INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH CAMP MANUAL, GIDEON

Transcription

1 INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH CAMP MANUAL, GIDEON

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3 CONTENTS The Spiritual Objectives of the Gideons International... 1 Vision and Values... 2 Methods... 3 Expanding the International Outreach... 5 Structure of the International Ministry Scripture Distribution and Placement Program Approved Methods for Collecting Funds Important Policies When Disciplinary Action is Needed Forms and Charts... 53

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5 THE SINGLE OBJECTIVE OF THE GIDEONS INTERNATIONAL Winning others for the Lord Jesus Christ through: the association of Christian business and professional men for service; personal testimony and personal work by individual Gideons; placing the Bible God s Holy Word or portions thereof, in hotels, hospitals, schools, institutions, and also through the distribution of same for personal use. THE SPIRITUAL OBJECTIVES OF THE GIDEONS INTERNATIONAL It is imperative that all Gideons maintain a strong spiritual foundation, as salvation is not the work of man but the Spirit of God. The following spiritual objectives guide our vision and undergird our work. MEN OF THE BOOK I Timothy 4:13 II Timothy 2:15 Deuteronomy 11:18 MEN OF COMPASSIONATE HEART Matthew 9:36 Psalm 86:15 I Peter 3:8 MEN OF FAITH Ephesians 2:8-9 Hebrews 11:6 II Corinthians 5:7 MEN WHO WITNESS Acts 1:8 Proverbs 11:30 II Corinthians 4:13 MEN OF PRAYER I Samuel 12:23 Ephesians 6:18 Philippians 4:6 MEN WHO GIVE II Corinthians 8:5,8,24 I Chronicles 29:11-14 II Corinthians 9:7 MEN OF SEPARATED WALK II Corinthians 6:14-18 Romans 16:17-18 Ephesians 5:15 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 1

6 VISION AND VALUES FOUNDATIONAL CORE VALUES The following attributes, or core values, are those that are essential to the identity of The Gideons International. It is critical to understand how these core values impact the camp and how the camp impacts the ministry as a whole. Therefore, the following values must be subscribed by every member. These foundational core values apply worldwide. 1. An uncompromised belief that the Bible is the inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word of God. 2. A singular focus on the objective of winning others to the Lord Jesus Christ. 3. A membership consisting of business and professional men, who: Believe in the Bible as the inspired (i.e. infallible and inerrant) Word of God Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the eternal Son of God Have received Him as their personal Savior Endeavor to follow Him in their daily lives Believe in the endless lake of fire for the unsaved Accept the Biblical standard of marriage being between one man and one woman Are members in good standing of an evangelical or protestant church, congregation or assembly 4. A complementary element of the association known as the Auxiliary, which is comprised of the wives of Gideon members who meet the same spiritual qualifications. 5. An ongoing emphasis on the importance of fulfilling the seven spiritual objectives: Men and Women of the Book, Faith, Prayer, Separated Walk, Compassionate Heart, Men and Women who Witness and Give. 6. Funding for the mission of the association is secured through the following approved methods: personal contributions and bequests, church offerings, and through the GideonCard Bible Program (where applicable). 7. Recognition of an intentional relationship with evangelical and protestant churches as a prayer base, a source of members, and financial support. 8. A simple, disciplined, well-defined ministry that is carried out exclusively by the membership of the association under the authority and direction of the International Cabinet. 2 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

7 VISION 2020: OBJECTIVE 100 To have developed, personally and corporately, a culture of excellence throughout the worldwide ministry where 100% achievement, commitment and effort is the benchmark To be distributing 120 million Scriptures annually by the year 2020 To have 100% of our members, Gideons and Auxiliary, in every camp involved in camp activities To have intentionally developed a relationship with each eligible church in every camp area METHODS The objective of The Gideons International is to win men, women, boys and girls to our Lord Jesus Christ. We accomplish this great purpose through: A. Association for Service We associate for service by working together and encouraging one another in the work of distributing God s Holy Word. Gideons do not attempt to do the ministry by themselves or in their own way, but work together as an association. B. Personal Witnessing Every member is encouraged to personally share his faith, on a one-on-one basis, with people around him including business associates, family, and friends. Personal Workers Testaments (PWTs) are a great way to share about the Lord with others. Members of the Association have the privilege to obtain PWTs after giving an offering to the camp for each Testament. C. Placing God s Word Isaiah 55:11 states that God s Word will not return unto Him void. As a result, the Word of God provides people an opportunity to come to the Lord. We place copies of the Word of God in areas where a vast majority of people will come into contact with them as they go about their daily lives. As we place more copies of the Word, more people will be exposed to the Gospel and as a result, more people will come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are not a Bible Society: In order to accomplish our purpose, we must be disciplined and maintain our focus. We are not a Bible Society, but a ministry, an association of Christian business and professional men whose only purpose is to win the lost for Christ. Therefore, the following policy must be adhered to strictly: The Gideons International does not affiliate (i.e., enter into a formal association) with any other organization in carrying out the program of The Gideons International. The Gideons International does not participate in the program of any other organization and this applies in all Gideon countries. International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 3

8 Therefore, the Gideon Scripture distribution program has as its ultimate aim the distribution and placement of Scriptures by Gideons and Auxiliary. This means that Scriptures are not supplied by The Gideons International to other Christian groups, churches, or individuals. On occasion, the International Cabinet has approved exceptions where access for distributions is not allowed or not physically possible. When a direct distribution or placement is proven not to be possible in an approved area, it is permitted for Scriptures to be left with and distributed by chaplains, directors, or senior managers (e.g., military chaplains, prison chaplains, chaplains of domestic violence shelters, directors of crisis pregnancy centers, hospital/nursing home chaplains, hotel managers, receptionists in doctor s offices). In these cases, only a small supply (3 to 4 months) should be left and regular follow-up to replenish the Scriptures must occur. Every effort should be made to build and maintain relationships with these individuals. The Life Book is an exception approved by the International Cabinet to the policy of non-affiliation with other organizations inasmuch as it is distributed by high school students to their peers. This policy eliminates the possibility of Gideons duplicating the work done by other Christian organizations, ensures that The Gideons International does not compete with Christian bookstores and Christian publishing houses, and also ensures that our program will maintain its identity separate from others. This also precludes Gideons from distributing Scriptures and other material not approved by the International Cabinet if such distributions are in any way identified with The Gideons International. At every placement and distribution, members should determine the availability of existing Scripture inventory. 4 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

9 EXPANDING THE INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH We must grow in order to carry out the ministry and our objective. God has raised up The Gideons International as a vehicle to carry His Word into the world. The more our ministry grows, the greater the impact. Our ministry must grow at the international, national and local levels. INTERNATIONAL LEVEL The Gideons International is worldwide in scope. There are camps working in more than 190 countries, territories and possessions. Due to various circumstances, mostly government restrictions, our ministry has not been established in some countries and those doors are presently closed. It is important to pray regularly that doors will be opened to all countries and doors will remain open where we are already organized. It is also important for all members to understand that we must maintain steady growth to get the work done and raise the funds needed to provide God s Word. In order to open new camps or establish the ministry in new countries, an authorized representative of the International Outreach Committee must be present. The Scriptures that each camp receives are to be used only for distribution within the geographical area of the camp. A camp should never send Scriptures to another camp or country unless approved by International Headquarters. NATIONAL LEVEL We certainly want to cover the entire population of a country, and new camps need to be established in order to accomplish that. Policy Regarding Organization Of New Camps Expansion of the Gideon ministry should proceed in a slow and orderly fashion, guided by the principle of possessing the land little by little (Exodus 23:30). The International Outreach Committee has adopted a policy that any new camps in international outreach countries must first be approved for organization at a meeting of the IOC and that an official IOC representative must be present when the camp is organized. This policy ensures that there will be budget provisions for new camps and that new camps will be adequately supplied with Scriptures. Thus, before any attempt is made to organize a new camp, prior approval must be secured through the International Outreach Division and a representative of the International Outreach Committee must be present when the camp is organized. The policy clearly states that only a representative of the International Outreach Committee has the authority to open a new camp. This means that no local Gideon can go to any city in his country to speak with prospects or have them complete applications for membership, nor should they send Scriptures to another city unless requested to do so by the International Outreach Division or an official representative of the International Outreach Committee. International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 5

10 LOCAL LEVEL The only way a Gideon camp will grow and remain strong is by recruiting new members. Every member of the camp should have a recruiter s heart and help in this endeavor. Every camp worldwide has a goal to increase its membership by one member every year. This means a net gain of one additional member even if some drop, move away or pass away. THE INDIVIDUAL GIDEON A man joins The Gideons International and is assigned to a camp. He is assigned to a camp where he lives in that city or community. If he moves elsewhere, unless he specifically asks that his membership not be transferred, he is transferred to a camp in his new location. SPIRITUAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERSHIP In order to be a Gideon, a man must: 1. Believe the Bible is the inspired (i.e. infallible & inerrant) Word of God (II Timothy 3:16) 2. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the eternal Son of God (John 3:16) 3. Have received Him as his own personal Savior (Romans 10:9) 4. Endeavor to follow Christ in his daily life (Romans 12:1-2) 5. Be a member in good standing of an evangelical or protestant church, congregation, or assembly, as his church defines membership 6. Believe in the endless lake of fire for the unsaved (Revelation 20:10-15) 7. Accept the Biblical standard of marriage being between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24) A member in good standing of an evangelical church, congregation or assembly as that term is used in Article 3 of the Constitution, is one whose name is on the formal membership roll, is not being disciplined, and is not in any other way out of fellowship with his church or congregation, as verified by the minister or pastor, or in the absence of such, by a responsible member of the church or congregation. If the church or congregation does not have a formal membership roll, then there must be verification from the minister, pastor or other responsible member that the applicant is in regular fellowship as a member. If an applicant is a member of one church, but has been regularly attending another church for more than a year, and this is known, he is not considered to be a member in good standing. It is the responsibility of the camp to make sure the prospect meets these requirements. OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERSHIP Before you invite a man to complete a membership application, make sure he is either a businessman or a professional man according to the following guidelines and definitions, and that he is at least 21 years of age. 6 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

11 A. Business Occupations Generally, a man who owns, or is involved in the management of a business is qualified for Gideon membership. He must be able to affirm that he is generally accepted and recognized as a businessman in the sense that the term is normally used. Additionally, he must answer positively to a majority of the following five questions: In the exercise or conduct of your business, do you 1. Deal with the public? 2. Assume responsibility for or influence business-related outcomes? 3. Exercise business related judgments or decisions? 4. Have some control over your own time during the business day? 5. Employ or supervise personnel? A businessman may include: 1. Proprietor 2. Partner 3. Executive 4. Officer 5. Manager, supervisor, team leader (not foreman) 6. Salesman, buyer or agent (not a retail clerk) A businessman farmer is also qualified for membership in The Gideons International provided his primary source of earned income is derived from his farming operation as an owner, farm supervisor or manager. B. Professional or Institutional Occupations In order to be considered a professional for the purpose of qualification for Gideon membership, a man must hold a minimum of a four-year degree or equivalent experience that qualifies him into his professional vocation. Following is a sample (not complete) list of occupations that would qualify a man for membership in The Gideons International: 1. Architect 2. Certified Public Accountant 3. Technology Professional 4. Engineer 5. Attorney 6. Medical Professional 7. Scientist 8. Teacher 9. Veterinarian 10. Institutional Manager or Administrator International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 7

12 11. School Superintendent or Business Manager 12. Management Counselor 13. Armed Services Officer or Sergeant or above 14. Civilian Staff Officer, Sergeant or above, of a government agency, including fire, police, highway patrol, or sheriff s department 15. US civil service employee in Grade GS-7 or above, or equivalent 16. Airline captain or first officer, ship captain, or railroad engineer or conductor C. A man who has retired from any of the above qualifying occupations will also qualify for Gideon membership. Any man who qualifies under the occupational categories described above, except those engaged in the manufacture or sale of alcoholic beverages, or where his income is derived from the production of tobacco, and except those engaged in a business, the character of which in inconsistent with accepted Christian standards, is eligible for membership in this association. DEFINITIONS 1. A Gideon must be a layman, NOT a clergyman. A clergyman, as that term is used in Article 3 of the Constitution, is one who is generally accepted and recognized as a practicing clergyman, a pastor, or a minister of a church, an evangelist, or a missionary, even though he may otherwise qualify as a business or professional man. A former clergyman is ineligible for Gideon membership if he has performed services or has otherwise continued to be recognized as a clergyman during the past five years. For the purpose of this definition, generally accepted and recognized refers to the viewpoint of the general or ecclesiastical public. 2. A retail clerk is one who is primarily employed within an established place of business handling sales and/or servicing customers. Retail clerks are not eligible for membership. 3. A salesman is a man who sells a product or service, is not a door-to-door canvasser or peddler and does not routinely deliver his products. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS Gideons are men. Wives of Gideons may qualify to become members of The Auxiliary of The Gideons International if they meet the same spiritual qualifications as Gideons and are not considered pastors, ministers, or missionaries. The widow of a Gideon may remain a member of the Auxiliary as long as she pays her dues and does not re-marry a man who is not a Gideon. All applications must be signed by the camp president and secretary confirming the applicant meets all the requirements, including membership in good standing of an evangelical or protestant church, congregation or assembly. 8 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

