| Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Part-Time Church-Service Missionaries?
How Do Members Initiate a Mission Call?
How Are Missionaries Called?
What Qualifications Are Required?
How Long Do They Serve?
What about Other Church Callings?
How Do I Get Started?
What Are Part-Time Church-Service Missionaries?
Part-time Church-service missionaries serve at least 8 hours but less than 32 hours per week (Church-service missionaries currently working less than 8 hours per week will be allowed to continue working the same schedule until the conclusion of their current mission). They normally serve for 6 to 24 months. The purpose of the Church-service missionary program is to provide opportunities for members to give their time to the Lord through work-related service missions. Without Church-service missionaries, we would either:
- Not fulfill necessary work assignments or
- Increase the number of paid Church employees, thus restricting other important Church programs.
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How Do Members Initiate a Mission Call?
- Members become aware of Church-service missionary opportunities through Church leaders, current or former missionaries, this Church Web site, or knowledgeable members. Some local areas also print bulletins and post them on the meetinghouse bulletin boards. Information gained from any source may be confirmed through communication with the department requesting missionaries or your local priesthood leader.
- Members must complete a form entitled "Recommendation for Part-Time Church-Service Missionary." The completed form is then given to their bishop.
- A choice, or choices, of service preference may be written on the recommendation forms before they are submitted to the bishop. The number of months of service and the starting date should also be noted.
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How Are Missionaries Called?
- Upon receiving the recommendation forms, the bishop certifies the worthiness of the member and concurs with the selected service unit the member has suggested. He then signs the form and forwards it to the stake president.
- The stake president interviews the candidate and signs the recommendation form. He then forwards it to the local Church-service missionary coordinator’s office for review, for entry into the database, and for authorization to extend the call.
- The coordinator advises the stake president by letter when the processing is completed, and the stake president extends the call to the member. The stake president authorizes the bishop to set the new missionary apart.
- Church-service missionaries are supervised and trained under the direction of the department in which they serve. The stake president and bishop remain the ecclesiastical leaders to whom the missionaries report.
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What Qualifications Are Required?
All Church-service missionaries must be worthy to hold a temple recommend and should have no dependent children living at home. They must be physically and emotionally able to fulfill the specific call and its related duties. Prospective missionaries must also provide their own transportation and financial support. Church-service missionaries are responsible for their own medical and dental needs, including eye-care expenses and prescription drugs.
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How Long Do They Serve?
The length of service may be determined by the needs of the position and the availability of the Church-service missionary. A missionary may be called to serve from 6 to 24 months. A 36-month call is permissible for certain positions such as a host, hostess, docent, or tour guide. Other assignments may be extended if the availability of the missionary and the needs of the service unit continue to exist, up to a maximum of 30 months of service. After a 30-month mission, a new recommendation form can then be submitted for another mission.
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What about Other Church Callings?
Church-service missionaries are encouraged to serve in ward or stake callings at the discretion of their local leaders, as long as their additional duties do not interfere with Church-service missionary assignments. Frequently, their mission assignments take place during the week, leaving their weekends free to serve in callings as home teachers, visiting teachers, or in other ward assignments.
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How Do I Get Started?
- Review the service opportunities on this Web site or in the "Church-Service Missionary Bulletin," if there is one in your area.
- Feel free to visit, ask questions about, and evaluate one or more service opportunities through the listed contact name and phone number. Prayerfully consider the assignment. Is it consistent with your time, ability, and health?
- Carefully fill out the "Recommendation for Part-Time Church-Service Missionary Form," indicating your choice or choices of places to serve.
- By appointment, consult with your bishop so you can give him your completed form and be interviewed for mission service. Be sure you include the date you’re available and the number of months you wish to serve.
- Meet with your stake president and be interviewed for your Church-service mission.
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