YOUTH & FAMILY MINISTRIES COMMISSION These Programs and Goals have been established to give direction to the Commission, the Local Church, Pastors and Laity in our ministry together for our Lord Jesus Christ. H - 1
YOUTH & FAMILY MINISTRIES COMMISSION GENERAL PROGRAM I. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMISSION 1. The Biblical Foundation, I Corinthians 15:58 and Ephesians 6:7-8 (NIV) "...Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." "Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free." 2. The Statement of Purpose: To plan, coordinate, give guidance and extend support to the ministries of the laity of our Conference and our churches, and to promote support for the programs and ministries of the CGGC Youth and Family Ministries. II. LAITY WORK A. Conference Level 1. Representatives of the Allegheny Region Conference CGWM, CGYA and Bible Quizzing shall attend the meetings of this Commission, and have voting privileges with the Commission only. 2. Through the Conference Office facilities, mailings to the Lay groups in the local churches will be implemented by maintaining a mailing list for each church lay group. 3. We shall require the Conference CGWM and CGYA to submit their complete programs for their Rallies for approval by the Commission. We encourage these groups to plan programs that are varied and appealing and to adequately publicize them. 4. The commission will help plan Rallies in all Districts and promote participation. B. Local Church Level 1. We recommend that a CGWM, CGYA, Men's Ministry, Senior Fellowship and a Youth & Family Ministries Commission be established in every church and a person be selected to promote Conference programs in the church. 2. We encourage each church to establish activities and ministries for people not in these organizations, such as: women, men, youth, children, singles, single parents, senior citizens, families, the handicapped, the homeless, etc. 3. We encourage every church to distribute The Church Advocate and Missionary Signal to every family in the church. 4. We encourage every church to be represented at the CGWM and CGYA Rallies, the Conference Men & Boys Prayer Breakfast, Senior Life Activities, etc. 5. We encourage each church to designate a Lay representative for each lay organization (CGWM, Men's Ministry, CGYA, and Senior Life Fellowship) to which all mail and publicity may be addressed. 6. We encourage every lay person to be more committed to Christ and the Church, to become involved in the total program of the church and encourage Leadership Training in the local church. 7. We encourage those who are away from home to seek out and worship with a local congregation as they would at home. 8. We encourage pastors to provide the name and address of the nearest church of our denomination to those of H - 2
their flock who may be moving. We also encourage the pastor to contact a Church of God pastor in the area to which the family is moving with the family's name, address and telephone number when possible. 9. We encourage family devotions and Bible study in every home. 10. We encourage every lay person to witness wherever they are of the Good News of Christ. 11. We encourage every church to involve its men, women and youth groups in Laity Sunday programs each year. Each church should schedule special recognition Sundays for youth, women's, men's & senior life ministries according to denominational/regional calendar. 12. We encourage that each church make a definite effort to acquaint more of its members with the contents of each Commissions' Programs and Goals. We suggest that each church schedule a Sunday evening or midweek or a special service for the purpose of sharing these programs with the congregation. This service should be scheduled as soon after the Conference Sessions as possible. As an alternative, we suggest that a few minutes of the morning worship hour can be used each Sunday following Conference until the program is covered. C. Program Goals for the Churches of God Women's Ministries (CGWM). 1. Promote the Thank Offering and encourage an attitude of thanksgiving in daily life. 2. Promote the Spring and Fall Rallies and the Spring Retreat in Findlay, Ohio. 3. Strive to know our missionaries personally by using prayer requests and the Missionary Signal. 4. Support Grove Manor Home and The Caring Place both financially and through visitation. 5. Make every effort to include every woman in the ARC churches to participate in the programs of Women's Ministries in their church. D. Program Goals for Conference Men's Ministry 1. Each Church of God should have a Men's Ministry with prayer and Bible Study. 2. Each church should encourage all men to participate in Conference activities including Men and Boys Prayer Breakfast and by so doing strengthen the local men's ministries. 3. Make a special emphasis that as many men as possible from all churches be involved in Camp Work Retreats, Conferences and Workshops of the Allegheny Region Conference. Also encourage as many as possible to be involved and attend Promise Keepers events. E. Program Goals for the Churches of God Youth Advance 1. Our motto: Come Give Your All 2. Continue to make the Penny Pile grow at the CGYA Rallies. 3. Encourage the youth to participate in all Conference youth activities, church camp, Bible Quizzing and ACTS Team, etc. 4. Encourage local CGYA groups to take an active part in their local church program and Conference programs as a unified group. 5. Encourage each CGYA to register with the Allegheny Region Conference as an active CGYA. 6. Encourage each church to have a Youth Delegate at the Annual Allegheny Region Conference Sessions. 7. Encourage programs that would motivate youth to develop a deeper commitment to daily prayer and Bible H - 3
