are required to keep the home office aware of what you are doing (the ministry you are involved in) and of times you are not involved in that ministry. Your Pastoral Care couple are authorized by CTEN Canada to be your primary contact for accountability purposes. if any of these situations arise, consult them before making plans or public announcements.
· Changes in ministry focus or location
Over time, new ministry opportunities may develop. As soon as you see that a change may be coming, we need to be made aware and involved in the process. Bring us in the loop as soon as you sense something may be changing.
· Change of Contact Information In the event o fan emergency, natural disaster, political turmoil, donor questions, etc. we need a reliable way to quickly contact you. Keep us aware of changes in your address, phone numbers, email, etc. Basically, if it is something you would tell your close family, we need to be made aware of it, too.
· Sickness or Emergency
Let us know about any major sickness, hospitalization, family crisis or other emergency. Not only do we want to be praying for you but we frequently get calls from donors and others asking for information. The more we know the better it is for you, your donors and your home church.
· Travel out of country of service For safety, security and other reasons, it’s required that you let us know when you are going to be out of your country of service for support raising, vacation, a conference, or for whatever reason. In the event of a natural disaster, political turmoil, other emergencies, to answer a donor question and simply for the sake of accountability, we need to know if you are in or out of your country of service.
Cooperation in Vacation and Time Away From Ministry
All missionaries are encouraged to take a regular day off from ministry each week. In addition, missionaries are encouraged to plan and take vacation time away from ministry either in one longer break or in several shorter terms throughout the year.
It should be noted that CTEN Canada regards time spent on fund-raising for ministry as work, not vacation.
Missionaries based in their passport country…
will receive 3 weeks per calendar year for vacation/paid time off in addition to all Canadian statutory
holidays. Vacation time is non-cumulative – in other words, if you do not take the entire three-weeks one year you cannot take additional weeks the next year.
Missionaries based in their home country will usually have opportunity to incorporate fund-raising activities into their regular ministry schedule. If you plan to be away from your normal ministry for more than 3 weeks a year you must get prior approval through your Pastoral Care couple before making or announcing any plans.
Missionaries based outside their passport country…
will receive 4 weeks per calendar year for vacation/paid time off. Vacation time is non-cumulative (see above).
Additional time away from in-country ministry will need to be taken periodically for support raising purposes and for maintaining Canadian tax residency. For these times away from your ministry country, please discuss your plans ahead of time with your Pastoral Care couple and provide a timetable and itinerary to them before you go.
If you plan to be away from your normal ministry for more than 4 weeks a year you must get prior approval through your Pastoral Care couple before making or announcing any plans.
Cooperation with Pastoral Care
Hebrews 13:17 defines the ministry of your Pastoral Care couple and our responsibility to them: “…they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.”
Your Pastoral Care couple are called upon regularly to “give an account” for how you are doing spiritually, physically, emotionally, financially and in every area of your ministry. Daily the entire CTEN staff meets for prayer and your Pastoral Care couple are asked to give specific information as to how we can pray for you. Additionally, they are often called upon to report to CTEN administration, your home church, pastors, to donors and potential donors.
For your Pastoral Care couple to do their work with joy, and not as a burden, it is important that you communicate regularly with them.
Communication Goal: Beyond the written quarterly report for administration (mentioned below), the goal of Pastoral Care is some form of contact with you at least monthly via a call, SKYPE, FaceTime, email, texts, personal visits or even an old-fashioned newsletter.
Pastoral Care visits: Your Pastoral Care couple plans to visit you at least every 18-24 months to enjoy a first-hand look at your work, meet co-workers and bring encouragement and care from your ministry partners at CTEN. While they are interested in what you are doing, their primary concern is you and your health – spiritually, emotionally, physically and otherwise.
Church Changes: Please keep them aware of any leadership changes at your sending church if it involves their normal contact person. They are advocates for you with your sending church and they can do that more effectively if they know who to contact and how to reach them.
Cooperation in Reporting
CTEN Canada is required to be aware of what you are doing in ministry and approve times you are away from your main ministry. We must receive the following reports in a timely manner in order to continue funding your work.
1. Quarterly
We need to hear from you – in writing - at least quarterly.
This can easily be accomplished by simply making sure your Pastoral Care couple and the home office get copies of printed and emailed newsletters and any other donor reports you send. If you do not send
newsletters or donor reports we still need to hear from you within each quarter (by April 1, July 1, October 1 and January 1) with a detailed report on your ministry activities in order for us to continue paying you.
Note: Facebook posts, tweets, blogs and other social media posts do not fulfill this requirement because we can’t ensure your posts will be seen or that the home office can retain them to show to those we are accountable to.
2. Annually
We need a report that includes your projected budget for the coming year for your ministry as well as other information.
You will be sent a link to an online form to fill out. It won’t be long or complicated, but it will help us to track with you in ministry.
Cooperation in Obedience to The Command of Christ
CTEN is an interdenominational cooperative effort of brothers and sisters in the Family of God working together to help each of us be more effective in what God has called us to do. We represent a variety of denominations and theological viewpoints all working together to exalt the name of our common Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. By joining CTEN you are pledging you will do your part to foster a harmonious, family relationship of love and mutual respect in obedience to the command of Christ: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)
Orientation
Four times a year (March, June, September and December) CTEN Canada and CTEN USA conduct an intensive three-day orientation at the US home office in Texas. This orientation provides an opportunity for you to personally interact with the staff and learn more about the many resources CTEN has to offer to make you more effective in your calling. Over the years, missionaries with as many as 20, 30 and even 40 years of field service have attended – some rather reluctantly at first – but, without exception, all went away glad they came and saying it was a valuable experience well-worth the investment of time and money.
In our over 25 years of sending missionaries we have found that missionaries who attend the orientation are better equipped, better funded and have greater longevity in their calling than those who have not attended. For that reason, attendance at an orientation, at the earliest possible time, is mandatory for all missionaries and spouses joining CTEN.