Membership in the Association of North American Missions (ANAM) - QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP 

Eligibility: Membership in the Association shall be open to any independent mission, ministry, or ministry agency serving in North America (Canada, Mexico or the United States) whose aims and purposes are in harmony with those of ANAM and which qualify for membership as described below.

Follow this link to download a Microsoft Word version of our Membership Application, or follow this link to download an Adobe Acrobat Reader PDF version of our Membership Application.

I. Accredited Membership

Subscribe to the By-Laws (including Statement of Faith) and Policy Manual of ANAM.

1. Qualify as a 501(c)(3) organization as defined by the IRS.
2. Be neither a national association or organization of missions.
3. President/Director positions shall be staffed by men in organizations with men and women missionaries. Women can hold President/Director positions in organizations having only women members.
4. Have as its chief executive officer one who has not been divorced and remarried or is married to a divorced person.
5. Present satisfactory evidence to the Credentials committee as to the necessity and purpose of its existence, and the nature of its administration.
6. Give evidence of a satisfactory degree of progress toward the established goals of the Organization.
7. Perform services which assist the local church in fulfilling its New Testament appointed objectives.
8. Be in existence at least two years before application is submitted.
9. Consist of at least five full-time workers.
10. Be governed by a properly constituted board of at least five members, not more that two of a family relationship, meeting at least semi-annually for the purpose of directing organizational activities. The membership of the board shall be constituted of a majority outside the organization.
11. Publish a properly audited financial statement and provide a copy of the current audited financial statement upon written request.
12. Establish an audit review committee, appointed by the board, to review the annual audit, and report its findings to the Board.
13. Pay the annual dues determined by the vote of the member missions.
14. Endeavor to have a representative attend the General convention at least once every other year.
15. Subscribe to the Statement of Faith, Code of Ethics and Financial Code of Ethics listed below.

     

II. Associate Membership

Associate Membership status is available for missions who qualify. Please contact us directly with your interest and to obtain the details for this type of membership.

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STATEMENT OF FAITH

Doctrine

We believe the Holy Scriptures as originally given to be the verbally inspired Word of God, absolutely authoritative and infallible.

We believe in one God existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, co-equal and eternal.

We believe that man was created in innocence but fell in Adam and is now totally unable to recover from his lost condition.

We believe that salvation has been provided through the substitutionary sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who was born of the virgin Mary, suffered and died for our sins upon the cross, rose from the dead, ascended to God’s right hand and is coming again. We further believe that this salvation is received by the grace of God, through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, and in response to repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

We believe that the Church is the body of Christ formed by the baptism of the Holy Spirit and that all believers are members thereof, and are a holy and royal priesthood, and that this mystical Body of Christ manifests itself visibly in local bodies of believers for the purpose of Christian fellowship, teaching, testimony, and the administration of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

We believe that every believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit and is therefore a "partaker of the divine nature,"

and that the old nature is present until the Christian Is glorified. We believe that god’s children may exper- ience healing in answer to prayer but that healing of all sickness and infirmity cannot presently be claimed on the basis of Christ’s redeeming work. We believe that the Holy Spirit is sovereign in the bestowment of the gifts. We believe that the Christ-

controlled life is the evidence of the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

We believe in the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the eternal judgment of all who reject our Lord Jesus Christ.

We believe that the return of Jesus Christ will be personal and imminent.

We believe it is the responsibility of all who are saved to win others to Jesus Christ.

Position Statement

The Modern Charismatic Statement: We are not in agreement with the modern charismatic movement, with its emphasis on the first century lesser gifts.

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CODE OF ETHICS

PREAMBLE

In recognition of our high calling and the standards established by the Word of god for those involved in His service, we do hereby solemnly and willingly submit ourselves to these guidelines for conduct, performance and behavior.

