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About the Board of Mission Overseas

Proclaiming Christ and His Universal Reign - partnering in mission around the world

The Board of Mission Overseas (BMO) administers the overseas mission work of PCI. With mission regarded as an integral part of the Church's life, the BMO draws together representatives from Presbyteries, the Presbyterian Women's Association (PWA) and Youth in order to inform and involve as many people as possible in this important work.

The BMO seeks to maintain and develop appropriate relationships with PCI's partners in mission around the world. It also oversees the selection of all PCI's missionaries; confirming their call; providing appropriate training and preparation; and allocating them to their places and spheres of work.

Financial estimates are prepared annually for submission to the United Appeal Board with all funds received by the BMO being administered in the interests of the work of mission outside Ireland. In addition, the funding of this work is supplemented by generous 'extra mile' giving by congregations, organisations and individuals. The BMO also receives significant grants from Irish Aid for approved overseas development projects.

The BMO provides information and organises events which help to keep members of PCI informed about the mission opportunities and needs overseas, and how they can both support, and be directly involved in, God's mission to the world. Members of staff are on hand to handle questions about service overseas and to meet with individuals or groups to give help and guidance. Training and advice is also available for those planning to engage in short-term mission projects overseas.

Through bodies such as the Mission Agencies Partnership (MAP) – a local association of church-based and independent mission agencies – Global Connections (formerly the Evangelical Missionary Alliance) and Global Mission Network (formerly the Churches' Commission on Mission), the BMO seeks to maintain a network of contacts with those involved in world mission and to keep up to date with developing trends in mission participation around the globe.

BMO's Vision, Purpose and Values

The BMO's vision for the future is to serve a mission-hearted church. It is one thing to be mission-minded, but we also need to be enlivened in our hearts with a passion for mission, that we might fulfil effectively our purpose which is to proclaim Christ and His universal reign. In the BMO we believe that mission is not just one of the Church's activities, but is at the heart of all its activities; indeed mission is fundamental to its very existence.

We aim to pursue our purpose in the future by upholding values that have become important distinctives for our Church in mission overseas down through the years.

In this regard, we are eager to be:

	God-Centred Desiring to glorify the Father, to fix our gaze upon His Son, Jesus Christ, and to be led by the Holy Spirit in all we are and do
	People-Focused Because God more often than not, reaches people through people, and ultimately direct personal missional encounter is crucial
	Church-Based With a commitment to the building up, in the first instance, of church to church partnerships for mutual encouragement, challenge, witness and ministry
	Forward-Thinking Trusting for discernment to recognise and creatively respond to new God-given opportunities, and developing new spheres and methods of service

Partnering in Mission

In line with its core values of being 'church-based' and 'people-focused', the BMO works in partnership with churches, mission agencies and institutions worldwide, proclaiming the Gospel in word and action, both directly (through personnel) and indirectly (mainly through financial grants).

In practice, this means working alongside our mission partners in a variety of ways, including in evangelism, church planting, theological and Bible training (particularly for leaders), medical and health work, education, development and social witness.

In July 2007, the BMO had 46 missionaries working in 11 countries; and around 30 mission partners in 24 countries on four continents.

Board Structure

John Hanna

The BMO is appointed by and is responsible to the General Assembly. Representative of the whole of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, membership is around 100 with a proportion of new members joining each year as others come to the end of their period of service. The Board Convener is appointed by the General Assembly and can serve for a maximum of seven years. The current Convener, Rev John Hanna, minister in Glendermott and a former missionary to Indonesia, took up office in June 2007.

The work of the Board is shared by four Assembly-appointed Committees; the focus of each reflecting the BMO's priorities. Committee Conveners are also General Assembly appointees and, like the Board Convener, they too can serve for a maximum term of seven years. From time to time, these committees may appoint small working-groups to help carry out detailed work on their behalf. Such groups normally have a 'time limited' and 'task specific' brief.

Peter Lyle	Mission Involvement Committee (MIC) Convener: Rev Peter Lyle – Appointed: June, 2006 (Minister in Ballyholme) Mission is the calling not simply of individual missionaries but of the whole Church at every level. The MIC aims to provide resources that help develop the missional identity and responsibility of all our members; and, at the right time, enable appropriate and effective mission involvement oversees.
Gordon Campbell	Leadership Development Committee (LDC) Convener: Rev Dr Gordon Campbell – Appointed: June, 2006 (Professor of New Testament Studies, UTC) We rejoice in the growth and vitality of some of our partner churches, especially in the Southern Hemisphere. The focus of the LDC highlights our desire to share with them in facing up to the challenges such growth brings, and our commitment to the equipping of indigenous church leaders
Stephen Richmond	Outreach Ministries Committee (OMC) Convener: Rev Stephen Richmond – Appointed: June, 2006 (Minister in Donegal and Ballyshannon) Through the OMC we are seeking to build on our existing relationships with partner churches around the world; sharing with them in God's call to make disciples, especially amongst those who have never heard the gospel.
Mark Gray	World Development Committee (WDC) Convener: Rev Dr Mark Gray – Appointed: June, 2004 (Minister in Cooke Centenary) The WDC aims to see our Church share in God's creative and just purposes in active compassion for all He has made, such that all peoples might know fullness of life in Jesus Christ. The WDC is responsible for planning, promoting and overseeing the annual World Development Appeal which helps fund Christian Aid and Tear Fund supported development projects in various parts of the world.

