February 13, 2004

General Assembly Council Purpose Statement
(adapted from the Book of Order)

The General Assembly Council, led and empowered by the Triune God, provides visionary leadership in the development and implementation of the General Assembly's mission directives, supports governing bodies in our common mission, and acts on behalf of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on policy matters when the General Assembly is not in session.

General Assembly Council Vision Statement
(adapted from the Organization for Mission)

We envision our congregations, presbyteries, synods, General Assembly and ecumenical partners, singly and together, being so inspired and nurtured by the gospel of Jesus Christ that ministries are vibrant and inviting. We pray that all will be drawn irresistibly into ministries reflecting the love and justice of Jesus, with immediate neighborhoods and the whole of the world as arenas in which the gospel is to be proclaimed and lived.

General Assembly Council Mission Statement
(adapted from the Book of Order)

The mission of the General Assembly Council, with congregations and governing bodies, is to offer the world a visible witness of Jesus Christ through (1) the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind; (2) the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God; (3) the maintenance of divine worship; (4) the preservation of the truth; (5) the promotion of social righteousness; and (6) the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world.

General Assembly Council Core Values

The General Assembly Council is a community of believers centered in Jesus Christ and grounded in scripture, prayer, and our confessional heritage. Relying on the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, the General Assembly Council is guided by these core values:

• Celebration
  Embracing our Reformed tradition through Word and Sacrament
  
• Proclamation
  Listening for and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ
  
• Stewardship
  Giving, working and living faithfully and responsibly
  
• Nurture
  Supporting and caring for each other
  
• Trust
  Communicating with integrity
  
• Openness
  Expecting to be transformed by the God of Justice and Love
  
• Partnership
  Living in community with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and people of the world
  
• Vision
  Serving with joy, living in hope, hearing and responding to diverse voices and obeying God’s will

2005-2006 Mission Work Plan Priority Goals

We are called to forge a vital partnership with one another, marked by mutual respect, openness, and daily repentance and forgiveness.

Evangelism and Witness
We are called to invite all people to faith, repentance, and the abundant life of God in Jesus Christ, to encourage congregations in joyfully sharing the Gospel, and through the power of the Holy Spirit to grow in membership and discipleship.

Justice and Compassion
We are called to address wrongs in every aspect of life and the whole of creation, intentionally working with and on behalf of poor, oppressed, and disadvantaged people as did Jesus Christ, even at risk to our corporate and personal lives.

Spirituality and Discipleship
We are called to deeper discipleship through scripture, worship, prayer, study, stewardship and service, and to rely on the Holy Spirit to mold our lives more and more into the likeness of Jesus Christ.

Leadership and Vocation
We are called to lead by Jesus Christ's example, to identify spiritual gifts, and to equip and support Christians of all ages for faithful and effective servant leadership in all parts of the body of Christ.

GAC Role/Identity (to be retitled)
We are called to address opportunities and concerns which clarify the role and responsibilities of the GAC in the life of the PC(USA).

2005-2006 Mission Work Plan Objectives

(under each goal, in priority order)

We are called to forge a vital partnership with one another, marked by mutual respect, openness, and daily repentance and forgiveness.

Evangelism and Witness (goal)
We are called to invite all people to faith, repentance, and the abundant life of God in Jesus Christ, to encourage congregations in joyfully sharing the Gospel, and through the power of the Holy Spirit to grow in membership and discipleship.

By the 217th General Assembly the General Assembly Council will seek to achieve these objectives:

1. Provide resources, models and networks for church development and congregational transformation.
2. Encourage and support new church development that emphasizes racial-ethnic and new immigrant groups, through program support and special efforts like the Mission Initiative: Joining Hearts and Hands Campaign.
3. Engage in witness and evangelism internationally where there is a need to share the gospel for the first time, where witness to the gospel is endangered, and where the church is dealing with dynamic growth.
4. Make available a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) awareness campaign focused on youth and young adults and racial-ethnic persons.
5. Support and facilitate networks in small church and rural ministries.
6. Raise awareness of camps and conference centers as contexts for evangelism.

Justice and Compassion (goal)
We are called to address wrongs in every aspect of life and the whole of creation, intentionally working with and on behalf of poor, oppressed, and disadvantaged people as did Jesus Christ, even at risk to our corporate and personal lives.