STANDARDS

1. We shall steadfastly uphold the Statement of Faith and policies of ANAM.
2. We shall endeavor to hold the total cause of Christ above any private, group or special interest.
3. We shall attempt to be governed by the highest ideals of administrative integrity and personal uprightness in all our personal and public relationships so that we may merit the respect of our fellowmen and that the Lord Jesus Christ be exemplified in our lives.
4. We shall aggressively pursue fiscal responsibility and transparency in our exercise of Christian stewardship.
5. We shall be receptive to competent counsel from our colleagues.
6. We shall maintain standards of high integrity and principle in practices of staff recruitment and shall avoid flagrant proselytizing.
7. We shall vigorously guard confidences placed in us by those to whom we minister as well as to those who minister to us.
8. We shall constantly strive to increase the professional development, competency, knowledge, skills and effectiveness of persons serving in our profession.
9. We shall cooperate in advancing the Gospel by exchanging pertinent information and judicious experience with our co-laborers in Christ.
10. We shall express an opinion or disclose information about co-laborers in Christ or sister organizations only when it is based solely upon verifiable facts and adequate knowledge, and only to those who have the legitimate right and need for such information.
11. We shall vigorously maintain promotional accuracy in all internal and external contracts.
12. We shall continually pursue wholesome relationships with churches, particularly the commissioning churches, who enable us to exercise our God-given call to service.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, Grant us the wisdom, discernment and fortitude to abide by and exceed these standards. Our earnest desire and fervent prayer is that we may each be made more into the likeness of Thy Son so that the world may know Christ. Help us, our Father, to be sensitive to the needs of our own lives and responsive to the multitudes round about us.

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CODE OF FINANCIAL ETHICS

Preamble

We, the member missions of ANAM, will aggressively pursue fiscal responsibility and transparency in our exercise of Christian stewardship.

Pledge

We hereby pledge to our donors that we will endeavor:

1. To encourage voluntary contributions from churches and Christian individuals as the primary source of funding for our ministries.
2. To be honest in our portrayal of our financial conditions and accurate in the descriptions of all our ministry activities.
3. To give a realistic view of what will be accomplished as a result of any gift given to our ministries. All gifts will be utilized to the best of our abilities consistent with the donor’s intent.
4. To consider the donor’s best interests in our fund raising efforts. We strongly recommend that the donor’s financial and professional advisors be consulted before making any major contribution or contract.
5. To provide accurate and appropriate financial reports on all mission fund-raising projects.
6. To properly receipt gifts in kind by sending the donor a letter stating the description and condition of the gift, leaving to the donor the responsibility of determining the value of the gift, as required by the Internal Revenue Service.
7. To insure that no tax deductible gift will inure to the personal benefit of any individual.
8. To notify any donor whose gift may not be compatible with the mission’s stated purposes, to gain approval to redirect the gift or return it to the donor.
9. To uphold the rules of the United States Internal Revenue Service in regard to notifying the donor of the fair market value of any substantial and tangible gift from the ;mission that is used to encourage giving. This enables the donor to report the true value of his gift.
10. To adhere to the standard that no compensation on a percentage basis shall be granted to any person raising funds for our ministries.
11. To refrain from any business dealings or relationships that could be construed as a conflict of interest or self-serving on the part of those associated with the ministry, or their family members.

We, as members of the Association of North American Missions, do hereby place ourselves under these standards in order to evidence our commitment to our donors, and thereby insure a high level of accountability to our donors.

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SERVICES AND BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

Membership with an association which understands and concentrates upon ministry opportunities in North America, the third largest mission field.

Accreditation & Credibility - By meeting prescribed management, doctrinal, ethical, accountability and financial reporting standards, ANAM member missions enhance their credibility to the public and efficiency in gospel outreach.

Recognition - Through visibility provided by member-ship listing and feature articles in the newsletter, North American Missions, use of the ANAM logo, and representation by ANAM personnel in churches and Christian Bible institutes and colleges, ANAM member missions become broadly known, recognized and trusted.

Fellowship/Information Sharing - Through the ANAM sponsored annual convention and regional meetings, missionaries have access to seminars, workshops and Bible speakers chosen especially to enhance spiritual and ministry growth, to enlarge the vision by learning of unreached people groups in close proximity to mission ministries, to bring encouragement through sharing and praying together and to provide an opportunity for sweet fellowship with others and with the Lord as together we "come apart and rest awhile."

Cooperation - As mutual needs are shared a desire is fostered between missions to cooperate on a common task, share resources, or speak in a united voice.

Advice/Council - ANAM staff is available by phone or in person, to offer advice or counsel to member missions.

Legal Information - Through publications, member missions are apprised of current tax and legal information and of news and trends which might affect missions in North America.

Recruitment - The executive Director represents member missions on campuses and in churches, seeking to keep the public informed regarding progress and current needs of ANAM member missions.

Recognition of Service - Missionary of the Year and Lifetime Commitment Awards are given to worthy individuals and the Great Commission Award to individuals or organizations who have made a significant contribution to the cause of Christ in North America

These and other benefits make ANAM membership cost effective and beneficial for both administrators and missionaries.

Follow this link to download a Microsoft Word version of our Membership Application, or follow this link to download an Adobe Acrobat Reader PDF version of our Membership Application.

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