13 WHERE SHOULD A MEMBER LIVE? To invite a prospect to be part of the ministry, he must live in the city where the majority of the members live, or very close to it, so that he can participate in the meetings and camp activities. A man should not be invited to join the Gideons if he lives in an isolated area, which is defined by the International Outreach Committee as being far enough away from the main city, or home base, of the camp that he would be unable to attend the weekly prayer meeting and the monthly camp meeting. If a member moves into an isolated area he still may retain his membership; however the camp should not send him New Testaments for conducting distributions alone. ANNUAL DUES Members of The Gideons International are required to pay annual membership dues. The annual dues for members in international outreach countries are US $15.00 for Gideons and US $3.00 for Auxiliary. Dues are to be paid by December 31 for the following calendar year. If dues are not paid by March 31, the unpaid member will be dropped from the membership rolls. When the dues are paid to the camp, the camp should notify International Headquarters by marking the dues as paid on theconnection so no one will be dropped from membership. Following is an excerpt from the Constitution and Bylaws of The Gideons International regarding international outreach dues: CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS, ARTICLE 6 DUES Section 3. The annual dues for a Gideon in an international outreach country shall be fifteen dollars (US$15.00). Section 6. Any Gideon in an international outreach country may have a life membership by payment of four hundred and fifty dollars (US$450.00) whereupon no further dues shall be required of him. The total amount received for a life membership shall be placed in the Endowment Fund, and cannot under any circumstances be refunded. Section 10. The dues for international outreach countries are due by December 31 of each year. Dues may be paid any time after June 30 for the ensuing year. If a member has not paid his dues by March 31 he will be dropped from the membership roll. Any dues received before June 30 will be applied to the current year. NON-QUALIFIED CHURCHES Members of the following church or groups are not eligible for Gideon membership according to the International Cabinet s official interpretation of Article 3 of the Constitution. Further, Gideons must not solicit or hold services in, nor solicit funds from Roman Catholics, Jehovah s Witnesses, Mormons (LDS), Community of Christ, Christian Scientists, Seventh Day Adventists, Advent Christians, the Orthodox Churches (Eastern, Greek, Syrian, Russian, Western, etc.), Unitarian and Universalist. Pastors and members from these churches should not be invited to attend Gideon functions. International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 9

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15 STRUCTURE OF THE INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY THE INTERNATIONAL CABINET Members of the International Cabinet are elected by the delegates at the International Convention held each July. The Cabinet represents 16 nations and is vested as a management body. They set policy and guidelines with the worldwide outreach in mind. THE INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH COMMITTEE The International Outreach Committee is one of the standing committees of the International Cabinet; therefore it has delegated authority from the International Cabinet and is responsible to the Cabinet. Its members are appointed by the president subject to the approval of the Cabinet. Article 8, Section 5 of the Bylaws of The Gideons International states: The International Outreach Committee shall consist of six members from the USA. It will also include members from among qualified national associations which regularly contribute financially to the International Outreach Fund. The total number of committee members shall not exceed nine. The chairman supervises the overall work of the committee and along with committee members takes special assignments to the regions as the need arises and works closely with International Headquarters. All these men work on a non-paid basis and are not employees of The Gideons International. It shall be the duty of the committee to administer funds committed to it in accordance with policies and procedures approved by the International Cabinet and to promote and supervise the work in outreach countries. Therefore, the International Outreach Committee is charged with the general responsibility of overseeing the work of The Gideons International in international outreach countries by maintaining proper relations, establishing policies and principles, and providing financial assistance according to needed funds available to the committee. INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS There are many functions of the headquarters operation. First, to render service to the membership; and secondly, to administer Association policy and public relations as determined by the elected International Cabinet. The International office acts as the nerve center for the world-wide ministry involving communications among over 190,000 Gideons in more than 190 countries. The executive director serves as Secretary of the Association (fulfilling provisions of Article 3, Section 5 of International Bylaws), the International Cabinet, and certain committees. He has responsibility for administering the annual administrative and International Outreach Committee budgets. He acts as official liaison between the Cabinet and headquarters staff. He directs the operations and services of International Headquarters. The work of the International Outreach Division, under the direction of the Director, International Outreach Division, consists largely of correspondence with international outreach countries and providing service to the International Outreach Committee. He works with the International Outreach Committee to administer the international outreach budget. International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 11

16 Associate directors and regional directors are employed by International Headquarters and report to the Director, International Outreach Division. They are responsible for the total Gideon work in their assigned regions. They supervise and coordinate the activities of members of the national leadership teams in the region. In addition, they supervise and coordinate visitation schedules with regional field officers (who are non-paid and appointed by the International Cabinet) to ensure camps are properly visited and trained. They plan and implement special training and conferences. THE CAMP IN INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH COUNTRIES DAILY HOUR OF POWER All Gideons and Auxiliary are officially urged to spend a few moments, however much time one can afford, in prayer for the Gideon ministry between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m. daily. The Daily Prayer and Bible Reading Calendar (Item 411), downloadable from theconnection, is an excellent tool for the Hour of Power. Gideons worldwide spend time in prayer for God s blessing on Scripture distributions and other activities of the Gideon ministry for that day. It can be said that the sun never sets on the Gideon ministry. Some can spend the whole hour in prayer while others can afford only a couple of minutes; however, regardless of the amount of time spent, the fervency of the Hour of Power is critical to reaching others with the Gospel. WEEKLY PRAYER MEETING Every camp around the world is encouraged to hold a 30-minute weekly prayer meeting when members can come together in corporate prayer for the needs of the ministry. Many camps hold a breakfast or snack fellowship in conjunction with the prayer meeting. Gideon Camp Prayer Meeting Agenda Moderator Camp Chaplain 1. Brief opening prayer (1 minute) 2. Scripture reading (use New Testament portion of Daily Bible Reading Calendar) (6 minutes) 3. Gideon related prayer requests (use international, state, and camp prayer calendars) (5 minutes) 4. Prayer (on knees if possible) (14 minutes) 5. Scripture memorization (1 minute) 6. Testimony (2 minutes) Camp Chaplain or selected member Local Testimony Recommended 7. Announcements (1 minute) 8. Breakfast and fellowship (for those who are able to attend) 12 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

17 The weekly prayer meeting is 30 minutes in length and is moderated by the camp chaplain. Consisting only of Bible reading and prayer, there should never be any preaching, Bible study, or doctrinal comments. Camps generally use the New Testament portion of the Daily Bible Reading Calendar (Item 414) for Scripture reading with each Gideon reading a verse at the time until the entire passage is read. Scripture reading is done from a Gideon-approved version of Scripture. It is generally helpful if a single version is used by all in attendance; therefore, the camp chaplain may have a supply of New Testaments available for attendees. After Scripture reading, all those present should be given an opportunity to express prayer requests, which should be restricted to Gideon activities, pastors and churches, and immediate personal concerns. Verbal prayer should always be entirely voluntary. No one should feel obliged to verbalize a prayer just because the camp chooses to pray in order around a circle or a table. The camp chaplain should emphasize a statement such as, Please pray aloud as you feel led, and I will close at the appropriate time. The common Gideon prayer posture is to kneel for prayer; however, no one should be made to feel uncomfortable due to an inability to kneel. MONTHLY CAMP CABINET MEETING The camp president leads in and maintains constant supervision of all phases of the work. He performs all duties usually pertaining to that office and presides at all camp and cabinet meetings and either presides or designates another to do so at public services, such as Bible dedications, held by the camp. Agenda for Monthly Camp Cabinet Meeting Camp officers will meet once a month, or more often if necessary, to conduct the important business of the camp. Much of the routine business, including all controversial matters, can be handled at this meeting. The following agenda is suggested. 1. Scripture Reading and Prayer Camp Chaplain 2. Minutes of Previous Meeting Secretary 3. Treasurer s Report 4. Program Committee s Report 5. Church Ministry Report 6. Bible Placement Report 7. Youth Testament Report 8. GideonCard Bible Report (if applicable) 9. Membership Report 10. Review of Progress 11. Discussion of Applications for Membership International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 13

18 12. Unfinished Business 13. New Business 14. Adjournment At each monthly camp cabinet meeting, review your progress against annual goals and adjust plans as needed. The fiscal year ends of May 31 each year. Let all things be done decently and in order I Corinthians 14:40 CAMP ELECTIONS Camps must hold elections every year in the month of April or May. The terms of all officers elected or appointed should begin at the close of the meeting at which they are elected or appointed and shall be for one year. Elected officers are limited to 3 one-year terms for that particular office; however those appointed as program officers are not limited to a set number of terms. A man must be a member in good standing; that is, his dues must be paid and there must be no other encumbrances of any nature in order to vote or hold office. If the president is not eligible to be reelected, then he can conduct the election for the office of president. However, if the president is eligible for re-election then he should delegate authority to the vice-president for the purpose of conducting the election for president. Agenda for Camp Elections 1. Pray seek God s guidance and wisdom for the right man to be elected 2. Brief Opening Remarks Camp president 3. Election of President a. Read responsibilities of camp president as stated under Monthly Camp Cabinet Meeting b. State the floor is open for nominations for president (write names on board or paper) c. When there are no more nominations, then say, before closing nominations we will have a time of prayer. If anyone has other nominations to make, be ready to make them at the close of prayer. d. Pray e. If there are no more nominations after the prayer, say, seeing no one has any additional nominations I declare nominations closed. We will vote by sleeper ballot. f. When I call the name of the candidate of your choice, please raise your right hand to vote. Privately write down the number of votes for each candidate. g. When the election is complete, say, We have an election you have elected as your president. 4. Use the same procedure for electing the other 4 primary officers. 14 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

19 A candidate must receive a majority (over 50%) of the votes cast to have an election. If no one candidate receives a majority, then drop all nominees except the three receiving the highest number of votes. If there are only three nominees, drop the one with the lowest number of votes. Take another vote using the sleeper ballot as described above. The candidate then receiving the majority of votes is elected. If there is only one nomination for an office, the moderator (usually the camp president) should ask for a motion that nominations be closed and the secretary be instructed to cast a unanimous ballot for the election of that nominee. Once that motion is made and before closing nominations, say, before closing the nominations, we will pray. If the Lord lays it on anyone s heart to nominate someone else, be ready to make that nomination at the close of prayer. If no one has any additional nomination then we will vote on the motion to close nominations and ask the secretary to cast a unanimous ballot for. CAMP OFFICER RESPONSIBILITIES Consideration of each officer s responsibilities in a Gideon camp quickly reveals that no single officer exists independently. The Camp Cabinets, both Gideon and Auxiliary, must function as a team with overall dedication to bring about a culture of excellence in all activities where 100% achievement, commitment and effort is the benchmark by which the Gideon ministry reaches others for our Lord Jesus Christ. Camp President. The president is the leader of the camp. He performs all duties normally pertaining to that office, presiding at all camp meetings and events such as Bible dedications. The president closely supervises camp work and activities, always giving glory to the Lord. Specifically he: 1. Appoints program chairmen with the concurrence of the other elected camp officers. 2. Finds the right man for the job, rather than trying to find a job for all men. 3. Guards against the formation of denominational or special interest groups within the camp. 4. Assures that meetings are scheduled and conducted timely. 5. Prayerfully plans the monthly camp meeting and the monthly cabinet meeting. 6. Submits a written report on his camp s activities as requested by the trainer or zone coordinator. 7. Maintains a supportive understanding of all Gideon programs, policies and procedures, taking corrective action in the camp when necessary. 8. Supervises preparation of the Annual Camp Meeting and Event Planner in April or May and the Annual Goals Planner in July. 9. Attends the national conference and delivers the camp s conference offering. 10. Is responsible for the work and activities of the Auxiliary; if the camp does not have an active Auxiliary, the camp Gideon president works to establish one. International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 15

20 11. Is the camp s spiritual example and leader. 12. Establishes and maintains a personal and corporate standard of excellence in all camp activities. Having the title of camp president and being the camp president are not necessarily one in the same. The president s job is far more than simply knowing the above responsibilities. It involves a passion for reaching others for Christ; being a leader, but not a dictator; planning the work and working the plan; and pursuing a commitment to excellence. The success of the worldwide Gideon ministry toward reaching people for Christ depends on the success of the camp president to make it happen. However, the president cannot do it alone. He must inspire the cabinet and the camp membership to fulfill their roles with the ministry s singular goal in mind. In addition to the camp cabinet, the president has resources available to him through the zone coordinator and trainer for assistance. Camp Vice President. The vice-president should assist the president in every possible way and be prepared to assume the presidential duties in his absence. The camp cabinet may delegate special responsibilities to the vice-president such as publicity, promoting attendance at camp meetings or arranging for transportation to Gideon functions. Therefore he: 1. Makes himself generally useful to the camp, acting as an excellent source of ideas and suggestions that can be effectively used in conducting the camp program within ministry guidelines and policy. 2. Reports articles of interest for the camp, national leadership team or The Gideon magazine regarding testimonies, success stories, and blessings received through the Gideon work within the camp. 3. Serves as chairman of the camp telephone and communications committee to enhance attendance at all camp activities. 4. Serves as chairman of the Camp Annual Pastors Event. 5. Maintains a supportive understanding of all Gideon programs, policies and procedures, taking corrective action in the camp when necessary. 6. Understands parliamentary procedure. 7. Establishes and maintains a personal and corporate standard of excellence in all camp activities. As with the president, the camp vice-president s job is more than merely holding the office. The vicepresident is the primary source of support for the president. He functions as the camp president from time to time during the president s absence, so he should maintain an exemplary level of excellence. He ensures that the Annual Pastors Event is properly promoted and conducted according to the published timetables and agendas. He works with the camp program chairmen to be sure all program activities are executed properly. Camp Secretary. The Secretary is the communications arm of the camp cabinet. He is responsible for: 16 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

