Mission and Outreach Committee
Mission Statement, Principles,
Priorities, and Guidelines

I. Mission Statement:

The First Presbyterian Church of Greenwich is a community of faith that seeks to minister in the name of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit beyond the congregation to those with physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs. The role of the Mission and Outreach Committee is two-fold:

1. To empower the members of the church to perform ministries of mercy by linking them with opportunities for service and by providing guidance and management.
2. To select outreach agencies and ministries according to our Mission and Outreach principles, priorities and guidelines, to pray for them and to provide them with financial support.

II. Principles:

The mission and outreach work of the church is based on the following principles:

1. A top priority of our church is to reach out to the poor, the disenfranchised and the victims of injustice.
2. With humility, we recognize that although we have much to give, those with whom we are serving have much to give as well. Our outreach must not be performed with a paternalistic or arrogant attitude.
3. Our local, national and international community consists of relationships among people whose lives are inextricably linked. There are no boundaries to our ministries of mercy.
4. The mission and outreach work is holistic requiring spiritual, physical, economic, social, educational, cultural, and environmental responses.

III. Priorities:

We give priority to organizations and projects that:

1. Show potential for significant positive results
2. Address underlying causes and seek long-term systemic solutions
3. Address new and emerging problems or approach existing ones more effectively without duplication of service
4. Utilize the service of our church members – as individuals or as a group
5. Leverage financial resources or utilize volunteer services
6. Offer the opportunity for a long-term relationship
7. Show that our contribution makes a significant difference to their organization

IV. Guidelines:

During the annual process to decide which ministries and agencies to support, the committee will make every attempt to:

1. Accept and oversee a manageable number of projects
2. Maintain a balance between local/regional and international projects with a minimum of 30% in each category
3. Support Presbyterian-based ministries.

In all cases the projects that the committee supports must be well managed and follow responsible financial practices.

 

Adopted September, 2001