Missionary Support

Covenant Relationship Program

Acceptance Agreement of Missionary Support:
Web Word (1p, 89K) PDF (1p, 45K)

Since 1974, the Covenant Relationship Program has enabled United Methodist congregations to surround our mission personnel with love and prayer, and to grow in understanding the context in which these missionaries serve by learning about the place of service and its people, culture, traditions and religious life.

This mutual relationship calls for the church to participate in the work of the missionary through financial and prayerful support, and for that missionary to share with the church firsthand experiences of working in God's Mission. Your funds support all United Methodist missionaries, in the name of one United Methodist missionary, thus building a faithful relationship with the entire missionary community.

The Relationship

The relationship of the covenant is the strength of the program, for a Covenant Relationship goes far beyond simply a financial one. Through this program, both the congregation and the missionary promise to enter into an ongoing and dynamic relationship with one another, a relationship that will continue to grow as both the connections and financial support increase over time.

Whether they are geographically near one another or far away, members of the local church and the supported missionary agree to communicate regularly, to uphold each other in prayer, and to meet face-to-face during the itineration assignment. Missionaries covenant to communicate with supporting congregations by letter at least three times per year about their ongoing ministries, with the needs, progress and stories of their places of assignment.

Communications may also be available via email, video/DVD, and other means during the course of their relationship with one another, bringing great encouragement to those in mission service.

As part of its commitment to strengthen the partnership between local congregations and mission personnel, the General Board of Global Ministries provides for the regular itineration of all missionaries who participate in the Covenant Relationship Program. All Covenant Relationship churches are eligible for visits from missionaries during their itineration assignments. The supported missionary, as well as the Conference Secretary of Global Ministries for your Annual Conference, will notify churches when missionaries are available to visit.

How A Missionary Is Funded

The Covenant Relationship Program is one of the three financial support bases for United Methodist mission personnel commissioned by the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM).

Of primary importance is the World Service Fund (WSF), one of eight funds to which congregations contribute through their apportionments. The WSF provides basic financial resources for the core ministries of our denomination, underwriting the work of GBGM and its mission personnel, as well as the work of other general agencies of the church.
Secondly, a portion of support for all mission personnel comes from the undesignated Pledge to Mission from local United Methodist Women's units channeled through the Women's Division of GBGM.
The third avenue of support is through the second-mile giving of the Covenant Relationship Program, which is part of the Advance for Christ and His Church.

None of these three financial support bases alone can fully sustain the financial responsibility for the many missionaries serving through GBGM. As the number of missionaries increases and the cost of supporting them continues to rise, bases of financial support must also expand.

In addition to salary for missionaries, total support includes (depending on the assignment and category of service) such items as training, transportation to and from the assignment, housing, insurance and other benefits, children's education, and itineration expenses where they are applicable.

The total Advance goal for support of missionaries serving outside the United States is $8.5 million per year. For support of persons serving within the United States, the Advance goal is $4 million per year. Will your congregation make a covenant to keep our missionaries in ministry?

The Program

In recent years the average preparation and support cost per missionary has increased with inflation and other economic factors, and is now, on average, $45,000 annually per missionary, depending on the missionaries' place of assignment and personal circumstances.

A congregation establishes a covenant when it agrees to contribute $2,500 or more per year, or at least $5 per member per year as a beginning commitment for a small membership congregation. You are encouraged to move toward the full $2,500 commitment along with your growing relationship with the missionary. If a missionary is married, the covenant is considered to be with both members of the couple, regardless of which missionary's Advance number is used. Most important is the ongoing supportive relationship between congregation and missionary, regardless of the amount of your financial support.

Steps Toward Entering Into A Covenant Relationship With Mission Personnel Through The Advance

Seek a challenging annual financial goal for your Covenant Relationship commitment, using the $2500 or more per year (or $5 per member per year) amount as a guideline.
Give first consideration to United Methodist missionaries related to your annual conference, as this facilitates the itineration visits of the missionaries. Consult your Conference or District Secretary of Global Ministries or the Office of Covenant Relationships of the General Board of Global Ministries and the missionary biographies on Global Ministries' website. They will all be able to suggest the missionaries who are related to your annual conference, and get you a Covenant Relationship Acceptance Agreement form to formalize your decision.
When you receive the recommendations and make a decision, report your selection to the General Board of Global Ministries, and to your Conference Secretary of Global Ministries, using that agreement form. GBGM will then confirm the commitment and inform the selected missionary. The Covenant takes effect on the date you indicate and continues according to your directions, though you are encouraged to make a three year commitment. Adjustments to the commitment amount, timeframe, or missionary selected may be made at any time, and should be reported to the Office of Covenant Relationships so that accurate records can be kept.
Funds are to be sent by your local church treasurer through your conference treasurer, clearly designated for the missionary with his/her Advance code number. Gifts may be sent monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually, as you choose.
Churches participating in the Covenant Relationship Program will be notified when a visit from the missionary can be considered. Churches contributing at least $2,500 annually (or $5 per member) will receive priority for such a visit.

To participate in the Covenant Relationship Program, please print the "Acceptance Agreement of Missionary Support" form, in your choice of three
formats to reply by mail.

Web Page MSWord (89K) PDF File (45K)

Support from Individuals

In addition to this Covenant Relationship Program, The General Board of Global Ministries also welcomes support from individuals or from churches outside the United Methodist connection. Please indicate the missionary's name and Advance code number, make a check payable to Advance GCFA, and send gifts directly to:

Advance GCFA
P.O. Box 9068, GPO
New York, NY 10087-9068