21 1. Recording in the minutes all motions, whether carried or not. 2. Making an impartial summary of all discussions. 3. Bringing the minutes and record book to every camp cabinet meeting or, if absent, having a substitute to present the minutes for cabinet approval or correction. 4. Taking minutes of meetings neatly, accurately, clearly and briefly. 5. He should speak distinctly when reading the minutes and make his report to the cabinet both interesting and informative. 6. Recording and condensing officer reports at cabinet meetings. 7. Sending written memos of motions to all parties affected. 8. Handling correspondence in a business-like manner, typing letters on camp stationary or other officially approved letterheads. 9. Recording elections and committee appointments, and communicating election reports to the correct parties, including International Headquarters. 10. Promptly referring all correspondence to the proper officer, and answering other incoming correspondence. 11. Maintaining camp content in theconnection within established Gideon policies and guidelines. 12. Supervising the camp webmaster (the secretary may serve concurrently as the webmaster; however, he can only serve as secretary for three successive 1-year terms). 13. Maintaining a complete record of camp membership including dues posting. He should diligently encourage all camp members to maintain accurate personal profiles in theconnection. 14. Sending meeting notices to all concerned parties well in advance. 15. Ordering supplies for the camp. 16. Assisting the president in preparing written reports on camp activities as necessary. 17. Establishing and maintaining a personal and corporate standard of excellence in all camp activities. As with all officers, the job of the camp secretary goes beyond the title itself; his is a key responsibility. His efficiency has a direct bearing on the overall success of the camp. He not only records decisions handles correspondence but also for ensures that members are informed of duties delegated to them. He should help the president prepare an agenda for each cabinet meeting, and generally assist in seeing that meetings are handled in a business-like way. The secretary is the nerve center of the camp, and his communications with the camp membership help drive attendance and involvement. Camp Treasurer. The treasurer is responsible for the safe, accurate, and prompt handling of and accounting for all funds of the camp. His specific responsibilities include: International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 17

22 1. Uses the treasurer s tools for recording, managing and transferring Scripture funds to the country treasurer (Form 913), receipting and maintaining camp general funds. 2. Collects all offerings received in church and other services from camp members, deposits them within 2 days and then remits Form 913 to the country treasurer, at least monthly. 3. Issues a Donation Receipt (Form 206) for all funds received as donations. 4. Accounts for camp expenses such as postage, gas, etc., separately and pay for such expenses using only camp general funds; never, ever, use Scripture funds to pay for general camp expenses. The treasurer should keep a detailed record of the disbursement of funds. 5. Presents a written report at every monthly camp cabinet meeting on the status of both Scripture funds and camp general funds. 6. Maintains records of all transactions for five years. 7. Reviews bank statements and gives a copy to the camp president. 8. Ensures records are audited annually immediately following the end of the camp fiscal year. This includes making sure all records are properly maintained and the bank statement is reconciled to the camp checkbook. Provide a copy of the audit to the camp president. 9. Prepares all records and books for the new camp treasurer in a timely manner when the term is completed. All records will be turned over the new treasurer so keep them filed accordingly. 10. Makes certain dues are recorded properly and list of those paid sent to country treasurer. 11. Maintains an understanding of treasurer s tools. 12. Establishes and maintains a personal and corporate standard of excellence in all camp activities. General Best Practice Standards for Camp Treasurers When you begin your term, you will be responsible for adhering to the current set of books and records from the former treasurer. Your duties will involve managing and tracking incoming and outgoing funds. Incoming funds include but are not limited to: Personal donations (both member and non-member) Church presentation receipts Proceeds from Annual Pastors Events, rallies, etc. GideonCard Bible receipts (if applicable). 18 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

23 Outgoing funds include but are not limited to: General camp expenses including office supplies The cost of GideonCard Bible Program materials (if applicable) Annual Pastors Event and Annual Membership Dinner expenses Camp meeting related expenses including meals Scripture funds remitted to the country treasurer Dues come in through the camp, but are sent directly to the country treasurer. The treasurer will report monthly at the camp cabinet meeting on expenses and income. Deposits. All funds should be deposited in a timely manner. Concerning offerings at national conferences, the host camp may need to arrange for security personnel to protect transportation of funds by the country treasurer. Camp Chaplain. The camp chaplain promotes the spiritual strength and well-being of the camp. In doing so, he should exhibit compassion for camp members and their families, promptly representing the camp in times of severe illness, bereavement and other special needs. The camp chaplain should not attempt to supplant the responsibility of the member s church in his response to their spiritual needs, but come alongside the church to offer additional support. The Prayer & Personal Witnessing Program is the responsibility of the camp chaplain. Chaplains have the opportunity to raise the standards as they train members to practice daily prayer, Bible reading and continual personal witnessing. Details of administering the program are found in the Prayer & Personal Witnessing Manual (Item 400). Additionally, the camp chaplain: 1. Promotes reading through the Bible annually using the Bible Reading Calendar (Item 414). 2. Encourages daily prayer for the Gideon ministry and daily quiet time among camp members using the Daily Prayer and Bible Reading Calendar (Item 411). 3. Promotes members taking advantage of the Hour of Power, praying for the Gideon ministry between 7:00 & 8:00 am, for a few minutes as individual members have time. 4. Promotes Scripture memorization among camp members. 5. Personally conducts or assigns another Gideon to conduct the Scripture reading and prayer aspects of camp and cabinet meetings. 6. Assists with Bible dedications, hospital services, and other camp activities that may involve Scripture reading and prayer. 7. Assists members to develop their personal witnessing aptitude using Gideon tracts, Personal Workers Testaments, and other resources available on theconnection. International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 19

24 8. Arranges for and moderates the camp weekly prayer meetings, which may include breakfast if possible. 9. Works with pastors and other Gideons to arrange for personal follow-up with people who have indicated a need for spiritual guidance during Scripture placements, distributions and dedications. 10. Arranges and promotes the camp s annual International Day of Prayer (second Saturday in June). Leads the International Day of Prayer by following the agenda developed by the international chaplain and involving as many members as possible. 11. Notifies the country chaplain of deceased Gideons and Auxiliary, using the Deceased Member Report (Item 106) found on theconnection. 12. Carefully and prayerfully follows the Discipline Manual (Item 103) whenever the spiritual, moral, or ethical integrity of a member is in question. 13. Establishes and maintains a personal and corporate standard of excellence in all camp activities. By guarding the spiritual strength of the camp and its individual members, the camp chaplain assures that the Seven Spiritual Objectives that undergird our ministry become personal standards by which we should live: Men of the Book Men of Faith Men of Prayer Men of Separated Walk Men of Compassionate Heart Men Who Witness Men Who Give It s easy to see from the foregoing list that the camp chaplain s job is far greater than just reading Scripture and praying at camp meetings. His is an awesome responsibility since The Gideons International is, indeed, a spiritual organization. Common Responsibilities of Appointed Program Chairmen. The camp program chairmen are central to the effectiveness of the Gideon ministry within each of the international programs. Each is appointed by the camp president for a 1-year term with the concurrence of the elected officers. The program chairmen serve as members of the camp cabinet, and each has the responsibility to coordinate camp activities as they relate to the program for which he has been appointed while recognizing the synergy with which all the programs function to the success of the camp. In addition to being committed Gideons with a burden to reach others for Christ, program chairmen should also: 20 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

25 1. Be able to motivate others. 2. Practice sound principles of delegation, management, and leadership. 3. Be committed to obtaining annual goals set by the camp and country leadership. 4. Understand all details in the program for which they have been chosen. 5. Be wholly cognizant of the relationship between the success of his program and the worldwide need for the Word of God. 6. Establish and maintain a personal and corporate standard of excellence in all camp activities. Church Ministry Chairman. The whole of the Church Ministry Program is the responsibility of the Camp Church Ministry Chairman. That encompasses several different aspects: church relations, church presentations, church speaker development and obtaining church services. Details of administering the program are found in the Church Ministry Program Manual (Form 223); however the specific responsibilities of the church ministry program chairman are enumerated here: 1. Church Relations a. Maintains a current listing of all available information for each church in the camp territory. b. With the approval of the camp cabinet appoint a Gideon church representative to act as a liaison between the church and the camp for as many churches in the camp territory as possible. i. Promote intentionally developing and maintaining positive relationships with churches and pastors. ii. Provide church representatives with information, training and materials to successful accomplish their task. c. Schedule and hold two Church Relations Days annually, to contact churches where no church representative is functioning. d. Work with the vamp vice-president to schedule and hold an Annual Pastors Event. e. Work with the camp membership chairman to be sure information and materials are available for church representatives and Church Relations Days. 2. Church Presentations a. Be responsible for obtaining Gideon presentations in as many churches as possible, through: i. Church Representatives ii. Church Relations Days iii. Personal Contact International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 21

26 b. Communicate the details of church presentations, and supply supportive materials to pastors and church speakers as applicable [see the Church Ministry Manual (Form 223)]. i. Secure a qualified church speaker and assign a prayer partner. ii. Send a confirmation letter to the pastor (see sample letter in Form 223). iii. Provide all pertinent materials to the church presenter Completed Form 202 Directions to the church, if needed Completed Church Presentation Envelope (Form 205) Pad of Donation Acknowledgement Forms (Form 224) 3. Speaker Development a. Pray for church presenters as they qualify, re-qualify and continue to improve their messages. b. Promote the blessings of being a church presenter. Identify members that could be church speakers and encourage them to pursue qualification. c. Provide necessary materials and instructions to potential church presenters that will allow them to proceed with the qualification process. Follow up with members who are preparing to qualify as presenters. d. Secure the venue for the qualifying presentation, which must be a church-like setting. e. Assemble the necessary outline and presentation evaluation teams. f. Ensure that the speaker evaluation process is handled promptly and efficiently don t allow a potential presenter s enthusiasm to become cold because of procrastination. g. Maintain a record of presentation activity for each church speaker, as well as a record of qualifying and re-qualifying dates. h. Send the pastor of all churches where Gideon presentations are to be held an Evaluation of Gideon Presentation (Form 215) along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope one week prior to the presentation (see sample letter in Form 223. i. Also furnish a copy of this form to the prayer partner assigned to accompany the church presenter. ii. Receive the evaluation from the pastor and prayer partner and notate the date of receipt as part of the presenter s record. iii. Together with the camp vice-president, review any negative comments from pastors or prayer partners with the Gideon speaker as a basis for the speaker to be the best he can be. Take corrective action as needed according to the guidelines in the Church Ministry Manual (Item 223). 22 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

27 i. Assure that all camp church presenters are re-qualified every three years by providing them information, inspiration and materials to accomplish that requirement. j. Schedule regular qualifying/re-qualifying opportunities. A cursory review of the foregoing list indicates that the Camp Church Ministry Chairman cannot fulfill all the responsibilities alone. He should establish a Church Ministry Committee with specific duties assigned to each member. For example, one committee member may be responsible for Speaker Development, another for Church Presentations, and another for Church Relations either of these three is a great deal of responsibility in itself, so each area may be broken down further by having additional committee members depending largely on the size of the camp. He should also communicate with the country church ministry coordinator as needed. The Church Ministry Program aspects of Vision 2020: Objective 100 should always be at the forefront of program planning; that is, Maintain by scheduling a presentation in every church in which a service was held in the previous year; Grow by scheduling two presentations in those churches where there has been no service in the last three years; Develop by scheduling three presentations in churches where there has been no service in the last four years or more. Intentionally develop a relationship with the pastor or church leader in every eligible church in the camp territory. 4. Establish and maintain a personal and corporate standard of excellence in all camp activities. GideonCard Bible Program Chairman (If Used in Your Country). Details of the GideonCard Bible Program are found in the GideonCard Manual (Form 814), which is available either in printed form or downloadable in theconnection. The camp GideonCard Bible Program Chairman should encourage the use of GideonCards in his camp. He should also make available In Memory, On Your Special Day and Praying For You cards at each Gideon meeting. The GideonCard Bible Program chairman promotes all efforts to attain the camp s GideonCard goal The GideonCard Bible Program Chairman is also a member of the camp cabinet. He should make a regular presentation on the GideonCard Bible Program at camp cabinet meetings, reporting on progress of the program with respect to annual goals. The GideonCard Bible Program Chairman s areas of responsibility are: 1. Overall operation and promotion of the GideonCard Bible Program to achieve the camp s fiscal year goal. 2. Report program progress and at camp cabinet meetings International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 23

28 3. Promote the camp GideonCard Bible Program by encouraging use by members. Order a small supply of all card lines to offer to members at camp meetings, and handle the sales of these cards to members to reimburse the camp for the cost of the cards. 4. Establish and maintain a personal and corporate standard of excellence in all camp activities. Membership Chairman. The camp membership chairman manages the process of recruiting, activating, and retaining members. He should be familiar with all of the details of recruitment and retention programs as described in the Membership Program Manual (Form 128). He communicates with the country membership coordinator as needed. Therefore he: 1. Develops and maintains a file of prospective new members. 2. Implements action plans with the assistance of the camp cabinet to attain the annual camp new member goal. 3. Reports progress toward goal achievement at camp cabinet meetings. 4. Plans and executes the Annual Membership Dinner according to the Membership Program Manual (Form 128). 5. Assists the camp president in retention of members through the Annual Membership Renewal Project. Encourages all members to renew their dues before the end of the calendar year as dues are payable in advance on a calendar year basis. 6. Seeks the input and assistant of every camp member with respect to identifying prospective new members. 7. Maintains a complete inventory of supplies and makes them available to camp members for individual recruiting needs. Supplies include: a. Gideon Membership Application (Form 1501) b. Auxiliary Membership Application (Form 1603) c. Membership Program Manual (Form 128) 8. Constantly promotes the need for new members among the existing membership and develops within the camp membership the sense of a recruiter s heart. 9. Establishes and maintains a personal and corporate standard of excellence in all camp activities. Camp Scripture Chairman. The camp Scripture chairman is responsible for ordering all Scriptures for the camp including Auxiliary Scriptures; in which case he coordinates closely with the Auxiliary Scripture secretary. His duties include storage, transportation, display and delivery of Scriptures to accommodate placements, distributions, blitzes, etc. It is important that he use a current Scripture Order Form (Form 903) when ordering Scriptures and that his camp number be recorded on the form. 24 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

