Standards Statement

A Commission of the Australian Evangelical Alliance Inc

PREAMBLE

Missions Interlink is the operating name for the Missions Commission of the Australian Evangelical Alliance Inc. We are a national association with state branches, whose membership is made up of mission agencies, Bible Colleges and related organisations. At our 1994 National Forum we adopted a Standards Statement which depicts the ideals which we espouse. We publish them here as an expression of our desire to be accountable and to walk in integrity before God and a watching world.

OUR PURPOSE

To link mission agencies and related organisations enabling them to act nationally in promoting cross-cultural mission, in sharing resources, and in planning joint initiatives.

Missions Interlink, in formulating this declaration of its standards, seeks to establish a continuing basis for confidence in the missionary movement throughout the Australian evangelical community. Members of Missions Interlink will be seen by all concerned as those who value the integrity of their organisations and are prepared to accept the scrutiny of their peers with regard to their activities. Members' compliance with these standards will be reviewed in line with the Regulations.

The high standards at the core of Missions Interlink are exemplified in the following statements. These standards provide the foundation for support by the Christian community.

1. MEMBERSHIP STANDARDS

PREAMBLE: Membership of Missions Interlink is open to Australian Christian missions and organisations as defined in Section 4 of the Missions Interlink Regulations.

1.1 Each member shall subscribe to the Statement of Faith of the Australian Evangelical Alliance and the core values and standards of Missions Interlink as set out herein.

1.2 Each member shall seek to participate in the activities of Missions Interlink, including national conferences.

1.3 Eligibility for membership shall be open to review as deemed necessary by the National Leadership Team of Missions Interlink, as provided for under Regulation 4.8. 

2. DOCTRINAL STANDARDS AND PURPOSE

2.1 Each member shall either have a written statement of its theological basis which is not in conflict with the Statement of Faith of the Australian Evangelical Alliance or, alternatively, be able to demonstrate from its historical documents that its theological basis is not in conflict with the Statement of Faith of the Australian Evangelical Alliance. (Appendix 1)

2.2 Each member shall have a written Mission or Purpose Statement which is available to the Christian public.  

3. ORGANISATIONAL AND OPERATIONAL STANDARDS

3.1 Each member shall have a governing instrument (e.g. constitution, regulations, articles of association) which clearly defines its organisational and accountability structures within Australia.

3.2 Each member shall have a mechanism for constructive or critical input from independent persons other than staff or family members, or a formally established advisory group comprising independent persons.

3.3 In the interests of fellowship and the wise use of resources, when a member seeks to expand into new areas or dimensions of ministry which overlap the ministry of another agency affiliated with either Missions Interlink or the World Evangelical Alliance, the member shall consult with that agency. Where decisions relating to expansion are taken by the member's International Office, the Australian Branch shall inform relevant members as soon as appropriate. The Missions Interlink National Leadership Team is available for consultation.

3.4 Members shall avoid making any presentation which may in any way misrepresent or adversely reflect upon another member.

3.5 Members shall seek to resolve any conflict between agencies or organisations in ways in accord with Biblical principles.

4. FINANCIAL STANDARDS

4.1 The Balance Sheet and Income and Expenditure Accounts of each member shall be prepared annually, and shall be audited externally by a registered auditor. If a registered auditor is neither legally required nor justified by the size or nature of the operation, the audit will be conducted by a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants or the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants, or a person otherwise appropriately qualified. The accounts and audit shall conform to all requirements of the applicable regulatory bodies in Australia.

4.2 Each member shall have available for its constituency a clear and appropriate financial statement which has been approved by its auditor.

4.3 Each member shall act at all times in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and practices which include:

4.3.1. prompt banking of all funds received, proper budget planning, regular reviews of controls and procedures, and compliance with statutory and legal obligations;

4.3.2 the use of designated funds according to designated purposes;

4.3.3. the implementation of safeguards which prevent involvement in, or the appearance of cooperating in, schemes involving evasion of taxes.

4.4 All communications designed to raise funds shall avoid creating a false impression and be truthful as to fact, description and time frame.

4.5 Each member may apply that proportion of its income which is reasonable and necessary under the circumstances towards the cost of fund raising and administration, including a proportion of applicable designated funds. All funds committed to this purpose should be clearly reflected in financial reports made available to the constituency.

5. PERSONNEL STANDARDS

5.1 RECRUITMENT

Each member shall be expected to exercise integrity, care, and confidentiality in the process of recruiting new personnel (paid or volunteer) and shall endeavour to maintain an awareness of the needs of other members so as to direct potential candidates to the most appropriate agency.

5.1.1 Members shall refrain from encouraging potential candidates to redirect their interest after they have made a commitment to another member.

