Invite A District Guest to Minister to Your Church or Group

One of the benefits of being served by full-time District Officers is that they are available to travel and visit any church in the District. The same is true of our District Ministry Directors, though most of them are part-time. Many churches have benefited from their leadership during special business meetings and worker training. Others have enjoyed their presence for special events, like anniversaries, groundbreakings, or missions emphases. Many more have received a boost from their quality preaching, as they bring to the congregants their breadth of District leadership, “up close and personal.”

The District Presbytery has established certain policies so that each District Officer or Director can be free to go to any church — near or far, large or small — without financial restrictions or compensation being a factor (To whom does this apply? See footnote below). To expedite their visit to your church or ministry, the District Presbytery has prepared these guidelines for host ministries, so that you may know what is expected of you, and what is not.

Unlike a Missionary or Evangelist, your District Officers and Directors already receive salaries and travel allowances — so the church does not need to pay for travel expenses or to receive an offering for ministry support.

However, it is still appropriate to express your appreciation and honor their visit with a small gift, when possible. The size of the gift is not important, but this follows a Biblical principle, as expressed here:

Any such honorarium, by the policy of the District Presbytery, will be deposited into the District leader’s “Special Ministries Account” (not to their personal funds). These Special Ministries Accounts are under the jurisdiction of the Executive Presbytery, and are available to them, upon request and with approval, for non-budgeted and discretionary expenses. As an example, these funds are often used to take missions trips.

Even the cost of a meal associated with their visit is not necessary, although the opportunity for fellowship is usually appreciated and enjoyed. Some churches take advantage of these visits to host a small luncheon with the church leaders. Such meals do not need to be expensive — the meal can be prepared by a church member and hosted on-site. However please be considerate of the time — as your guest may have other appointments and travel.

These policies have been designed to eliminate any financial motivation behind the decision to visit one church or another, and to grant every church equal access to our District Officers and Directors, while allowing each host church the opportunity to show appreciation to the visiting minister.

If you’d like to have someone from the District to come, all that is necessary is an invitation (they rarely show up uninvited or “invite themselves”). When inviting a District ministry guest, please communicate the following:

• Time and location
• Ministry requested (topic, length, etc.)
• Appropriate dress (How does the Pastor normally dress?)
• Cell phone contact (in case of a flat-tire.)
• Any other special activities afterward?

Footnote: This policy applies to Officers and Ministry Directors. This does not apply to all “District Endorsed Ministries” or some “Auxiliary Ministries” — these ministries do not receive any district funding for travel, expenses, or salaries.