29 While it is his responsibility to see that it is done, he should not personally do the whole thing himself. As in the case of all other officers, he serves as the leader of a team that accomplishes the task of Scripture distribution. Details of the Scripture distribution and placement program are found in the Scripture Distribution Manual (Form 115), the current edition of which the chairman should have in his possession. He communicates with the country Scripture coordinator as needed. The Scripture Chairman: 1. With the assistance of other camp members constantly surveys the need for Scriptures in the camp territory. All officers and members of the camp should be alert to opportunities for Scripture placements within the camp territory. 2. Reports the results of Scripture placements and distributions monthly to the camp cabinet along with those that are planned for the future. 3. Maintains a list of all Scripture placement and distribution venues within the camp territory and ensures that presentations are made systematically. 4. Maintains a complete record of all Scripture placements and distributions made by his camp. 5. Arranges to have a suitable display when appropriate for camp activities such as Bible dedications, Annual Pastors Events, etc. 6. Maintains complete and current knowledge all policies and guidelines related to Scripture distributions and placements as found in the Scripture Distribution Manual (Form 115). 7. Provides enforcement of Gideon Scripture placement and distribution policies in the camp. Note: if any member for any reason cannot or will not follow the policies and guidelines for placement and distribution of Scriptures, he must not be allowed to participate due to the potential of bringing irreparable harm to the ministry. 8. Establish and maintain a personal and corporate standard of excellence in all camp activities. The camp Scripture chairman is at the heart of the Gideon ministry in terms of accomplishing the purpose spreading the Word of God so that men, women, boys, and girls will have an opportunity to learn of Jesus saving Grace. This work should be at the forefront of camp activity and all Gideons should be encouraged to participate in distributions. Faith Fund Chairman. Scripture distributions in International Outreach Countries and some National Associations are largely influenced by the Faith Fund. Therefore, the Faith Fund chairman should have a complete understanding of his camp s role in worldwide Scripture distribution. He promotes giving to the Faith Fund to attain the Scripture Fund goal. The camp Faith Fund chairman is a member of the Camp Cabinet. International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 25

30 His specific duties include: 1. At the discretion of the camp president, he makes a Faith Fund appeal during program challenge portion of the monthly camp meeting using The Gideon magazine, the International Update or through his own experience with the International Outreach Ministry. 2. He also promotes Faith Fund giving through: Establishing, with concurrence of the Camp Cabinet, the goal for the camp s Annual Pastors Event and the country s national conference goal (if applicable). The camp newsletter 3. Establish and maintain a personal and corporate standard of excellence in all camp activities. Camp Webmaster. The camp Webmaster is appointed annually by the Camp President with approval of the camp cabinet. He is not a member of the camp cabinet; therefore, has neither voice nor vote in conducting the business of the camp. The Camp Webmaster is supervised by and is accountable to the Camp Secretary, and may concurrently hold the office of Camp Secretary with approval of the camp cabinet; however, the Camp Secretary is limited to three consecutive one-year terms. The Camp webmaster is responsible for maintaining camp data in theconnection and retrieving data to benefit the camp as necessary. The camp webmaster performs his function in keeping with standards and protocols established by the Information Technology Division at International Headquarters. No individual camp websites are authorized. He maintains a working knowledge of features in theconnection as developed by International Headquarters and assists camp members to use them efficiently. He restricts camp postings in theconnection to Gideon related business, and secures the approval of a camp cabinet member (usually the camp secretary) prior to posting any information, including photographs, in theconnection. He assures that all information of any kind posted in theconnection on behalf of the camp is in compliance with policies and procedures established by the International Cabinet, and, when in question, verifies such compliance with the Regional Director or International Headquarters. He is restricted with respect to Gideon concerns to the design, format, and technology developed by the Information Technology Division at International Headquarters. The camp webmaster is further responsible for updating camp utilities in theconnection as they are developed by International Headquarters and become available for use by camps. Realizing that many Gideons are not well acquainted with electronic media, the camp webmaster works closely with the Camp Cabinet and individual members as appropriate to assist in the area of electronic communications, providing reports and forms in support of camp programs. MONTHLY CAMP MEETING Regular monthly meetings are held to provide fellowship, inspiration and training. (F.I.T.) The fellowship is provided as Gideon and Auxiliary members meet in congenial surroundings to sing praises to God for His blessings and lift their voices in prayer, and reading God s Word and thanksgiving for His grace. 26 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

31 Inspiration is provided as the members learn how God has honored the placing and distribution of His Word. It is at the monthly meeting that we learn more of the Book which we are placing that others may know Him. The inspiration of an interesting, well-informed, enthusiastic Gideon speaker will reinforce the impact made by reports and will help lead each member to give more of himself to the work of the Lord in the Gideon ministry as the result of his attendance at the camp meeting. It is suggested that monthly meetings be not more than 2½ hours long, including dinner (if applicable). Outstanding testimonies of Gideon activities and Bible/New Testament placements/distributions in your area should be given. Educational material received since the last monthly meeting should be summarized. Do not forget to report on the camp prayer meetings to encourage attendance at these allimportant sessions. Training at the camp meeting will be accomplished by covering topics outlined in this manual. The meetings shall be devoted to the business of the Association and at all times preference shall be given to topics relating to the welfare, education and instruction of all the members. Activities other than those of The Gideons International should never be discussed at this meeting. No offering for any other organization should be promoted, other than Gideon work. There are no exceptions to this policy. If any member wants time on the program, he should confer with the camp cabinet or president. Camp meetings should be held where possible on neutral ground. A well-planned and executed monthly camp meeting is of primary importance in building a camp which will honor the Lord by its service in the community. Suggested Monthly Camp Meeting Agenda (The starting time may vary based on country considerations.) 1830 (6:30 pm) Invocation 1832 (6:32 pm) Singing from The Gideon Songbook 1835 (6:35 pm) Scripture Reading with no comments and prayer - Camp Chaplain 1841 (6:41 pm) Greet Guests - Camp President 1843 (6:43 pm) Summary of Information Bulletin or The Gideon magazine Camp Vice President 1850 (6:50 pm) Auxiliary members retire to separate room for their business session 1853 (6:53 pm) Secretary Minutes of last meeting 1858 (6:58 pm) Treasurer Verbal summary, distribute written detailed copies of Treasurer s report. Discuss Scripture Fund goals and accomplishments as shown (7:02 pm) Church Ministry Chairman - Announce number of services and money raised for month and total year to date (7:05 pm) Scripture Chairman-Summary. Total copies placed for month and year to date. International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 27

32 1908 (7:08 pm) Membership Chairman Announce goal for year. Total new members year to date (7:10 pm) GideonCard Bible Chairman s Report (if applicable) 1913 (7:13 pm) Camp Cabinet recommendations 1917 (7:17 pm) New Business 1922 (7:22 pm) Auxiliary returns to meet with Gideons 1923 (7:23 pm) Special Training Program (always pertains to Gideon ministry) A. Special Gideon speaker B. Slide, Video, or CD Presentation C. Tape D. Other 1945 (7:45 p.m.) Auxiliary Report 1950 (7:50 p.m.) Scripture Fund Offering 1955 (7:55 p.m.) Benediction (Gideon Circle Optional) * Note that wine or any other alcoholic beverage should never be served at any Gideon function. Following is a list of topics that may be used during the Special Training Program at the Monthly Meeting: Church Presentations Speaker Development Scripture Placements Scripture Distributions Spiritual Objectives Pastors Event Key Policies The Prayer Meeting Duties of Officers in the Camp Qualification to become a Gideon Personal Workers Testaments Discipline Manual Record Keeping 28 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

33 PLANNING YEARLY GOALS Camp: Country: Fiscal Year: Goal #1 Goal #2 Goal #3 Goal #4 Goal #5 New Gideons New Auxiliary Number of churches where Gideon presentations will be held Estimated church presentation offering (multiply average offering per church by number of churches) Estimated personal offerings for Scriptures that will be given by Gideons Goal #6 Camp Scripture Fund Goal (total #4 + #5) Goal #7 Estimated number of Scriptures that will be distributed (by Gideons) (by Auxiliary) Goal #8 Estimated number of Personal Workers Testaments that will be distributed (by Gideons) (by Auxiliary) This form should be competed between May 31 and July 1 each year. On June 1 each year, your camp should review their accomplishments for each goal. If your camp did not accomplish its goals, determine the reason and correct the problem. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (I Cor. 15:58) International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 29

34 SCRIPTURE DEDICATIONS When placing Scriptures in a facility for the first time or when replacing all of the Scriptures, if possible, you should hold a short dedication service. The purpose of this service is dedicating the Scriptures (not preaching) and building the relationship with the venue staff. This is generally done either in a lobby or suitable room, with all possible employees and guests present. Preparation on the part of the participants is essential. It is recommended that a display be made in the form of a cross using the Scriptures which are to be dedicated. This dedication can involve a maximum of three Gideons. The dedication ceremony may be held in hotels, motels, hospitals, nursing homes, jails, etc. but NOT schools. 7-MINUTE SCRIPTURE DEDICATION CEREMONY Gideon #1: Opening prayer (1 minute) Gideon #2: Information (3 minutes) [NOTE: The following is for reference and not to be read verbatim. The content of the message should reinforce the decision of the manager to permit the placement of Scriptures by emphasizing the added value they provide for the guests.] Thank you for allowing us to place (or replace) Scriptures in [name of facility]. Many times people will check into your facility needing the comfort and inspiration that these books can provide. Millions of people are comforted each year by these Scriptures when away from home and seeking a copy to read in a [hotel, motel, hospital, nursing home, jail, etc. (as appropriate)]. In fact, we regularly receive Thank You s from people who have come across a Scripture in a [hotel, motel, hospital, nursing home, jail, etc. (as appropriate)] and want to let us know what it has meant in their lives. [Share a brief testimony here] Today, you are making it possible for many more to have similar rewarding experiences from reading these new Scriptures placed in your rooms. Your guests [patients, prisoners (as appropriate)] will show their appreciation through their comments to you and your staff and in s or letters to The Gideons International. Gideon #3: Prayer of dedication (2 minutes) [NOTE: The prayer should be specifically focused on asking God s blessing on the Scriptures and their potential impact to comfort guests, as well as asking God s blessing on the management/staff of the facility.] Gideon #1: Closing statement (1 minute) Again, we thank you for allowing us to serve your facility and your guests in this way. We look forward to following up with you regularly to replace these Scriptures as needed to ensure that they are fresh and clean. 30 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

35 SCRIPTURE DISTRIBUTION AND PLACEMENT PROGRAM Gideons and Auxiliaries distribute and place copies of the Word of God. In order to carry out the ministry decently and in order, we must understand the difference between a distribution and a placement. DISTRIBUTION SMALL TESTAMENTS A distribution is when we give New Testaments to individuals, hand to hand, at an institution. The New Testament to be used for distributions is the small one, and the authorized areas for distributions for Gideons are: 1. Schools: One small New Testament per student to every student 10 years old and older. Schools should be visited every year if the doors are open and the distribution takes place in the classrooms to the students 10 years old and older who previously have not received the New Testament. If doors are not open, a sidewalk distribution should be held. In this case, the school should be visited every two years and New Testaments given to students 10 years old and older. The camp president may request the Auxiliary to participate in a distribution at co-ed schools, colleges or universities when their participation becomes necessary to open doors that are presently closed or keep doors for distribution open. Auxiliary participation in these distributions is also subject to the following guidelines: a. The Gideons are responsible for making all contacts and arrangements for the distribution. b. A majority of those present and participating in the distribution must be Gideons. c. Auxiliary may participate with their husbands. Auxiliary widows are also encouraged to participate. d. Gideons are responsible to act as moderator of the distribution. The Gideons may request the Auxiliary to be present and provide assistance in Scripture distributions at all-female primary and secondary in classroom school distributions subject to the following: a. Gideons arrange and are present at the distribution b. A Gideon acts as moderator of the distribution and presents a copy of the Scriptures to the headmaster and teachers. c. There is minimum representation of one Gideon for every two Auxiliary present at the distribution. Where these conditions are met, the Auxiliary may participate in the address and distribution of Scriptures to the students. If school doors are closed to classroom distribution, the camp should arrange for sidewalk distribution. International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 31

36 2. Universities: One small New Testament per student. In countries where we have bilingual Testaments, they may be distributed to university students, but not high school. Universities should be visited every year. 3. Military, Fire Departments, and Police: One small New Testament to each member. In the military, when we are not allowed to see the soldiers, then the Testaments may be given to military chaplains. These distributions should be held at least once a year, or as often as necessary. 4. Jails and Prisons (Male): One small New Testament to inmates and to those who work in the institution. The New Testaments are not to be given to the visitors. When the doors are closed and there is no other way, then and only then, Scriptures may be given to the chaplain. Prisons and jails are the only places where Gideons are allowed to preach on behalf of The Gideons International. Jails and prisons should be visited as often as possible. In the USA many camps visit them every week and sometimes Bible studies are held. 5. Refugee Camps: Gideons may distribute Scriptures to refugee camps, defined as a population of displaced people inside or outside their homeland gathered in an area where humanitarian aid is being provided. Such distributions must be confined to the boundaries of such camps. 6. Fairs and Festivals: a camp or camps may have an exhibit booth at county, municipal or state fairs and festivals (as approved by the regional director). For Gideon purposes, a fair or festival must be an annual event conducted by a civic entity and present a significant opportunity to distribute youth testaments to students 10 years old and above, as well as personally witness for Christ. A fair or festival cannot be a church or other ministry-sponsored event. 7. Special Events: Personal Workers Testaments may be used at a Special Event, defined as a one-time event (such as the Olympics or World Cup) as approved by the regional director. It should understood that the Personal Workers Testaments purchased by members should be used for witnessing, consistent with the personal witnessing guidelines, i.e., they are never to be given out on a mass basis. They are intended to be used with non-believers as a tool in sharing the Gospel with them. Auxiliary may participate with their husbands. Auxiliary widows are also encouraged to participate. 8. Authorized Areas of Distribution for the Auxiliaries only: a. Hospitals: One medical New Testament to every hospital worker, including doctors, nurses, and support personnel such as janitors, security, maids, etc. b. Nursing Schools and Medical Conventions: One medical New Testament to every nursing student and nurses participating at a medical convention. c. Jails and Prisons (Female): One small blue New Testament to every female inmate and those who work at the institution. The New Testaments are not to be given to the visitors. When the doors are closed and there is no other way, then and then only, Scriptures may be given to the chaplain. Prisons and jails are the only places where Auxiliaries are allowed to preach on behalf of the ministry. 32 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

