1. Christian Experience
NAMB fills each position with a person who has accepted Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior, who lives his/her Christian faith, and who is a participating church member. There is to be evidence of a commitment to Christian discipleship, spiritual growth, and personal evangelism.
2. Theological Integrity
Missions personnel are to maintain theological convictions consistent with the most current "Baptist Faith and Message” as adopted by the SBC.
3. Physical and Emotional Health
Missions personnel are to have sufficient physical and emotional health to execute successfully ministry responsibilities.
4. Financial Responsibility
Missions personnel are to practice sound biblical stewardship, both personally and professionally. They should not go in debt beyond their ability to pay. Missions personnel should understand that their support is a result of generous giving through the Cooperative Program and Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. Therefore, they should promote and lead others to participate in these offerings.
5. Church Membership
Missions personnel are to be an active member, in good standing, of a cooperating Southern Baptist church. Missionary candidates are to be an active member of a Southern Baptist church for two years immediately prior to approval.
6. Personal Growth And Development
Missions personnel are expected to show continued personal growth and professional development.
7. Evangelism Commitment
Missions personnel are expected to be committed to and consistent in presenting the gospel. Personal evangelism is considered to be a foundational expectation for missionaries and missionary candidates. Missionary candidates are required to complete a comprehensive evangelism course. Appropriate courses include those with class study and field mentorship. Should a missionary candidate not meet the evangelism training requirement, approval is granted with the commitment by the candidate to receive the training within 12 following appointment.
8. Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
Affiliation with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is a sensitive issue. Missions personnel are expected not to be in a leadership role, or be in sympathy with, the CBF.
1. Alcohol and Substance Abuse
Missions personnel are expected to abstain from the use of alcohol and illegal drugs. They will neither advocate nor condone the use of alcohol as a beverage or the illegal use of drugs, marijuana or other controlled substances. When candidates are considered for appointment, there must be at least 12 months abstinence prior to appointment.
2. Homosexuality And Sexual Immorality
Missions personnel who practice sexual immorality or deviance, such as homosexuality, will be terminated.
3. Abortion
Missions personnel must embrace the sanctity of human life, both of the born and unborn.
4. Tobacco Use
Since tobacco use is harmful to the physical body, offensive to many Christians and non-Christians, and detrimental to a Christian witness, missionaries are expected to refrain from the use of tobacco in any form.
5. Other Issues
There may be other issues that are critical to mission service. Should missions personnel assume or advocate a position or practice that embarrasses NAMB, appropriate procedures will result.
1. Divorce
The North American Mission Board desires that Missions Personnel receiving NAMB support who are appointed or approved, or those endorsed as Chaplains, set the finest possible example in terms of marriage and family in keeping with biblical teachings. Therefore, divorced people will rarely, and only under unusual circumstances, be appointed, approved or endorsed for mission service.
The biblical rationale for divorce is recognized as:
A. For cause of sexual unfaithfulness. (Matthew 5:32; 19:1-12)
B. For cause of desertion on the part of the unbelieving spouse. (I Corinthians 7:10-17)
Pastoral Role
No one will be considered for appointment, approval, or endorsement for service in a pastoral role, unless the divorce is biblically- based and the person has not remarried. In the same manner, the wife cannot be divorced and remarried.
Other Roles
Divorced people may be considered for missions personnel appointment, approval or endorsement to other types of service if the divorce is determined to be biblically based.
Guidelines Regarding Divorce For Use By Missionary Personnel Staff For Evaluating Paid Missions Personnel Candidates and Chaplains:
1. From the official date of divorce, the missions personnel or chaplaincy candidate shall have waited two years before remarriage.
2. In the event of remarriage, the missions personnel or chaplaincy candidate will have experienced five years of successful years of second marriage.
3. In the event of divorce and no remarriage, a candidate will be considered after five years from the date of divorce to the date of appointment, approval or endorsement.
4. People now serving who have been divorced and remarried shall remain in service.
5. All missions personnel and chaplains who are currently serving and who get a divorce and/or remarry after acceptance of this policy, as it pertains to them, will be evaluated under the term of this policy.
A. This means that appointed or approved missions personnel serving prior to June 19, 1997, and chaplains serving prior to May 3, 2000, who have been divorced and/or remarried shall remain in service.
B. This also means that appointed or approved missions personnel serving after June 19, 1997, and chaplains serving after May 3, 2000, and divorcing and/or remarrying will be evaluated under the terms of this divorce policy.
2. Glossolalia
No person who is actively participating in or promoting glossolalia shall be appointed, approved or endorsed by NAMB. This includes having a private prayer language. A representative of NAMB shall counsel any missions personnel serving under NAMB appointment, approval or endorsement, who becomes involved in glossolalia. Continued participation will result in termination.
3. Women Pastors
No salary assistance from NAMB will be given to a congregation whose pastor is a woman.
4. Ordination
Women serve in numerous institutional settings and roles that are not that of “pastor.” They are called and gifted to serve in many caring roles and have a tremendous role in evangelism and spiritual care as they minister on the edge of crisis.
The issue of ordination is not addressed in the Baptist Faith and Message and the Bible does not clearly set forth a detailed description of the practice of ordination as it is commonly observed today. However, Southern Baptists, following Scriptural principles, have developed a rich and meaningful tradition of ordaining God called men into the ministry. The generally agreed upon understanding held by the most Southern Baptists is that ministerial ordination is related to a man’s being “set aside” for the office of a pastor. In 1984, the Southern Baptist Convention passed a resolution encouraging “the service of women in all aspects of church life and work other than pastoral functions and leadership roles entailing ordination.” Most Southern Baptists are not comfortable with the practice of ordaining women into the ministry.
The trustees of the North American Mission Board, SBC, affirm this resolution and follow its guideline in all appointments. The trustees who serve on the Missions Personnel Subcommittee are entrusted with the responsibility of approving all NAMB missionary appointments. Effective October 9, 2002, we will refrain from appointing ordained women as missionaries, unless they are willing to rescind their ordination. Furthermore, women under appointment who seek or accept ordination will be asked to resign their appointment with the North American Mission Board.