study. 8. Encourage each church to have a Bible Quizzing Team(s). F. Program Goals for Senior Fellowship 1. Encourage every church to have a Senior Fellowship. 2. Encourage any adult to attend Forever Friends Camp. III. EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS 1. Sunday School and Bible Study materials may be ordered through the General Conference Office. IV. WORKSHOPS 1. This commission will sponsor and encourage such programs and activities as workshops, demonstration classes etc. to assist, encourage and instruct churches and church leaders to better equip themselves for service in the local church and community. Such promotion shall include marriage and family consultation, guidance and ministry to children and youth, general church program planning and other related areas. V. STEWARDSHIP EDUCATION 1. This commission will encourage churches to give to the ministries of the Allegheny Region Conference and the General Conference in accordance with their fair share determined according to the formula set forth in the Conference Constitution. 2. Churches are encouraged to give above and beyond their fair share. Both the Allegheny Region Conference and the General Conference have ministries which depend solely on the designated giving of churches and individuals. Churches are encouraged to study the General Conference Budget Ministries booklet and select ministries that they wish to support. 3. Encourage planned giving through wills and living trusts. A suggested polity for churches receiving such gifts is included in the Supplemental Material, Section I. Additional information is available by contacting the Conference Office. 4. Responsible stewardship includes sound financial planning. Video tape resources on this subject are available through the Conference Office. SEE "Resources" Section R. VI. SOCIAL CONCERNS 1. This Commission shall with the approval of the Conference Administrative Council communicate to the churches current items of social concern and suggested actions. Suggested actions will be consistent with the stated positions of the Allegheny Region Conference and the General Conference. 2. This commission may from time to time recommend to the Conference Administrative Council items of social concern for the action of the conference. H - 4
YOUTH & FAMILY MINISTRIES COMMISSION SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL The Supplemental Material contains additional information pertaining to the Commission's area of responsibility. This material is changed only when it is deemed necessary. This additional information may be in the form of established guidelines and/or requirements for a particular program, report forms, evaluation forms, questionnaires or etc. H - 5
GUIDELINES FOR CHURCH VANS AND BUS MINISTRIES 1. The Federal Highway Administrator (FHWA) of the Department of Transportation passed federal regulations on busses and vans effective January 1, 1995. The regulations divide private motor carriers of passengers into 2 classifications: business (Commercial) private motor carriers of passengers and non-business private motor carriers of passengers. a. A church should contact appropriate State offices to determine classification guidelines and license requirements for their van or bus. 2. Secure proper and adequate insurance coverage. Keep in mind that in case of an accident a law suit could come back on the property and holdings of the church. (A larger amount of coverage costs only a few dollars more than the basic coverage. This is not the place to save money.) 3. Secure competent drivers: Only use drivers with a safe driving record. Do not use drivers that cannot personally purchase auto insurance coverage or can only purchase high risk auto insurance coverage. 4. Keep vehicle and equipment in good mechanical condition and be carefully and regularly maintained by a qualified mechanic. H - 6
PLANNED GIVING Resources God has blessed us with are often dissipated and lost to the Church and its many ministries because there has been no planning for what happens to these resources, following our death. Whether they are limited or extensive, whether we are "rich" or "poor", as good stewards we need to make sure that our personal resources, their final use being under our control, gives a good witness to our Christian stewardship. 1. Many of our current ministries as well as future ones could be substantially supported for years to come if Christians in our churches would take positive steps to: (a) (b) Make sure an updated "will" is in readiness to distribute our assets (whether little or much) as we believe the Lord wants us to; and, Make certain your local church or some ministry of the larger church, in keeping with your interests or preference is provided for in your "will". We would like to suggest a minimum provision of at least "a tithe" of one's estate --10% of the estate, designated for the church or one of its many ministries. We will offer assistance in this decision and an information card is available from the Conference Office that can be used to initiate your desire to provide some planned giving for the church. The long-term benefit of this program can have untold value to the Church -- it's present and future ministries. 2. Such Planned Giving cannot replace or adversely affect "Budgetary Giving" and we need to take positive steps to make certain it does not. To do this we offer a "Policy Statement" to be adopted by each local congregation as a part of their "Planned Giving" program. Recommended Policy Statement on Bequests to the Church. The church encourages and recognizes that persons will provide for bequests to the church via their will and that the church must be ready, as good stewards, to properly use that money. Where a bequest is made, and not designated for a specific purpose, then the church must have in place, appropriate policy so as to not have the congregation at any time come to depend on either the principal or interest income from such bequests to meet the current operating expense budget of the church. To do this is to establish a very poor stewardship responsibility. Accordingly, the following policy is recommended: "When the Church of God at is the recipient of a bequest by will or such other legal instrument; and the instrument does not specify what the money and/or real property, stocks or bonds etc., is to be used for, then the principal of the bequest may be spent for "non-operating expenses" (which are budgeted) or may be invested with the earnings therefrom, being used only for "non-operating expenses." Such "non-operating expenses" may include but not be limited to: "Scholarship Aid to a student from the church who is preparing for full-time Christian Service at our own denominational Seminary or at a denominationally approved alternative school; equipment purchase not customarily a part of the annual budget; supplemental contributions to missions, church development or evangelism etc., over and above any budgeted benevolence; and for such other purposes, as may be determined from time to time by the church council, that are clearly not "current expense items". This policy in effect prohibits using bequest income for current expenses thus protecting the congregation from relying on such income to keep the church operating. H - 7