37 d. Domestic Violence Shelters: One small New Testament per lady. e. Crisis Pregnancy Centers: One small New Testament per lady. PLACEMENTS A placement is when we go to an institution and place Scriptures on night stands or bedside tables, or tables in waiting areas as approved (hospitals, nursing homes, hotels, etc.). The New Testaments are not to be handed to people, but placed. Gideons carry out the following placements: 1. Facilities that provide overnight accommodations, as follows: a. Hotels b. Motels c. Military Day Rooms d. Transient Efficiency Apartments (not rooming houses) e. Cruise Ships f. Freighters g. Passenger Trains (sleeping compartments only) h. Sleeping Quarters on Offshore Oil Rigs i. Campground Cabins If the facility deals with international tourists, place one bilingual or multilingual New Testament per room on the nightstand. If the room has more than one bed, we still place only one New Testament. Full Bibles are available in English only and should be placed as outlined above. If the facility only deals with local or national tourists, the New Testament to place is the large New Testament in the local language. Gideons are encouraged to visit these facilities regularly, at least twice each year, to check the condition of Scriptures placed there previously. If the Scriptures are old, worn, stained, faded or otherwise unattractive, they should be replaced with new copies. The used Scriptures may be placed in penal institutions, civil defense shelters, Salvation Army homes, or given to rescue missions. 2. Attorney s/solicitor s Offices: One large New Testament or Bible per waiting room. New Testaments are not to be given to the clients of the attorney/solicitor, but placed on the table of the waiting room. 3. Funeral Homes: One large New Testament or Bible per viewing room, not to be given to individuals. International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 33

38 4. Airplanes (Serviced in your country/city): One Bible, if available in your country, or one bilingual or multilingual New Testament per plane. 5. Hospitals and Nursing Homes: One large New Testament with Psalms on the nightstand next to each bed. The Auxiliaries are welcome to participate in this placement, but they must always be accompanied by Gideons. When the doors are closed and there is no other way, then and then only, Scriptures may be given to the chaplain. Authorized Auxiliary-only Placement Opportunities 1. Medical and Dental Offices: One Bible (English only), if available in your country, or one large New Testament per waiting room. The New Testament is not to be handed to the patients, but placed on the table of the waiting room. One small New Testament to staff members (not patients) of the medical or dental office. 2. Rooms of Women s Domestic Violence Shelters 3. Rooms of Crisis Pregnancy Centers 4. Veterinary Office Waiting Rooms PERSONAL WITNESSING Each Gideon and Auxiliary is encouraged to share their faith with people they come in contact with in daily life, and give a Personal Workers Testament (PWT) along with a word of witness. However, this must be done according to the established guidelines. 1. The only New Testament to be used for witnessing is the small one with the plan of salvation in the back. No other size of New Testament should be used for personal witnessing. 2. The Gideon or Auxiliary must give an offering for each New Testament to be used as a PWT. In the USA and national associations, the offering is the equivalent of the full cost of the New Testament. All members are required to give an offering for each PWT. In countries where the economy is not as strong as in developed countries, members are expected to give as much as they may be able to give. 3. In any event, the New Testament is to be used as a PWT by the member and given to a nonbeliever to whom the Gideon or Auxiliary is sharing the Gospel. Under no circumstance is the member allowed to provide PWTs, or any other Gideon Scripture, to churches, pastors, missionaries, or non-gideons. 34 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

39 APPROVED METHODS FOR COLLECTING FUNDS The three approved methods for securing funds for general expenses and to purchase and place Scriptures are: (A) through personal contributions from Gideons, (B) through offerings taken at the time of church presentations, and (C) The GideonCard Bible Program, where applicable. Other methods of soliciting funds have been considered but not approved. PERSONAL GIVING: Each camp member is encouraged to give an offering as he has been blessed of the Lord. If we are going to ask church members to give, then we should lead by example. A member should give in three different ways: 1. Scriptures - An offering should be taken at each monthly camp meeting for the Scripture fund. 2. Camp Fund - Each camp has operating costs, such as postage, gas, transportation of Scriptures, etc. There shall be no assessment of dues levied for camp work, but free will offerings may be received. 3. Annual Dues CHURCH PRESENTATIONS Morning is usually the best time for calling on pastors about the arrangement of presentations. Most pastors spend much time in the afternoons in visitation, therefore they are difficult to locate. In most cases a pre-approach letter should precede the personal call on the pastor. In every contact to arrange church presentations the Gideon should bear in mind that business principles and common courtesy pay dividends in arranging for church presentations similar to securing orders in the field of business. Church presentations make it possible to reach the maximum number of potentially interested people with the Gideon message. Churches are our best customers as they provide: 1. PRAYER - needed for the men engaged in the Gideon ministry; for the removal of obstacles to distribution of the Word in many places; for those who read the Word we place; and for manpower to accomplish the task which has been committed to us. 2. MEN - we need earnest Christian business or professional men who are interested in devoting some of their time, talent, and energy to the Lord s work as represented in the Gideon ministry. Since only members of churches are eligible to become Gideons, it is logical that we seek men in the churches. To find them we need the interest and knowledgeable cooperation of ministers and laymen alike... interest which can be secured through the proper presentation of the Gideon message. 3. SCRIPTURE FUNDS - we need help to pay for Bibles and Testaments. When people are sufficiently informed about the Gideon ministry, they will give to provide International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 35

40 Scriptures. We do not need to talk about money. People will give when their hearts are touched. The ideal Gideon presenter will get people so interested in the Gideon ministry they will want to know how they can help. Church presentations give him opportunities to get that interest. Churches are open to the Gideons because of: 1. The principles for which we stand. 2. The effectiveness of the Gideon program in times past. 3. Interest in the church for the distribution of the Word of God. 4. We do not disturb denominational lines (II Corinthians 8: 18-20). The churches want to know: 1. That we maintain our standards and principles. 2. What we have done and are now doing. 3. Our future program-why more funds are needed. CHURCH RELATIONS Millions of lost souls are looking for the answers to life. With the help of God we are distributing more than 80 million copies of God s Word yearly; in more than 190 countries around the world. But that number could be increased if each camp would increase the number of church presentations. Additional church presentations will be held if we develop good church relations. Obviously, if a camp holds more church presentations, more funds will come in to provide more Scriptures. Every Gideon in the camp should be assigned to a church to befriend the pastor and congregation. Churches must understand our purpose and that we are an extended missionary arm of their church. Church presentations can be obtained in several different ways, perhaps the easiest and best is through the Church Relations Day. WHAT IS A CHURCH RELATIONS DAY? The objective of this relatively simple plan is to have Gideons meet for half a day to contact pastors in a camp area to arrange for Gideon church presentations. According to the plan, a pre-approach letter is mailed to pastors, followed by a telephone call or a personal visit to secure a date. WHY ARE CHURCH RELATIONS DAYS NECESSARY? Church Relations Days are necessary because people tend to procrastinate and then become discouraged when the only opportunity they have to make contact with pastors is in the evenings. When Gideons meet, pray, and work together, they inspire and encourage each other. The heart of any church relations program is to actually get the presentations. There can be worthy programs to train Gideon presenters, but these efforts are of no real value if church presentations are not actually obtained. That is where the Church Relations Day becomes necessary. 36 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

41 In a number of countries the goal for church presentations is for each camp to speak in at least one church per month. Many camps are doing much more than that, but every camp, regardless of its size, should be able to reach the goal of at least one per month. Once the camp has conducted a proper Church Relations Day, and the church presentations are arranged, the emphasis shifts to qualified speakers delivering quality church presentations, to increase the average church offerings. Before a Gideon can participate in a church presentation assignment, he must meet the qualifications laid out in the Church Ministry Manual (Form 223). The elements of a first-class church presentation can be summarized as follows: Informing the Congregation. The Gideon presenter should tell who we are, what we do, and why we do it, including our single objective - winning men, women, boys and girls to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Inspiring the Congregation. The Gideon presenter should open with an attention getter, and use exciting, inspirational Gideon testimonies. It is important to make the members of the congregation feel personally involved, inspired, and challenged. The speaker should present a professional image, and be well prepared, confident, clear and convincing. Encouraging the Congregation. The Gideon presenter should thank the pastor and the congregation, make reference to the partnership between the Gideon ministry and the local church, and give the congregation a sense of ownership and direct involvement. Challenging the Congregation. The Gideon presenter should challenge the members to continue to pray for the Gideon ministry and to give sacrificially to supply Scriptures. If these criteria are met, the Gideon presenter should see positive results in the generous offerings given by the congregation at a Gideon presentation. It is very important that churches are given the opportunity to invest in God s Word. Some offerings will be small and some large. Most important is that the congregation be given the opportunity to provide the Scriptures, knowing their offering is used for purchasing and placing Scriptures. Training is essential. Each camp should have a presenter training session at least once a year. Guidelines can be found in the Church Ministry Program Manual (Form 223) available from International Headquarters. Keep in mind the eternal results of our labor. Working together, using these tools we will provide more Scriptures and ultimately see more souls come to Christ. ABIDING BY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES The Gideon presenter should not preach, nor should he make any reference to a controversial denominational belief. No statement critical of any particular denomination should ever be made. The speaker must stay within his allotted time and at all times conduct himself in an appropriate manner. Qualified Presenters: Use only Gideons, not Auxiliaries, to speak in churches. Only qualified presenters are eligible, see Church Ministry Manual (Form 223). It is not necessary for the entire camp to attend the service. It is a better use of time to schedule more services. International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 37

42 OFFERING Supply a receipt to the pastor confirming the amount of the offering. A copy is to be given to the camp treasurer with the offering. Turn the offering in to camp treasurer within 24 hours. Write a letter to the Pastor thanking him and acknowledging the amount of the offering and confirming it is used to purchase and place Scriptures. THE GIDEONCARD BIBLE PROGRAM The GideonCard Bible Program is a service offered by The Gideons International to provide Bibles and New Testaments as a continuing memorial to a loved one or friend. It is a means by which members and non-members may provide Bibles and New Testaments as expressions of esteem and sympathy on the decease of a friend or loved one by way of special In Memory cards. People may also recognize special events or accomplishments in someone s life by sending On Your Special Day cards, and providing Bibles and New Testaments accordingly. Praying for You cards are used to express Christian greetings in times or prayerful consideration. Bibles and New Testaments provided through the GideonCard Bible Program will be placed by The Gideons International in institutions served by the Association, at home and abroad. The actual placement will be the responsibility of the Gideons and is carried out in accordance with established policies. Gideons must not promise donors that placement of Scriptures will be made in specific institutions, nor promise that names will be recorded in Scriptures, nor anything of a similar nature. While it is understood that it may not be practical to provide cards and displays in all evangelical churches, in all countries, it is an international program and should be used by Gideons and Auxiliary when possible. The camp is responsible for purchasing the merchandise needed for the program, which may be ordered from International Headquarters. 38 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

43 IMPORTANT POLICIES In an organization as large and complex as The Gideons International there must be certain policies that ensure uniform adherence to its core values and orderly execution of its purpose. The International Cabinet over the years has established certain policies that are followed throughout the worldwide ministry. Further, the International Cabinet is the only entity within the Association that has the authority to establish these policies, and International Headquarters, through the executive director serving as secretary to the International Cabinet, is charged with enforcing their compliance. All members should be fully cognizant of the following key policies of The Gideons International and adhere to them in all their Gideon activity. SCRIPTURE DISTRIBUTION AFFILIATION POLICY The Gideons International does not affiliate (i.e., enter into a formal association) with any other organization in carrying out the program of The Gideons International. The Gideons International does not participate in the program of any other organization and this applies in all Gideon countries. Therefore, the Gideon Scripture distribution program has as its ultimate aim the distribution and presentation of Scriptures by Gideons and Auxiliary. This means that Scriptures are not supplied by The Gideons International to other Christian groups, churches, or individuals. On occasion, the International Cabinet has approved exceptions where access for distributions is not allowed or not physically possible. When a direct distribution is proven not to be possible in an approved area, it is permitted for Scriptures to be left with and distributed by chaplains, directors, or senior managers (e.g., military chaplains, prison chaplains, chaplains of domestic violence shelters, directors of crisis pregnancy centers, hospital/nursing home chaplains, hotel managers, receptionists in doctor s offices). In these cases, only a small supply (3 to 4 months) should be left and regular follow-up to replenish the Scriptures must occur. Every effort should be made to build and maintain relationships with these individuals. This policy eliminates the possibility of Gideons duplicating the work done by other Christian organizations, ensures that The Gideons International does not compete with Christian bookstores and Christian publishing houses, and also ensures that our program will maintain its identity separate from others. This also precludes Gideons from distributing Scriptures and other material not approved by the International Cabinet if such distributions are in any way identified with The Gideons International. At every distribution, members should determine the availability of existing Scripture inventory. SCRIPTURE VERSIONS POLICY The Association will distribute only those versions of the Scriptures, for any and all languages, which were translated by protestant scholars who held (or hold) to the doctrine of verbal, plenary inspiration of the Scriptures. In other words, we only use versions of the Scriptures which were translated by those who believe that the very words of the Bible were inspired by the Holy Spirit, and that they were inspired in their entirety. International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 39

