Kitchen Use Policies

Grace Church

Kitchen Policy

It will be the policy of Grace Church to offer kitchen facilities in support of authorized and organized ministry and program activities of the church. Kitchen supply budget allocations will support facility and equipment purchases and maintenance. The service of meals, refreshments, or snacks will be either on a cost reimbursement basis or will come from planned allocations in the ministry budget of a user organization. The general policy is that individuals will pay for food items that they consume.

Use of food service facilities by nonmember groups or organizations will not be permitted except in the case of funerals, weddings, and/or meetings or programs preapproved by the Business Manager.

In support of these policies, the following procedures will be followed when requesting and using food service facilities:

1. The Kitchen Supervisor: The Kitchen Supervisor is directly responsible for all food service operations. This includes the planning of services; the purchase of food and other consumable items; the recruitment, training and utilization of volunteer kitchen personnel; and the inventory, accounting, and management of kitchen activities. The Kitchen Supervisor is responsible to the Business Manager for the food service operations of the church.
2. Church-Wide Activities: Use of the kitchen facilities in support of programs designated for the church body will be carried out under the direction of the Kitchen Supervisor.
3. The Wednesday Evening Fellowship Meal. This meal will be prepared by the kitchen staff on a recurring basis. Menu planning will take into account that the meal must be a no-cost item in the budget. Meal prices should include both food and consumable items.
4. Church banquets, meals, receptions, etc. will be prepared by the kitchen staff. Such operations will also be no-cost to the annual food service budget. Payment for such activities will either be by sale of meal tickets or through ministry allocation budgets.

3.   Organizational and Program Activities: The use of kitchen facilities by various ministries or groups within the church will be: (1) Preapproved on the Church Master Calendar, and (2) Coordinated with the Kitchen Supervisor.

1. The Calendar Request Form will be used to request use of the Kitchen facilities.
2. If kitchen equipment or materials are used, then a responsible individual (as indicated on the Calendar Request Form) must be designated and approved by the Kitchen Supervisor. This individual will be held accountable for the cleanliness, security, and use of the facility and equipment.
3. If meals are to be prepared in the kitchen, then a member of the church kitchen staff or an individual specifically authorized by the Kitchen Supervisor to operate the kitchen equipment must be present and in charge.
4. Use of the kitchen and food service facilities by ministries or groups must be cost-free to the church. Groups are expected to pay for consumable items such as plates, napkins, sugar, punch, etc. Current prices of these items will be discussed by the Kitchen Supervisor when arrangements are made to use the facilities.
5. Kitchen equipment and materials will not be removed from the kitchen without written approval of the Kitchen Supervisor. Individuals who check out equipment will be directly responsible for the care and return of such. The individual will be assessed for damages or loss.
6. Sunday School Classes, Bible study groups, choirs, etc. are expected to provide their own equipment and refreshments in their classrooms. Do not remove bowls, pitchers, glassware, silverware, etc. from the kitchen. The food and supplies in the kitchen are not community property. Each group is expected to provide their own. Groups are asked to use ice conservatively.
7. Groups and responsible individuals are expected to leave kitchen facilities cleaner than they found it. Dishes, silverware, and cooking utensils are to be washed and put away. Trash is not to be left in the kitchen over night. Do not assume the custodians will take it to the dumpster–the responsible individual will ensure it is taken out.
8. Groups or ministries that leave the kitchen facilities in unacceptable condition, or use the facilities without the prior approval of the Kitchen Supervisor, will have their ministry budget assessed $50. Repeat offenders may be denied future use of the kitchen facilities.

 4.     Non Program and Church-Related Activities: The utilization of the kitchen facilities by any group other than those recognized as a church-related organization must be approved in advance and occur on a not-to0interfere basis with any programmed activity. For the purpose of definition, a non-program activity by members include weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners, showers, birthday parties, and the like.

 5.     Since these activities are considered private affairs, even if all attendees are church members, the use of the church facilities, equipment and labor will be on a cost/fee basis.

Kitchen facilities will not be made available to nonmember organizations without the written approval of the Business Manager.

a.    Events When a Meal is Served. When dinners are requested to be served to participants, such as a wedding rehearsal dinner, then a fee of $50 will be charged to cover the costs of use of the kitchen. This is in addition to any fees charged for use of the general facilities and custodial fees. If consumables are used then a fixed fee of $10 will be added to the charges. An authorized kitchen staff member must be employed to prepare and/or supervise the meal preparation. Payment for this individual’s services will be negotiated by the requester. All food items must be provided by the requester. No church food stuffs or condiments will be used.

b.   Events When Refreshments Only are Served. If the kitchen facilities are used for a shower, reception, party, etc. then the requester will receive prior approval for the activity from the church office and the Kitchen Supervisor. An individual specifically authorized by the Kitchen Supervisor will be in charge of the activity to ensure it is left clean and orderly. The requester is expected to provide all food items as well as the necessary plates, napkins, etc, to serve the items. No kitchen items will be used.