5.1.2. Members shall refrain from encouraging personnel associated with another member to redirect their interest without prior consultation with the other member.

5.2 TRAINING

Each member shall endeavour to ensure that its personnel are appropriately prepared for their anticipated ministry and, where applicable, for life within the cross-cultural context.

5.3 ASSIGNMENT

In the assignment of workers, it is expected that members will give consideration to the guidance of the Spirit of God, the counsel of the sending church, the motivation and giftedness of the worker, the availability of adequate supervision and care, and where applicable, the counsel of the receiving body.

5.4 CARE

Each member shall seek to provide pastoral care for its personnel to encourage their spiritual growth and Godly living.

Each member shall seek to explain all policies to its personnel including job descriptions, lines of authority, and financial and prayer support responsibilities.
 

APPLICATION OF THE ABOVE STANDARDS

The National Leadership Team of Missions Interlink shall have authority to review any membership in accordance with Section 1.3 above.

Prior to the consideration of any suspension or termination of membership by the National Leadership Team, an opportunity will be given to the member to discuss the proposed review of eligibility of membership with the Leadership Team. (Refer to Regulation 4.8) 

Any unresolved dispute about membership may be referred by either the member or Missions Interlink to the Board of the Australian Evangelical Alliance Inc for a final decision.

DISCLAIMER: This publication reflects the Standards which Missions Interlink believes the community should expect of its Members. Missions Interlink endeavours to ensure that its Members maintain the high standards set out in this document. However, no person should assume that by reason of membership of Missions Interlink, a Member in fact attains the standards Missions Interlink prescribes.

 

APPENDIX 1

AUSTRALIAN EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE INC

We worship the only God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, whose creative, outgoing love overflowed from the divine community to create the universe and who calls us to share in eternal life and love and to participate in the fulfilment of divine purposes.

In grace and humility Jesus, the only Son of the Father, shared our humanity and became our example of service and sacrifice. Out of love for the world he suffered the consequences of our sin and died in order to overcome the power of the evil one; to release humanity from alienation from God and from being captive to self-centred sinfulness; and to restore a disordered creation. The power of the Father defeated death and brought new life to Jesus who now reigns as Lord of all and who, through the active presence of the Spirit, calls for repentance, brings the possibility of forgiveness, and gives new life to all those who live in union with him.

Christians live in love by the power of the Spirit, who is the Spirit of Jesus, as a single community of God’s people. We are filled with the Spirit who transforms lives and characters according to the example of the Lord Jesus, and the church is built up by the gifts of ministry and service which the Spirit brings. The life of the church is guided by God through the Scriptures which are uniquely inspired and the final authority for Christian faith and practice.

As a community of those who worship God and live in fellowship we are called to bring to everyone the good news of the salvation which can only be found in life with the Lord Jesus Christ. We are committed to work for justice in every society and to protect and enhance God’s creation. While working for the kingdom in the present we also look forward to the return of the Lord Jesus bringing justice to all and the glorious, perfect kingdom of God.

This statement of faith should not be regarded as implying that the truths expressed in it constitute the only important truths of the faith. It is understood by the Alliance as being consistent with the historic statements of faith such as the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, and also with the AEA Doctrinal Statement and the Statement of Faith of the World Evangelical Alliance.

(Approved by AEA National Council March 2001)

 

APPENDIX 2

STATEMENT OF CORE VALUES

Member organisations share a common commitment to the following core values.

1. The Nature of Mission

We believe that Mission

a. Has its source in the self-giving love of the Triune God
b. Is the responsibility of all God's people and grows out of participation in a worshipping community
c. Involves proclaiming and living the Gospel especially where it is unknown, ignored or repudiated
d. Embraces holistic involvement in both evangelism and social concern
e. Requires personal experience of salvation in Christ and life in the Spirit

2. The Context of Mission

We take seriously

a. The historical and cultural identity of all people-groups as God's creatures
b. The need to communicate God's unchanging Gospel meaningfully and relevantly to all people-groups
c. The power inherent in cultures, including our own, to distort the truth
d. Any opposition present in non-Christian world-views and belief systems to God's purposes in his world

3. The Central Convictions undergirding Mission

We uphold and proclaim

a. The love of the Triune God for his creation, the peoples of the world all made in his image, and their accountability to him
b. The authority and full trustworthiness of the Bible
c. The necessity of salvation found only in Christ, to avoid the consequences of sin which has distorted the essential dignity of humanity and caused its alienation from God through the fall
d. The uniqueness of Christ and the centrality of his death, resurrection, present rule and future personal return, and the necessity of personal faith in him
e. The transforming and enabling work and gifts of the Holy Spirit


(As Amended November 2007)