44 POLICY REGARDING ORGANIZATION OF NEW CAMPS Acts 1:8: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Distributions and church visitation) The expansion of the Gideon ministry within countries that are already organized (or in countries to be organized) should proceed in a slow and orderly fashion, guided by the principle of possessing the land little by little (Exodus 23:30: By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land. ). The International Outreach Committee has adopted a policy that any new camps to be organized in international outreach countries must first be approved for organization at a meeting of the IOC and that an official IOC representative must be present when the camp is organized. This policy will ensure that there will be budget provisions for new camps and that new camps will be adequately supplied with Scriptures. Thus, no attempt is made to organize a new camp without prior approval of the IOC. The policy clearly states that only a representative of the International Outreach Committee has the authority to open a new camp. This means that no local Gideon can go to any city in his country to speak with prospects or have them complete applications for membership, neither should they send Scriptures, unless requested to do so by the International Outreach Division. TOPICS OF DISCUSSION The Association has a longstanding policy that prohibits the discussion of doctrinal matters and the performance of certain practices regarding which earnest Christians have different opinions. Specifically, communion services, baptismal services, divine healing meetings, speaking in tongues, and other similar practices should never be discussed or engaged in during, or in connection with, Gideon meetings. From a positive standpoint, we should focus on the power of the Word of God and winning the lost to Christ, which is the purpose of the Gideons. When this policy is violated, it inevitably brings division among the Gideon members and serves to tear down our ministry, rather than build it up. Obviously, every Gideon has the right to his own persuasion regarding such doctrinal matters and practices, but to repeat, we must refrain from discussing or performing such practices at Gideon meetings and focus on the primary things regarding which we can all agree as members of this Association. USE OF GIDEON NAME AND EMBLEM The Gideon name and emblem are registered as a trademark with the governments of more than 190 countries. No brochures, tracts, folders, pamphlets, forms, books, presentations, tapes, videos, displays, lecterns, etc. are to be published, manufactured or produced in the name of The Gideons International or using the Gideon name or emblem except those authorized by the International Cabinet or a committee appointed by the Cabinet (usually the Executive Committee). This policy also applies to the internet, including social networking sites, and to manufactured products including novelty items such as jewelry, pen sets, wearing apparel, etc. This policy, of course, does not apply to the publication of a special state or camp Gideon paper or newsletter for circulation among Gideons, but does apply to any other publications for distribution to Gideons or to the public. 40 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

45 REASONS TO RESTRICT THE USE OF THE GIDEON NAME AND EMBLEM ON PUBLICATIONS, THE INTERNET, DISPLAYS, SLIDE PRESENTATIONS, JEWELRY, CLOTHING, ETC. 1. To preserve and protect the use of the trademark and emblem. 2. To not cheapen the dignity of the emblem by merchandising it. 3. To avoid confusion. 4. To preserve uniformity of The Gideon ministry (Judges 17:6). ITEMS THAT ARE EXCEPTIONS TO THE POLICY 1. Training materials for individual use by Gideons as speakers at specific Gideon meetings. (Handouts of messages, outlines, etc.) 2. Agendas for national training meetings. 3. Recordings of Gideon conventions or conference programs for sale to Gideons. 4. National or camp Prayer Calendars. 5. Approved Gideon calling cards. 6. Banners, flyers and placards for pastors events, conferences, etc. 7. Camp letterheads. SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND OTHER CAUSES The policy of the Association is that Gideons and camps must not be identified as either supporting or protesting various social, political, governmental, or similar organized causes. Each Gideon has a right to his own personal views on such subjects as political candidates and issues, social groups, unions, etc. However, in declaring his views on such subjects, he must not identify himself as a Gideon. Also Gideons must not write letters or s, make statements, or give public opinions of either support or protest, identifying themselves as Gideons, or in the name of a Gideon camp or association to candidates, political or social organizations, unions, etc. BUSINESS USE OF GIDEON INFORMATION According to rules of the International Cabinet, the Gideon name or emblem shall not be used in connection with business stationery or advertising. This means that it should never be used on business cards (except those used for Gideon activity) or political or other advertising. Rules of the International Cabinet also state specifically that, The Gideon name or emblem shall not be used by any individual or group for any private or personal gain or advantage. The policy of the Association specifies that direct mailings, including , to Gideons by camps, state or national associations, or individual members must be those containing Gideon subject matter only. Approved subject matter for such mailings includes such items as the promotion of Gideon meetings, training events, Faith Fund banquets, etc. This policy prohibits mailings which identify the Gideon International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 41

46 name and emblem with non-gideon subjects or activity, such as political matters, church or denominational matters, social concerns, solicitations for other causes, etc. Some camps and national associations publish directories containing the names and addresses of all members, and such information is also available in limited form in theconnection. Such information should never be used for any purpose not directly related to the Gideon ministry, nor should such information be supplied to other persons. A statement to this effect should appear prominently in any membership directory. PUBLICITY The long-standing policy of the Association is that Gideons do not seek publicity. The effectiveness of the ministry of The Gideons International is in no way dependent upon publicity. Many cases could be cited of instances when areas of Scripture distribution have been closed to The Gideons International because of indiscriminate publicity efforts. The recognized and approved method for getting the Gideon message across to Christians is through the presentation of the Gideon message to church congregations by Gideons themselves. Advertising should never be purchased except in connection with the international convention, state conventions, or other major Gideon meetings. Such advertising should be confined primarily to announcing the meeting, rather than giving a detailed explanation of the Gideon ministry. It is appropriate to promote the GideonCard Bible Program through church or denominational newsletters, other Christian publications, and as outlined in the GideonCard Program Manual (Form 814). Regularly sponsored radio programs, television programs, public online services, or newspaper advertising should not be entered into using the name or other identification of the Gideons, even if the time or space is offered free of charge. Ours is a spiritual ministry. Prayer and dependence on the work of the Holy Spirit are necessary if our purpose of winning the lost for Christ is to be realized. Finances are also necessary, and these come through the free will offerings of church congregations at Gideon presentations, through the Gideon- Card Bible Program, and through individual gifts. While public advertising might seem effective in a few cases, more often than not it proves to be a vehicle for bringing our ministry to the attention of those who would oppose the activities in which we are engaged. Many years of experience have proven that the Gideon ministry flourishes best when carried on in a prayerful, quiet, unobtrusive manner. POLICY ON HUMAN SEXUALITY The Gideons International continues to hold a high view of Scriptures, believing the Bible to be the inspired, infallible, inerrant Word of God. We accept the literal translation of the Scriptures in regard to human sexuality. Therefore, it is inappropriate for our ministry to participate in any Gideon activity with individual congregations that publicly hold different views. POLICY ON ATTIRE As the worship culture has shifted in some evangelical churches, the attire that people wear to church has become generally more casual. Men s church-going dress style today ranges from traditional coat 42 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

47 and tie to business casual to very casual, with a mixture of styles often represented in a single worship service. The long-standing philosophy of The Gideons International is that a Gideon making a presentation in a church should not call attention to himself by the manner in which he dresses. This means that the proper attire may vary from church to church. The way members of an organization dress is, in itself, a statement about the nature and standards of that organization. In short, the standard of dress set and maintained within an organization has a significant bearing on the external image and reputation of that organization. The Gideons International is a Christian business and professional men s association. Because of the nature of the organization and the work it undertakes, it is essential that the image our members project when representing the ministry, or participating in its activities, is one in keeping with respected business and professional organization standards. Of course, adherence to an organizational policy on attire is equally as important as the policy itself. Failure of members to strictly adhere to the policy ultimately damages the external image and reputation of the organization, and causes problems within the organization, because of a lack of discipline and a consequent adverse impact on morale. It is very important that The Gideons International presents itself, and carries out its work, in a manner which is relevant to the times in which we live. The message will never change, but the way in which it is delivered must be relevant to the people we are endeavoring to reach. These concepts are particularly relevant with regard to church presentations and the accompanying Church Ministry Program initiatives. The following Gideon and Auxiliary policy on attire is to be followed: GIDEONS Traditional Business Dress the preferred attire for Gideons at all formal Gideon functions, assignments and church presentations is: Business suit Plain or muted stripe business (dress) shirt Conservative tie Dress/business shoes National Dress A unique garment that is worn as regular business dress in a particular country is acceptable attire at all formal Gideon functions or Auxiliary assignments in that country. Business Casual Dress In instances where casual dress is authorized, for example in the case of a church presentation where it is established that the pastor for the church dresses casually when preaching from the pulpit, the Gideon presenter assigned to that church may wear business casual dress defined as: Tailored jacket, optional (not leather, plaid, etc.) Plain or muted stripe open-collar business (dress) shirt (short or long sleeve) Dress slacks/trousers (not jeans, khakis, etc.) Dress/business shoes (not athletic shoes or sneakers) International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 43

48 Under no circumstances is a Gideon to dress less formally than stated in the above section of this policy when representing the Gideon ministry in any way. CHURCH MINISTRY PROGRAM The Gideon obtaining a church presentation is to ascertain what the pastor wears when preaching. If the pastor dresses casually, the Gideon presenter is to wear business casual attire as defined above. If a presentation is to be made at a church function other than a worship service, the Gideon arranging the presentation is to ascertain how the people attending the function will be dressed, and the assigned Gideon speaker should dress accordingly, but in accordance with the above policy. When there is any doubt about what an assigned Gideon presenter should wear, he should always err on the side of caution and wear traditional business attire as defined above. AUXILIARY The principles of the above policy shall also apply to The Auxiliary of The Gideons International as follows: Traditional Business Dress The preferred attire for Auxiliary members at all formal Gideon functions, when attending a church presentation with her husband, and Auxiliary Scripture distributions is: Conservative business suit, dress, or tailored pants suit Dress Shoes Conservative accessories National Dress A unique garment that is worn as regular business dress in a particular country is acceptable attire at all formal Gideon functions or Auxiliary assignments in that country. Business Casual Dress In instances where casual dress is authorized, Auxiliary members may wear business casual attire defined as: Conservative dress, tailored pant suit, skirt or slacks (not shorts) and coordinating blouse Conservative footwear (heels or flats as appropriate, but not sneakers, athletic shoes or casual sandals) Conservative accessories as appropriate CHURCH MINISTRY PROGRAM When an Auxiliary member accompanies her husband at a church presentation she should dress in keeping with the dress policy as it applies to the assigned Gideon presenter. When making the GideonCard Bible presentation, an Auxiliary member should dress similar to the leader of the women s church group, but never more casually than described above under Business Casual Dress. 44 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

49 WHEN DISCIPLINARY ACTION IS NEEDED PREAMBLE The following guidelines are for use when the need for disciplinary action arises in The Gideons International. The Gideons International is an Association whose members honor and obey the commands of the Lord Jesus Christ as contained in the Word of God. People become members of the Association on the basis of their personal testimony of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, from time to time, situations arise that call for disciplinary action. This manual contains guidelines on principles and procedures that are to apply in such situations. The procedure for member discipline contained herein is applicable for discipline of both Gideons and Auxiliary. PROVISION FOR DISCIPLINE IN CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS Article 4 of the Constitution of The Gideons International vests management of the Association in the International Cabinet. Article 9 of the Bylaws vests management authority for USA state associations in the state cabinet. Similarly, Article 12 of the Bylaws vests trustees from national associations with responsibility to exercise the management authority of the International Cabinet as it relates to national associations. Article 10 of the Bylaws, Rules Governing Camps, vests camp officers with responsibility for the wellbeing of the camp. Discipline is a function of management. Ultimately, discipline can result in either suspension or termination of membership. This is specifically covered in the Bylaws of The Gideons International, Article I, Section 12, for any member who willfully continues practices injurious to the spiritual life of a Christian, and Article 3, Section 7, for any Gideon who is not efficient or who fails to perform his official duties or work in harmony with the majority of such camp and/or for the best interest of the Association. In both of these Bylaw Articles, authority to suspend or terminate a member is vested in the International Cabinet. IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES OF DISCIPLINE 1. Those under Discipline are Christians. When a Gideon comes under discipline, it must be kept in mind that we are still dealing with someone who is justified and declared righteous through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, the process of discipline must be conducted with Christian love. 2. Restoration of Fellowship with the Lord. When a member has fallen into sin, the first objective is always restoration of fellowship with the Lord in the spirit of Galatians 6:1-2. This is done on the basis of confession of wrongdoing (I John 1:9) and the blood of Christ (I John 1:6-7). Note: Restoration may not result in continuing as a member of The Gideons International, as explained under the Operational Procedure heading. International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 45

50 3. Responsibility of Those in Authority. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? (I Corinthians 6:6b). Scripture emphasizes the responsibility of those in authority, whether in the church or other Christian body, to take action to preserve its testimony for Christ. II Corinthians 7:8-11 teaches the necessity to exercise discipline, in spite of this causing sorrow. Prayerfully, the ultimate outcome will cause rejoicing. II Corinthians 6:3 indicates that the spiritual integrity and welfare of the Association is of first importance; after that, the welfare of the members involved. Officers of the Association should constantly have these principles in mind while handling discipline cases. 4. Importance of Taking Action Promptly. Joshua 7:10-11shows the danger of procrastination. The same truth is taught in I Corinthians 5: 2 And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. Irreparable harm to a camp often results from failure to act promptly. 5. Importance of Using Discretion. Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered Proverbs 11:13. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins I Peter 4:8 Officers at the camp and state level who normally have responsibility for discipline should be careful to discuss the matter only with those who have a need to know. Details, especially, should be shared with the fewest number possible to properly conduct the matter. Generally, the more people who have knowledge, the less opportunity there is of reconciliation with the member under discipline. Of course, the president at any level and at least one other officer (normally the chaplain) should always be informed. OPERATIONAL PROCEDURE When it becomes necessary for the International Cabinet to terminate or suspend a member under discipline, it normally is based on the recommendation of the camp cabinet in the case of outreach countries, and both the camp cabinet and the state cabinet (in conjunction with the international trustee) in the USA. (The same procedure and authority applies to National Association Cabinets with respect to discipline of their members.) Exceptions to this general procedure may occur when a member of either the camp or state cabinet is involved, or when there is a failure to take action on the part of either the camp or state cabinet in a case requiring discipline. In such instances, the International Cabinet may directly initiate action on a unilateral basis, utilizing the services of the Executive Committee, international trustee, and International Headquarters. Also, in the case of failure by the camp cabinet to act when discipline is warranted, the state cabinet and/ or international trustee have the authority and responsibility to initiate action. In case of conduct that 46 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