Missions Support Guidelines

GRACE CHURCH

Missions Support Guidelines

Grace Church places a high priority on world missions. It is our desire as a church family to help missionaries spread the gospel in Central Iowa, the State of Iowa, the United States, and on foreign fields throughout the world. At the same time, however, it is our desire to be strategic with our missions dollar and to place our resources in areas we believe will have the greatest impact.

DEFINITION OF A MISSIONARY

For the purposes of our Missions Ministry, we define a missionary as a man or woman who, sensing the specific call of the Lord on their life, surrenders to the ministry in a foreign field or within the United States to another culture.

PRIORITY ONE: Local Church Planting

It is also our belief that the local church is the key instrument in building up the body of believers and in energizing them towards evangelism. We believe the New Testament clearly defines the role of the local church in this effort and more importantly, the role of the pastor in equipping the saints for service and doing the work of an evangelist. It is our desire, therefore, to support missionaries who are directly involved with the ministry of church planting and serving as either the pastor of a local church plant or a support staff person to this pastor. This will be the first criteria new missionary prospects must pass before being considered for regular monthly support from Grace Church.

PRIORITY TWO: Peru

As a church we stand in a unique situation with Pastor Phil Winfield as our pastor. Pastor Phil is a missionary to Peru, and the Lord has used him greatly to build a network of churches and Peruvian Nationals. We are committed to this work in Peru and it is our desire to place top priority on continually building the ministry in Peru. This will be reflected in our missions budget.

PRIORITY THREE: Missionaries from Grace

We also recognize that some from within our own body have surrendered to missions and are today serving on both foreign fields and at home. It is our desire to continue to support these existing ministries and to encourage future missionaries from our church. It is the desire of our pastor and our elders to assist couples however possible in reaching the field. Part of this process will involve a careful examination of the life and ministry of a prospective couple and the specific call to missions. It is our desire to send men and women who will be effective for the cause of Christ and who are confident in their abilities to minister and of their call to missions. When our elders are in complete agreement on a man or woman’s call to missions and of their spiritual qualifications, we will encourage that person to seek the necessary professional training (through GEMS) and to begin the process of application to a missions board.

LEVELS OF SUPPORT

How much we support individuals or ministry organizations depends on many criteria:

1. What is the specific ministry of the individual or organization? If it directly involves the planting of a local church, this will receive our highest level of support.
2. What are the specific skills or gifts of the individual in question? We realize that not everyone on the field can be a D. L. Moody or Billy Graham. However, there are men serving on the field today who are extremely capable and are impacting entire nations for Christ. It is our desire to support these individuals with the highest level of support our budget will allow.
3. What are the specific needs of the individual? Not every missionary leaves the U.S. with the same needs. Some countries by their very nature are more costly to live in and do ministry than others, this must be considered.

Our missions support is divided into the following categories:

            Missionaries

            Missions / Ministry Organizations

            Mission Trips

            Missions Projects

Level of Support for Missionaries:

• Grace Missionaries. If a missionary couple meets the qualifications defined above and is accepted as a missionary candidate by our elders, Grace Church commits to support this missionary couple at an amount not to exceed $6,000 per year. This support will be added in proportion to the amount of support they are raising through deputation. Grace Church will also commit to a one-time gift of $5,000 towards a missionary families outfit and passage when all support has been raised and the missionary family is ready to depart for the foreign field.
• Non-Grace Missionaries. Missionary couples who come to Grace Church seeking support must meet the qualifications defined above and accepted as a missionary candidate by our missions team. Grace Church commits to support this missionary couple at an amount not to exceed $2,400 per year.
• Highly Effective Missionaries. In an effort to be strategic with our missions dollar, Grace Church is looking for missionaries who are highly effective in their efforts to impact a nation for Christ. The fruits of this ministry include the planting of several church, a strong emphasis on evangelism and discipleship and the equipping and training of national pastors through the establishment of training centers, Bible colleges and seminaries. Grace Church desires to support these men without limitations as the Lord leads. Grace also desires to develop long-term relationships with these men through the sending of missions teams and funding for specific missions projects.