The Board and its 'Assembly' Committees normally meet twice yearly, in February or March and again in September or October. Additional meetings are arranged, if needed. The members of three 'Board' Committees – Finance, Personnel and Steering – are appointed by the BMO; they meet as required, at various times throughout the year.

All 21 Presbyteries within PCI, and many congregations, have mission agents who seek to give a lead in ensuring that support for and involvement in overseas mission is an integral part of the life and work of the local congregation.

Oversight and Administration

Uel Marrs

Responsibility for, and oversight of, the BMO's missionary personnel, its relations with partner churches and missions overseas, and the day to day administration of its work, lies with the Board's full time staff, who are based in the Mission Overseas Office on the second floor of Church House, located close to Belfast City centre. The BMO's full-time staff team, which is led by the Rev Uel Marrs (Overseas Secretary), comprises two executive officers, Nigel Eves (Mission Education) and Helen Johnston (Personnel Overseas), plus four full-time and two part-time administrative/secretarial staff.

Selection, Training and Service Overseas

Helen Johnston

The BMO regularly receives requests from overseas partner churches and mission organisations for PCI personnel to assist them in a variety of ways. On some occasions, the BMO will take the initiative, particularly when it has enquiries from those who have a clear call from God to serve in His mission in an overseas context and are seeking to find a suitable placement. Before responding to any request, time is taken to prayerfully and carefully consider all aspects of the potential service opportunity overseas, including measuring it against the BMO's Purpose, Values and Priorities, as well as considering its impact on the Board's limited resources. Of course, the BMO cannot fulfil every request it receives. All missionary candidates are required to undergo a period of training and preparation. The nature and duration of training varies and depends on the person(s), the location and nature of their work, and their anticipated length of service. Long-term service requires a commitment of four or more years. Short-term service is normally for a minimum of two years, though volunteers are sometimes required for shorter periods. Those serving long-term are provided with a living allowance related to the cost of living in their country of service, along with a home allowance to help make provision for their future when their period of overseas service comes to an end. Pastoral care and prayer support is provided for all. The BMO organises all-age mission teams that normally go overseas in the summer months for around two weeks at a time. While most teams typically engage in outreach ministry through children's or youth work, English language camps or practical work, some go primarily to learn about the life and witness of a partner church and to encourage its members.

Advisory Service to Congregations and Members

Nigel Eves

The BMO exists to serve PCI and its members. One way in which the BMO's work has been developing in recent years is the provision not just of deputation speakers and information about mission overseas but also in offering advice and encouragement to local congregational leaders, as they seek to inspire and involve their members in God's mission worldwide. Members of staff are on hand to receive enquiries or answer questions about service overseas; or to meet with individuals or mission committees to give help and guidance. The BMO also provides training and practical advice to presbytery and congregational teams, as well as individual members of PCI, who are planning to engage in short-term mission projects overseas.

Prayer Support

Through the annual Points for Prayer Handbook and weekly Overseas Prayerline bulletins, individuals and congregations are encouraged to keep up to date with the latest news from our mission partners and missionary personnel overseas and to support them through regular, focused and well-informed prayer.

Overseas Prayerline is available direct via email (register your email address with the Mission Overseas Office); from the PCI website: www.presbyterianireland.org; in printed form from Church House Reception; or in shortened form, as a recorded message – Tel: (028) 9041 7308. If calling from the ROI, remember to use the prefix (048) instead of (028).

In addition, each missionary has a Prayer Card and produces Prayer Letters from time to time.

Financial Support

Each year the BMO receives financial support through the church-wide United Appeal (£1 m or €1.48 m in 2007), while valued contributions are received through projects run by the Presbyterian Women's Association, Young Women's Groups, Board of Youth & Children's Ministry and Boys' Brigade Junior Section.

We are grateful for the many churches, groups and individuals who, through 'extra-mile giving', help fund the work of the Board, its missionaries and a wide variety of mission projects overseas. The BMO also receives significant grants from Irish Aid for approved overseas development projects.

Through the World Development Appeal, around £600,000 (€890,000) is raised annually with 95% of these funds being split equally between Christian Aid and Tear Fund and going to sustainable development projects in various parts of the world. The balance is allocated by the BMO to emergency aid or urgent development needs of overseas partners.