51 affects more than the member s connection with The Gideons International, it is well to learn at an early stage whether the local church of which he is a member is taking disciplinary action. If it is, the camp cabinet might well give proper time for the church to act and then finalize their own action with a high degree of respect for the church s decision. 1. When there is clear evidence of a fault or sin versus a rumor or hearsay. In some cases, a fault, sin or other harm to a member s testimony will come to the attention of the camp officers with clear and reliable evidence of the wrongdoing. In other cases, there may be only hearsay or rumors without verification. In the former case when the contact is made with the member involved, the charges can be stated plainly. However, where there is no clear evidence as to whether the member is guilty of a fault or sin, the camp officers should approach the member on the basis that such a fault or sin has been reported, and they would like to know if such reports are true or false. In the present trend of litigation, it is important not to accuse a member of a fault or sin unless there is clear, first hand evidence. Otherwise, there is the possibility of defamation of character. 2. Camp Cabinet Initiates and Processes Discipline Case. Normally, disciplinary action is initiated by the camp cabinet (although there may be exceptions to this general procedure as outlined in the preceding section). Although every member has the responsibility to safeguard the name and integrity of the Association, camp officers have a special responsibility in this regard. Therefore, when it comes to the attention of any officer that a member s conduct is such as to be a cause for discipline, the camp president and chaplain (other camp cabinet members only with appropriate discretion) should be advised immediately. These two officers should investigate and then personally contact the member involved. Their contact will be on the basis of Galatians 6:1 ( Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. ) and other appropriate Scriptures. There should always be reading of Scripture and prayer during the visit. Prayer should undergird a matter of discipline at every level from beginning to end. a. When there is confession, repentance and restoration. If the fault or sin that has been reported is verified, the member should be encouraged to confess, repent and put things right, as the case may be. If this happens, he or she should be forgiven and restored unless the fault is of such public notoriety as to be cause to either defer restoration to the Gideon ministry or make restoration impractical. b. When there is a refusal to confess. If the member does not repent, and indicates intent to persist in the fault or sin, the president and chaplain should seek to obtain the member s resignation on the spot. When a resignation under discipline takes place, the camp president, or other officer, should immediately notify the state president and International Headquarters so there will be a proper record. If the member refuses to resign, he or she should be informed that the matter will be referred to the camp cabinet with a recommendation that their membership be terminated or suspended for the best interest of the Association on the basis of Bylaw Article 3, Section 7. International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 47

52 c. A public versus a private sin and the attendant publicity. As has already been indicated, there are two primary considerations which have a bearing on restoration to the Gideon ministry. The first consideration is the attitude of the offender. The member under discipline must manifest a truly repentant attitude without self-justification, haughtiness or intention to continue in the fault or sin. The second consideration has to do with how much publicity has been given to the offense. If the matter has been kept relatively private, and there is repentance by the offender, restoration to the Gideon ministry may be effected either immediately or after a reasonable passage of time. On the other hand, if the matter has been publicized in the media, the court, or otherwise is generally known in the community, even though repentant, it usually is not possible for the member to continue in The Gideons International. A vital function of carrying on the Gideon ministry is public relations. Members are constantly involved with contacting hotel managers, hospital administrators, school officials, etc., as well as pastors and churches. If, for example, a member has been publicly charged with stealing, violation of securities laws, marital infidelity, or public drunkenness (to name just a few case histories), it almost always is impractical for them to continue as a member of this Association. This has no bearing on forgiveness. As the Lord forgives a man on the basis of I John 1:9, so will we forgive him. However, forgiveness and restoration are not the same thing. A member whose sin or fault has received wide notoriety cannot properly function in a ministry that is dependent on good public relations. Sometimes this can be resolved after the passage of years, allowing the person s testimony to be restored in the community so that they can perform Gideon work without being an offense (II Corinthians 6:3). In other cases, there is no possibility of restoration because the damage is permanent insofar as public relations are concerned. The responsibility in this regard is to preserve the integrity and testimony of The Gideons International. d. Response to the threat of a civil suit. From its inception, the Association has followed the Biblical principle that its members should not go to civil court against a fellow Christian, according to I Corinthians 6:1-8, the first of which reads, When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Members are strongly encouraged to abide by this principle. Depending on the circumstances, if a member goes to court against a fellow Christian, that member may become a discipline case because of such action. The Executive Committee and the International Cabinet, when making decisions, are not influenced by threats of court suits. However, every reasonable precaution should be taken concerning a member under discipline against defaming a person s character, and/or circulating information about the situation. Only those who are involved in the management process (i.e. camp, state, national, international officers) should be informed. 3. President and Chaplain Report to Camp Cabinet. When the visit with the member under discipline is concluded, the president and chaplain should make a confidential report to the camp cabinet without delay (a special meeting 48 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

53 of the cabinet should be called if there appears to be a very real degree of urgency). If the member under discipline has repented, and the offense is such that restoration to the Gideon ministry is prudent, this should be reported to the camp cabinet. If the member under discipline has submitted a resignation, this should be reported to the camp cabinet. If the member has not repented, and refuses to resign, the president and chaplain should make a full report to the cabinet of their investigation and visit. The camp cabinet, in turn, should recommend to the state cabinet in writing that the membership in question be terminated or suspended for the best interest of the Association as provided in Bylaw Article 3, Section 7. Even if there is not a majority of the camp cabinet in support of the recommendation, the matter should be referred to the state cabinet for investigation and possible action. 4. State Cabinet, in Conjunction with International Trustee, Takes Action as Required. The letter of recommendation from the camp cabinet should contain a short statement of the charges against the member. If the member has admitted guilt, the letter should contain a statement to that effect. If the member denies being guilty of such conduct, the letter should simply state that the camp cabinet believes the member is engaged in practices injurious to the spiritual life of a Christian. It should then state that the member denies guilt, nevertheless the camp cabinet recommends disciplinary action be taken against the member for the best interest of the Association. Upon receipt of such a letter from the camp cabinet or other notification that there is a problem in the camp sufficient to cause disciplinary action, the state cabinet should closely investigate the matter, and inform the international trustee. 5. Camp-State Recommendations to International Cabinet through the Executive Committee. If the matter is not resolved by the state cabinet working with the international trustee, the letters of charges, together with recommendations of the camp cabinet, state cabinet and international trustee, should be referred in writing to the International Cabinet through the Executive Committee. These letters should be sent to the executive director at International Headquarters. The international trustee should write a concurring letter. 6. Letter from Executive Director to Member under Discipline. Upon receipt of letters of charges from both the camp and state cabinets, and the international trustee, the executive director will then write the member under discipline advising them of the charges and recommendations relative to termination or suspension of their membership. The letter should offer the member an opportunity to supply in writing any defense or additional information they might wish to give for presentation to the Executive Committee. The policy of both the Executive Committee and International Cabinet is not to give personal audience to a member under discipline as this is handled at the camp and state level, and sometimes by the international trustee himself. The member under discipline is advised of the date of the next meeting of the Executive Committee when the matter will be considered for referral to the International Cabinet. International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 49

54 7. Recommendation of Executive Committee to International Cabinet. After the preceding steps have been completed, assuming that the Executive Committee concurs with the camp and state cabinets, and the international trustee, a recommendation is then made to the International Cabinet that the membership of the member under discipline be terminated or suspended for the best interest of the Association on the basis of Bylaw Article 3, Section 7. If the Executive Committee feels that there should be additional investigation, etc., by the state or camp, such a request is made. 8. Action by the International Cabinet. At the next meeting of the International Cabinet following the recommendation of the Executive Committee, a decision is reached relative to termination or suspension of the member under discipline. Thereafter, this decision is communicated in writing by the executive director to the member under discipline with copies to appropriate officers at every level. SUMMARY OF OPERATIONAL PROCEDURE 1. Determine whether there is clear evidence of a fault or sin versus a rumor or second-hand report 2. Camp Cabinet initiates and processes discipline case, with the following important considerations: a. When there is confession, repentance and restoration b. When there is a refusal to confess, proceed with discipline case c. A public versus a private sin and possible publicity d. Response to the threat of a civil suit 3. President and chaplain report to Camp Cabinet. 4. State Cabinet, in conjunction with international trustee, takes action as required. 5. Camp-state recommendations to International Cabinet through Executive Committee. 6. Letter from executive director to Gideon under discipline. 7. Recommendation of Executive Committee to International Cabinet. 8. Action by International Cabinet. HELPFUL SCRIPTURES In addition to those already mentioned, the following Scriptures may prove helpful when handling a disciplinary situation: Proverbs 13:10a Proverbs 25:28 Proverbs 28:13 Joshua 7:20, 21 Psalm 32:5 Pride and contention Disciplined living Confession is primary Full confessions is important Acknowledgement and confession 50 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

55 Psalm 51:1-4, 7 Psalm 51:12, 17 Proverbs 17:9 Jeremiah 31:18, 19 Leviticus 5:16 Numbers 5:6, 7 Lamentations 5:21 Proverbs 24:16a II Corinthians 2:4-11 Confession and restoration Confession and restoration Discreetness and confidentiality Steps to repentance Make amends Confession and restitution Renewal Restoration Forgiveness CONCLUSION In an association with thousands of members, it is inevitable that there will be a cause for discipline. Discipline is a function of management. When exercising this responsibility, officers will follow the operational procedure outlined in this manual. This will preserve the integrity and good name of The Gideons International, will be for the welfare of the member overtaken in a fault, and will insure the continued fruitfulness of this ministry with minimum confusion and disruption. Guidelines cannot cover every single situation. Thus, good judgment is required by the officers exercising discipline, especially at the camp-state level. There must also be reliance upon the Holy Spirit in each step of the process. Faith, prayer and the Word of God are indispensable elements in following the guidelines of this manual. If discipline is undertaken in this spirit, the results will glorify God. International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 51

56 52 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

57 FORMS AND CHARTS On the following pages, you will find forms that will be useful as you implement various aspects of the ministry. International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 53

58 APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH COUNTRIES An Association of Christian Business and Professional Men Section I. PERSONAL INFORMATION (Please Print) Name (Title) (First) (Middle) (Last ) Mailing address (Street/Apt. Number) (City/Town) (Postal Code) (Country) (Preferred Phone Number with Country Code & Area Code) (Alternate Phone Number with Country Code & Area Code) Birth Date / / Married (Day) (Month ) (Year) (Yes/No) (Wife s Name) Section II. SPIRITUAL INFORMATION A Do you believe the Bible is the inspired (i.e. infallible & inerrant) Word of God? (II Timothy 3:16)? Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the eternal Son of God? (John 3:16) Have you received Him as your personal Savior? (Romans 10:9) Do you endeavor to follow Him in your daily life? (Romans 12:1-2) Do you believe in the endless lake of fire for the unsaved? (Revelation 20:10-15) Do you accept the Biblical standard of marriage being between one man and one woman? (Genesis 2:24) B Are you a layman, NOT a clergyman? (Note: clergyman means one who is generally accepted and recognized as a practicing clergyman, a pastor or a minister of a church, an evangelist, or a missionary.) C Are you a member in good standing of a church, as your church defines membership? D Name of church and denomination (please print): Church address (print): (Address, if known) (City/Town) (Postal Code) (Country) Church or web address (if known): Church phone number (if known): E Name of pastor/minister: (please print): Pastor s/minister s phone number (if known): HOME (Country Code &Area Code) Phone CELL/MOBILE (Country Area Code) Phone Pastor s/minister s address (if known): F Have you held previous Gideon membership? If yes, approximate date and your Gideon number: Where? (Approximate Date) (Gideon Number) 54 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

59 I am applying for membership in The Gideons International on the basis of my occupation (or that from which I retired) and from which my primary income is derived. Complete either Section III or IV as applicable. Section III. BUSINESS OCCUPATIONS A The name of my business, or that in which I am involved is: (Physical address) (City/Town) (Postal Code) (Country) (Website) B The nature/kind of my business, or that in which I am involved is (brief description of goods/services rendered): C My title is: D In the exercise or conduct of your business, would you: 1. Be generally accepted and recognized as a businessman in the sense that this term is normally used? 2. Deal with the public? 3. Assume responsibility for or influence business-related outcomes? 4. Exercise business-related judgments or decisions? 5. Have some control over your own time during the business day? 6. Employ or supervise personnel? Section IV. PROFESSIONAL OR INSTITUTIONAL OCCUPATIONS A My profession is: B My title is: C Do you have a related four-year degree or above? Name degree: and institution: (If answered yes, go to Section V. Declaration.) D In lieu of a four-year degree, please describe the experience that qualifies you into your profession: E If you are military, law enforcement, or a government employee, please give rank/grade: Section V. DECLARATION I have prayerfully considered all the preceding questions. I now apply for membership in The Gideons International. I also understand that the Membership Committee must examine this application, as it has the responsibility of guarding the Association s membership standards. If accepted, I agree to do the work of the ministry according to the guidelines and policies as determined by the International Cabinet of The Gideons International. APPLICANT S SIGNATURE Date $15.00 (US currency) Annual Membership OR $ (US currency) Life Membership Payment Options: Cash $ Check $ International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 55