Level of Support for Missions / Ministry Organizations

In an effort to have an influence within our community, Grace Church will support a limited number of parachurch organizations whose missions is not church planting. The maximum level of support for these organizations is $1,200 per year.

Level of Support for Missions Trips

Grace Church places a high priority on short-term missions opportunities and we encourage our church family to participate in the church-sponsored missions trips. Our missions team will make every effort to offer a variety of trips to both foreign and home locations and to provide a variety of trips with varying costs. We also encourage our church family to consider the experience of raising the funds for a trip a faith-building matter. There are, however, from time-to-time individuals who desire to go on a trip but are unable to raise the total amount needed. Grace Church will provide limited funds to assist those in need. The level of support will not exceed 25 percent of the total cost of the trip.

Level of Support for Missions Projects

We encourage missionaries to support requests for special projects within their field of ministry. Priority will be given to projects that are focused on church planting, evangelistic campaigns, or the establishment of training centers for national pastors.

DISCLAIMER

The purpose of these guidelines is to provide general direction in future funding through our missions budget. We recognize, however, that the Holy Spirit may present us with opportunities that fall outside of these guidelines or in some way contradict a guideline. The elders reserve the right, at the direction and encouragement of the pastor, to provide funding to individuals or organizations that the elders deem worthy of an exception.

Pastor in Training Program

Grace Church

Pastor in Training Program

PURPOSE

It is the purpose of the Pastor in Training Program (PTP) to give men called into ministry intensive on-the-job training in preparation for the ministry of church planting. This program is not a substitute for traditional bible college or seminary training for young men. It is specifically designed for men who have demonstrated strong work ethics and advancement within their own career path and now sense God’s calling into the ministry.

CANDIDATES

To be considered a candidate for the PTP, a man must demonstrate God’s call on his life to the ministry of church planting. He must have served as a deacon and/or elder with Grace Church.

COMPENSATION

It is the belief of the Elders that men who enter the PTP must prepare for the ministry of church planting, which by its very nature is a faith ministry. While every effort will be made by the church to establish each new church with a strong support base, we recognize this is in the end the work of the Holy Spirit and He will determine who is called to join a new pastor as he works to start a new church. Therefore, we believe a man who enters this program must learn to live a simple life dependent on a minimum income or be willing to serve as a “tent maker” and work a second job if necessary. The salary for a pastor in training candidate will be established by the Elders, but will not exceed $30,000 - $35,000 per year. If a candidate requires health insurance, this must come from the total package. A candidate is expected to work a minimum of 40 hours per week and will receive at least two weeks of vacation each year. A candidate will also be compensated for the same holidays as the pastoral staff.

TERM

The Pastor in Training Program is a two to three-year program. Candidates must recognize this is a temporary program and begin with the end in mind. From their first day on the job they must begin planning for their new church plant and working to see this become a reality. The candidate must realize that Grace Church feels no obligation to a candidate or his family to continue this program beyond the two to three-year term or to offer permanent employment in any form at the end of the period.

EDUCATION

Most candidates will have little formal Bible training. It is expected, therefore, that a candidate will complete a two-year associates degree through Moody Bible Institute, etc. To assist with this degree program, Grace Church agrees to reimburse a candidate for each class successfully completed with a grade of ‘B’ or better up to $1,000 per year. It is expected that a candidate will complete this associates degree with a 3.0 grade point average or better.

MENTORING

At the senior pastor’s discretion the candidate will be assigned to various associate pastors for intensive training in the ministries within the church. While under the supervision of an associate pastor, a candidate must develop a Philosophy of Ministry paper to be included with their church planting manual. This paper must outline in both broad and specific terms how a new church will accomplish the goals and objectives of the ministry outlined. This paper must be completed in cooperation with the senior pastor. A Philosophy of Ministry paper must be completed for the following areas: Preaching/Leadership Development/Missions/Education (Children through Adult), Praise & Worship, Student Ministry, Singles/Counseling, Church Administration. The candidate will also attend regular pastoral staff meetings and serve as a non-voting member of the body of Elders and attend regular Elder’s meetings.

CHURCH PLANTING MANUAL

Planting a church is a unique experience involving spiritual discernment, personal values, and proven methods. The primary objective for a candidate is to develop his own church planting manual during his two-year training period. This manual will encompass all facets of beginning a new ministry. The Philosophy of Ministry papers will serve as the initial outline for this manual as it evolves over the course of the training period. The Norwalk Church Plant will serve as a model for the candidate, but he is expected to develop his own model and incorporate his own values and philosophy into this church plant.