By the 217th General Assembly the General Assembly Council will seek to achieve these objectives:

1. Respond to poverty, disasters and the impact of economic globalization through compassionate ministries, community health initiatives and support for the self-help efforts of people who are poor.
2. Advocate for social, environmental and economic justice in accordance with GA policy and direction and assist other governing bodies in advocacy efforts.
3. Advocate for peace and nonviolence in accord with GA policy and direction, and aid other governing bodies in peacemaking efforts.

Spirituality and Discipleship (goal)
We are called to deeper discipleship through scripture, worship, prayer, study, stewardship and service, and to rely on the Holy Spirit to mold our lives more and more into the likeness of Jesus Christ.

By the 217th General Assembly the General Assembly Council will seek to achieve these objectives:

1. Create and provide to the church educational resources for people of all ages that undergird our work together.
2. Promote experiences of the worldwide church that opens us to God’s transforming love for more faithful lives of witness and mission.
3. Recognize, celebrate and practice different styles of Christian spirituality within the Reformed tradition.
4. Provide stewardship resources, models and training to encourage a spirit of generosity.

Leadership and Vocation (goal)
We are called to lead by Jesus Christ's example, to identify spiritual gifts, and to equip and support people for faithful and effective servant leadership in all parts of the body of Christ.

By the 217th General Assembly the General Assembly Council will seek to achieve these objectives:

1. Provide and promote resources for leadership development of Ministers of Word and Sacrament, church officers, commissioned lay pastors, and church educators.
2. Develop, nurture and empower leaders for international mission in partners churches, especially those that are emerging or that are experiencing dynamic growth.
3. Provide support for congregations and governing bodies in the identification and placement of pastoral leadership and other church staff.
4. Encourage Christian vocation, especially among young people.
5. Develop and maintain an internet clearinghouse for best practices and shared ministries.
6. Collaborate with other General Assembly entities in providing assistance to congregations and governing bodies finding it difficult to call (obtain) pastoral leadership.
7. Engage with seminaries in a two-year period of discernment and discussion about strengthening the relationship between the GAC and the PC(USA) seminaries.

GAC Role/Identity (goal) — (needs different title)
We are called to address opportunities and concerns which clarify the role and responsibilities of the GAC in the life of the PC(USA).

By the 217th General Assembly the General Assembly Council will seek to achieve these objectives:

1. Develop and initiate a communication strategy for the positive presentation of the mission and ministries of the PC(USA).
2. Develop and propose a conceptual framework for a new mission funding system for the PC(USA).
3. Evaluate, develop and propose a structure of the GAC elected body that will strengthen connectedness with presbyteries.
4. Evaluate and assess the ‘05-‘06 Mission Work Plan, revise it as needed for the ‘07-‘08 plan, and plan and initiate a long-range planning process for the GAC.

2005-2006 Mission Work Plan Action Steps

(to be developed after the 216th General Assembly)

Definitions

Role/Purpose Statement: the role and purpose statement defines the purpose of the General Assembly Council, its responsibilities, and the role it plays in the life of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Vision Statement: a vision statement describes the organization and its impact in the future. A vision is guided by dreams, not constraints-it is what an organization hopes will happen.

Mission Statement: a mission statement is the expression of the need the organization meets, and a brief summary of what the organization does to meet that need.

Core Values: the core values define the essential and enduring character of a particular organization. Core values are the glue that hold an organization together. They are principles, not practices-beliefs, not ministries-and they are few in number.

Goals: goals state in broad terms the principal program, development, administrative or other major accomplishments the organization hopes to achieve to realize its vision and fulfill its mission.

Objectives: objectives carry out the goals and provide more details, answering the “who will do what by when.” Objectives should be SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, time-determined.

Action Steps: action steps outline the exact activities necessary to achieve the goal and objectives by answering what, who, how, when, and the resources needed.

Mission: God's saving and reconciling work in the world for which the church is called into being.

Ministries: modes of presence, service or work that provide nurture, care and worship in the name of Christ.

Programs: named sets of activities and resources designed to further stated goals and objectives authorized by the General Assembly

Restricted funds: restricted funds that are to be used for specific purposes and programs, generally at the direction and wish of the donor.

Unrestricted funds: unrestricted funds do not have restrictions on their use and are given to support the mission of the whole church.