60 Section VI. SPONSORSHIP The information in this section is to be completed only by the sponsor of this applicant. A Source of application for Gideon membership: Individual Enlistment Annual Membership Dinner Camp Development Plan B I am sponsoring this applicant for the following reasons: 1. Spiritual: 2. Occupational: (briefly describe type of job, business operation or profession) Sponsor Signature Membership Number IMPORTANT! Please be sure that all applicable blanks are filled in before application form is submitted. C We the Camp recommend this applicant, and confirm the information completed by the applicant in Sections I through IV. Signatures President Secretary (Please tear-off this portion with the Temporary Receipt on back and give to the applicant.) GENERAL INFORMATION The Gideons International is an association of Christian business and professional laymen. It is international in scope and worldwide in outreach. Membership is in The Gideons International, while each member is assigned to a local group called a camp. The camp is more than a fellowship. The need is for men of good report and good standing in their church or fellowship who can participate in the work. Therefore, the standards of the membership need to be kept high. THE FOLLOWING IS QUOTED FROM THE CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OF THE ASSOCIATION: The object of the Gideons is to win others for the Lord Jesus Christ, through: (a) the association of Christian business and professional men for service; (b) personal testimony and personal work by individual Gideons; (c) placing the Bible God s Holy Word or portions thereof, in hotels, hospitals, schools, institutions, and also through the distribution of same for personal use. The membership shall consist of business and professional men*, except clergymen, who believe in the Bible as the inspired Word of God, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the eternal Son of God, have received Him as their personal Saviour, endeavor to follow Him in their daily life, and who are members in good standing of an evangelical or Protestant church, congregation or assembly. Any business or professional man who shall qualify under Article 3 of the Constitution, except those engaged in the manufacture or sale of alcoholic beverages, and except those engaged in business the character of which is inconsistent with accepted Christian standards, is eligible for membership in this Association. *Responsibility for defining these terms for the purpose of Gideon membership is assigned to the International Cabinet under Article 4 of the constitution. 56 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

61 P.O. Box Nashville, Tennessee DO NOT USE THE SPACE BELOW [ This information will be completed at International Headquarters.] Camp President: Credentials Sent: Camp Assignment: Gideon Number: NOTES: INTERNATIONAL MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT We, the Membership Committee of The Gideons International, have examined this application and have taken action as indicated below: ANNUAL LIFE Approved Not Approved Committee Chairman s Initials Date Approved Not Approved Committee Member s Initials Date Approved Not Approved Committee Member s Initials Date CAMP PRESIDENT CONTACT INFORMATION Form 1501E-15 Name: Phone Number: TEMPORARY RECEIPT (To be given to applicant) Received of : for Gideon Membership, Date: $ / / (Sponsoring Gideon) This receipt is given in acknowledgment of advance payment of membership dues. If this application is approved by the International Membership Committee, a membership card and emblem will be issued to you. Otherwise, your payment will be refunded. P.O. Box Nashville, Tennessee International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 57

62 APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH COUNTRIES An Association of Christian Business and Professional Men Section I. PERSONAL INFORMATION (Please Print) Name Mailing address (Street/Apt. Number) Mr. Michael K. Williams (Title) (First) (Middle) (Last ) 777 Main Street Anywhere Ireland (City/Town) (Postal Code) (Country) (Preferred Phone Number with Country Code & Area Code) michaelwilliams@ .com Yes Anna Birth Date / / Married (Day) (Month ) (Year) (Yes/No) (Wife s Name) (Alternate Phone Number with Country Code & Area Code) Section II. SPIRITUAL INFORMATION A Do you believe the Bible is the inspired (i.e. infallible & inerrant) Word of God? (II Timothy 3:16)? Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the eternal Son of God? (John 3:16) Have you received Him as your personal Savior? (Romans 10:9) Do you endeavor to follow Him in your daily life? (Romans 12:1-2) Do you believe in the endless lake of fire for the unsaved? (Revelation 20:10-15) Do you accept the Biblical standard of marriage being between one man and one woman? (Genesis 2:24) B Are you a layman, NOT a clergyman? (Note: clergyman means one who is generally accepted and recognized as a practicing clergyman, a pastor or a minister of a church, an evangelist, or a missionary.) C Are you a member in good standing of a church, as your church defines membership? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes D Name of church and denomination (please print): Pleasant Grove / Baptist Church address (print): Church or web address (if known): Church phone number (if known): E Name of pastor/minister: (please print): Pastor s/minister s phone number (if known): Pastor s/minister s address (if known): F Have you held previous Gideon membership? 55 Second Street Anywhere Ireland (Address, if known) (City/Town) (Postal Code) (Country) pleasantgrove@ .com Rev. Bob White HOME (Country Code &Area Code) Phone bobwhite@ .com No Where? CELL/MOBILE (Country Area Code) Phone If yes, approximate date and your Gideon number: (Approximate Date) (Gideon Number) 58 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

63 I am applying for membership in The Gideons International on the basis of my occupation (or that from which I retired) and from which my primary income is derived. Complete either Section III or IV as applicable. Section III. BUSINESS OCCUPATIONS A The name of my business, or that in which I am involved is: Thomas and Thomas Accountants 6 Third St. (Physical address) Anywhere Ireland (City/Town) (Postal Code) (Country) (Website) B The nature/kind of my business, or that in which I am involved is (brief description of goods/services rendered): accountant C My title is: D In the exercise or conduct of your business, would you: 1. Be generally accepted and recognized as a businessman in the sense that this term is normally used? 2. Deal with the public? 3. Assume responsibility for or influence business-related outcomes? 4. Exercise business-related judgments or decisions? 5. Have some control over your own time during the business day? 6. Employ or supervise personnel? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Section IV. PROFESSIONAL OR INSTITUTIONAL OCCUPATIONS A My profession is: accountant B My title is: C Do you have a related four-year degree or above? Name degree: Bachelors (If answered yes, go to Section V. Declaration.) Yes and institution: University D In lieu of a four-year degree, please describe the experience that qualifies you into your profession: E If you are military, law enforcement, or a government employee, please give rank/grade: Section V. DECLARATION I have prayerfully considered all the preceding questions. I now apply for membership in The Gideons International. I also understand that the Membership Committee must examine this application, as it has the responsibility of guarding the Association s membership standards. If accepted, I agree to do the work of the ministry according to the guidelines and policies as determined by the International Cabinet of The Gideons International. Michael K. Williams 1/1/2016 APPLICANT S SIGNATURE Date $15.00 (US currency) Annual Membership OR $ (US currency) Life Membership Payment Options: Cash $ Check $ International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 59

64 Section VI. SPONSORSHIP The information in this section is to be completed only by the sponsor of this applicant. A Source of application for Gideon membership: x Individual Enlistment Annual Membership Dinner Camp Development Plan B I am sponsoring this applicant for the following reasons: He is a devoted servant of the Lord in the church where we both attend. 1. Spiritual: 2. Occupational: (briefly describe type of job, business operation or profession) Sponsor Signature Membership Number IMPORTANT! Please be sure that all applicable blanks are filled in before application form is submitted. C We the Michael is a respected accountant in our community. Homeland Camp recommend this applicant, and confirm the information completed by the applicant in Sections I through IV. Signatures Joe Brown Fred Anderson Bill M. Smith President Secretary (Please tear-off this portion with the Temporary Receipt on back and give to the applicant.) GENERAL INFORMATION The Gideons International is an association of Christian business and professional laymen. It is international in scope and worldwide in outreach. Membership is in The Gideons International, while each member is assigned to a local group called a camp. The camp is more than a fellowship. The need is for men of good report and good standing in their church or fellowship who can participate in the work. Therefore, the standards of the membership need to be kept high. THE FOLLOWING IS QUOTED FROM THE CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OF THE ASSOCIATION: The object of the Gideons is to win others for the Lord Jesus Christ, through: (a) the association of Christian business and professional men for service; (b) personal testimony and personal work by individual Gideons; (c) placing the Bible God s Holy Word or portions thereof, in hotels, hospitals, schools, institutions, and also through the distribution of same for personal use. The membership shall consist of business and professional men*, except clergymen, who believe in the Bible as the inspired Word of God, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the eternal Son of God, have received Him as their personal Saviour, endeavor to follow Him in their daily life, and who are members in good standing of an evangelical or Protestant church, congregation or assembly. Any business or professional man who shall qualify under Article 3 of the Constitution, except those engaged in the manufacture or sale of alcoholic beverages, and except those engaged in business the character of which is inconsistent with accepted Christian standards, is eligible for membership in this Association. *Responsibility for defining these terms for the purpose of Gideon membership is assigned to the International Cabinet under Article 4 of the constitution. 60 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

65 ORGANIZATION CHART 2-29 CAMPS REGIONAL DIRECTOR NATIONAL FIELD COORDINATOR AUXILIARY COORDINATOR SCRIPTURE COORDINATOR ZONE PROGRAM LEADER(S) CHURCH MINISTRY COORDINATOR ZONE PROGRAM LEADER(S) ZONE COORDINATOR CAMPS MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR ZONE PROGRAM LEADER(S) AUXILIARY PROGRAMS LEADER(S) TRAINER 3-5 CAMPS TRAINER 3-5 CAMPS TRAINER 3-5 CAMPS CAMP CAMP CAMP CONTROL LIAISON COUNTRY TREASURER COUNTRY CHAPLAIN REGIONAL FIELD OFFICER International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 61

66 ORGANIZATION CHART CAMPS REGIONAL DIRECTOR FIELD REPRESENTATIVE AUXILIARY COORDINATOR SCRIPTURE COORDINATOR ZONE PROGRAM LEADER(S) CHURCH MINISTRY COORDINATOR ZONE PROGRAM LEADER(S) ZONE COORDINATOR CAMPS MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR ZONE PROGRAM LEADER(S) AUXILIARY PROGRAMS LEADER(S) TRAINER 3-5 CAMPS TRAINER 3-5 CAMPS TRAINER 3-5 CAMPS CAMP CAMP CAMP CONTROL LIAISON COUNTRY TREASURER COUNTRY CHAPLAIN 62 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

67 ORGANIZATION CHART CAMPS REGIONAL DIRECTOR FIELD REPRESENTATIVE FIELD REPRESENTATIVE AUXILIARY COORDINATOR SCRIPTURE COORDINATOR ZONE PROGRAM LEADER(S) CHURCH MINISTRY COORDINATOR ZONE PROGRAM LEADER(S) ZONE COORDINATOR CAMPS MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR ZONE PROGRAM LEADER(S) AUXILIARY PROGRAMS LEADER(S) TRAINER 3-5 CAMPS TRAINER 3-5 CAMPS TRAINER 3-5 CAMPS CAMP CAMP CAMP CONTROL LIAISON COUNTRY TREASURER COUNTRY CHAPLAIN International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 63

68 ORGANIZATION CHART CAMPS REGIONAL DIRECTOR NATIONAL DIRECTOR FIELD REPRESENTATIVE FIELD REPRESENTATIVE AUXILIARY COORDINATOR SCRIPTURE COORDINATOR ZONE PROGRAM LEADER(S) CHURCH MINISTRY COORDINATOR ZONE PROGRAM LEADER(S) ZONE COORDINATOR CAMPS MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR ZONE PROGRAM LEADER(S) AUXILIARY PROGRAMS LEADER(S) TRAINER 3-5 CAMPS TRAINER 3-5 CAMPS TRAINER 3-5 CAMPS CAMP CAMP CAMP CONTROL LIAISON COUNTRY TREASURER COUNTRY CHAPLAIN 64 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon

69 ORGANIZATION CHART 150+ CAMPS REGIONAL DIRECTOR NATIONAL DIRECTOR ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR (GEOGRAPHIC) ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR (GEOGRAPHIC) FIELD REPRESENTATIVE FIELD REPRESENTATIVE FIELD REPRESENTATIVE FIELD REPRESENTATIVE AUXILIARY COORDINATOR SCRIPTURE COORDINATOR ZONE PROGRAM LEADER(S) CHURCH MINISTRY COORDINATOR ZONE PROGRAM LEADER(S) ZONE COORDINATOR CAMPS MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR ZONE PROGRAM LEADER(S) COUNTRY TREASURER AUXILIARY PROGRAMS LEADER(S) TRAINER 3-5 CAMPS TRAINER 3-5 CAMPS TRAINER 3-5 CAMPS CONTROL CAMP CAMP CAMP LIAISON COUNTRY CHAPLAIN International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 65

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71 International Scripture Order and Report Form FORM 903 Complete form and send to Country Scripture Coordinator or International Headquarters any time Scriptures are needed. Date Camp Name Camp Number Country Quantity Requested Language Type of Scripture Quantity Distributed the Past 12 Months? Present Scripture Stock How Many Months Supply in Present Stock? English Only (Full Bible) Blue Burgundy Green Gold Brown English (ESV) Hospital/Hotel Testaments English (KJV) Hospital/Hotel Testaments Hospital/Hotel Testaments (Coat Pocket Size) Medical Testaments (White-Small Pocket Size) Bilingual Testaments Trilingual Testaments Small Pocket (Non - English) with Decision Page English (ESV) Small Pocket with Decision Page English (KJV) Small Pocket with Decision Page English (ESV) Small Pocket without Decision Page English (KJV) Small Pocket without Decision Page Scriptures printedintheenglishlanguageareavailableintheenglishstandardversion (ESV)andthe AuthorizedKingJamesVersion(KJV) aslistedabove. IMPORTANT - FILL IN ALL BLANKS WHERE POSSIBLE. (PLEASE PRINT) Ship Scriptures to: (full name) Shipping Address: (where Scriptures should be sent) Select Type: Home Address Business Address Business Name: (leave blank for home address) Department and/or Office Number: (leave blank for home address) Street Address: (cannot deliver to PO Box) City, State/Province, Postal Code: Country: Address: Telephone: Submitted by: Form PO Box , Nashville, Tennessee , U.S.A. Telephone: (615) Fax: (615) ioscriptures@gideons.org International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon 67

72 68 International Outreach Camp Manual, Gideon