Life & Mission Agency
Faithfully Serving
The Life & Mission Agency serves The PCC as it responds to the call of Jesus Christ to mission
The Life and Mission Agency (LMA) is the program agency of The Presbyterian Church in Canada. It facilitates the Church’s mission and congregational programs as set out by the General Assembly. The governing body for the Life and Mission Agency is the Life and Mission Agency Committee which meets twice each year.
The Life & Mission Agency is funded through contributions to Presbyterians Sharing. The following departments all come under the oversight of the Life and Mission Agency.
Canada Ministries
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Canada Ministries works in partnership with presbyteries in ministries that reflect national priorities of the church. It oversees the provision of grants, makes mission appointments, educates and encourages workers, and consults and evaluates ministries. Canada Ministries also cares for ministers and congregations that are not aid-receiving through other programs, such as the Fund for Ministerial Assistance and small capital grants.
Communications Office
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The Communications Office works to encourage and equip the church to connect and engage the Presbyterian community. It does this through the PCConnect brand: video, print, e-mail, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter. The Communications Office also oversees presbyterian.ca, and offers free web hosting to PCC congregations and ministries.
International Ministries
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International Ministries works to enable the church to participate actively in the worldwide mission of Jesus Christ. It does this by building relationships with and enabling leadership development of overseas partners, recruiting and sending mission staff, and providing funds for partner projects.
Justice Ministries
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Justice Ministries works with the church to respond to the justice imperatives of the Gospel. It does this by leading workshops, preparing statements and responses for General Assembly, advising the church on public policy issues, promoting Healing & Reconciliation with aboriginal peoples, and collaborating with ecumenical bodies.
Ministry & Church Vocations
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Ministry and Church Vocations helps to discern, prepare and support leaders in ministry in partnership with sessions, presbyteries and synods, as well as the theological colleges with the Committee on Theological Education. It provides guidance and support for ministers at all stages, and helps the church to use the Policy for Dealing with Sexual Abuse and/or Sexual Harassment and the Policy for Dissolution of Pastoral Ties.
Planned Giving
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Planned Giving works to channel gifts of assets to support the life and mission of the church for generations to come. It does this by equipping congregations to develop planned giving ministries, helping donors leave lasting legacies, and channelling donors' generosity into national church initiatives.
PWS&D
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Presbyterian World Service & Development works to undertake development activities, disaster relief and education of congregations to these worldwide needs. PWS&D relies on designated contributions from individuals and congregations, and does not receive funding from Presbyterians Sharing.
Stewardship
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The Stewardship department works to increase awareness about and connect churches to The Presbyterian Church in Canada's mission work, as well as to raise support for mission and ministries through Presbyterians Sharing.It helps congregations connect with mission partners in order to inspire local action from global experience, and encourages spiritually-centred stewardship by producing resources, sending mission trips, and coordinating training events like Stewards by Design.
The Vine
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The Vine is a national information access centre for congregations and ministries in The Presbyterian Church in Canada. It serves and supports congregations and congregational leaders by researching and writing new resources, encouraging leadership training, and responding promptly to congregational requests. It also promotes Christian education training through a series of online training courses called Opening Doors to Discipleship.
More information
General Mandate for the Life and Mission Agency
In all its work the Life and Mission Agency, with the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, will strive to enable The Presbyterian Church in Canada to serve faithfully where it has been called in the world, and thus to be a sign of the reign of God. The Agency will carry out its duties and responsibilities in such a way as to be faithful to the Mission Statement of the Church, affirming the vision and desire of The Presbyterian Church in Canada to be a church integrating discipleship, evangelism, social action and justice.
The Life and Mission Agency will give leadership in the specific programs mandated by the General Assembly. The Agency will respond flexibly, creatively and effectively to the needs of congregations and courts of the church as they seek assistance in responding to the call of Jesus Christ to mission.
The Agency will give priority to doing what must be done at the national level, and will seek to facilitate tasks that can be done more appropriately at another level of the Church, or ecumenically.
The Life and Mission Agency is mandated to be the program arm of The Presbyterian Church in Canada. It shall work collaboratively through the Management Team, with the General Assembly Office and Support Services.
General Secretary's Office
The General Secretary, working with the Life and Mission Agency Convener, gives oversight and direction to all areas of work within the agency. The General Secretary liaises with the General Assembly Office, Support Services, Women's Missionary Society and Atlantic Mission Society to enable the agency staff to fulfill their respective mandates and coordinates overlapping areas of work (within the agency and the national office building).
The General Secretary’s Office relates to the Assembly Council on behalf of the Agency; represents The Presbyterian Church in Canada on ecumenical bodies related to the work of the Agency; carries out the decisions of the Agency Committee; supports and facilitates the meetings and work of the Life and Mission Agency Committee; develops policies and ensures regular policy reviews; gives oversight to and ensures the welfare of agency staff; coordinates budget preparations and reports for General Assembly; communicates with the wider constituency, i.e. individuals, congregations, presbyteries, synods, regional staff.