WFM 2007 HR Main

WFM Missions Base

2008

Staff Policy Handbook

Over the past many years the WFM Prayer Missions Base has continued to steer in its mandate of being a ‘place of refuge.’ After ministering to hundreds of individuals in this region, our staff has seen first hand the power of prayer and the fruit of hearts intimately hidden in Christ.

Though new to some, a Missions Base concept is not at all new worldwide. In America, however, they are not as common. The WFM Missions Base is neither a church, nor a church replacement but definitely has some unique properties. These characteristics, in its operation, require a few glances under the hood to understand the principles by which we steer climate within WFM. Here are just a few:

· We are a 100% volunteer operation without payroll. In a world driven by a monetary system we desire to have staff motivated by direction of the Lord as opposed to a compensation package.

· Another such point is that we ask of our staff to give in some way to three people, places or organizations monthly, none of which have to even be WFM. The principle behind this climate point is that we must have our heart unlocked to give in time, service and resource as the Lord desires, so we steward a giving environment.

· We require all staff to be faithful and in good standing with their church or local fellowship of believers. We believe in the Kingdom concept of the body of Christ. We all must have places to feed, places to rest, places to learn and places to minister. We hope that we are a ‘piece’ of your life in the body of Christ.

· The WFM Missions Base is comprised of volunteer ‘companies.’ These are not subsidiary ministries but ‘groups of volunteers’ moving together to accomplish a common mandate. An example of this would be the Worship Company (WOCO), our largest volunteer group. WOCO consists of all of the musicians, singers and prayer leaders. This group of volunteers will staff WFM facility night and day 24/7. Each volunteer company has a director and an administrative position that serve the needs of that group of volunteers.

· Each year, each Exec Team member, leadership team and staff person makes a one (1) year term of service commitment (January through December). Then at the end of that year WFM releases the staff in whole and allows the Lord to flow people on to other opportunities in the body of Christ, new ones flow in and most re-enlist for another tour of duty.

These are just a few of the principles and points we flow with as staff here within WFM. While we at the base may seek to steward an environment, your involvement here with WFM is still subject to how you walk out a committed heart before the Lord. As you review this packet, I encourage you to:

Perhaps Christie and I will find ourselves serving in this region with you, forging a place of refuge.

This Handbook is for your use and is a source of information about WFM and your voluntary experience here on the Missions Base. It is not a contract of volunteerism, express or implied, but merely sets forth regulations of volunteerism, methods for resolving conflicts, and an explanation of your benefits and policies. Your signature below acknowledges your review of this Handbook and your understanding and acceptance that:

· I am responsible for reading, understanding, and adhering to the policies outlined in the WFM Missions Base Handbook and for asking a Company Director or the Human Resources Director any questions that I may have.

· The provisions of this Handbook are guidelines, statements of policy and procedure that may be changed by WFM at any time.

· Management reserves the right to revise, modify, delete or add to any and all policies, procedures, work rules or benefits stated in this Handbook or in any document at any time.

· WFM does not guarantee me specific benefits because WFM benefits, policies, and procedures may change from time to time without my consent.

· No director, administrator or other representative of WFM, other than a member of the Executive Team has the authority to enter into any agreement for volunteerism for a specified period of time or any agreement contrary to the policies contained in this Handbook

· WFM or I may terminate my volunteerism relationship at any time, for any reason not expressly prohibited by the law.

A copy of this Handbook will be maintained on file with the Human Resources Director (and on the WFM server at www.windandfire.org) and can be reviewed at any time.

The Pastors, Directors, and Executive Team welcome you to the WFM Missions Base.

This Handbook is for staff at all levels of volunteerism in WFM. It is designed to acquaint you with WFM and provide you with information about working conditions, staff benefits, and other policies affecting your volunteerism. Because of the at-will volunteerism relationship (explained further in this document), this Handbook is not in any way a contract.

Please be aware that policies in this manual may be changed, deleted, or added at any time by the WFM Executive Team (comprised of the Chief Executive Officer – CEO, Chief Financial Officer – CFO and Chief Operations Office – COO), which has overall responsibility for the all matters at WFM.

You should read, understand, and comply with all provisions of this Handbook. It describes many of your responsibilities as a volunteer staffer and outlines the programs developed by WFM to benefit volunteers. One of our objectives is to provide a ministry environment that is conducive to both personal and professional growth. Any questions concerning the interpretation, application or administration of these policies and procedures should be directed to the Chief Operating Officer.

Please thoroughly familiarize yourself with the contents of this Handbook and help ensure that all of WFM’s Human Resource policies are administered as consistently and fairly as possible.

In our working together as a team, our goal is continue the establishing of a Fruit Oriented Ministry Environment (F.O.M.E.):

This Handbook contains the basic Human Resource policies, practices, and procedures for WFM. It is not, however, intended to alter the volunteerism-at-will relationship in any way.

3.1. The words “shall” or “will” are understood to be mandatory in nature, and the word “may” as permissive in nature;

3.3. “Company Director” means an individual with the authority to assign, direct, and review the work of the staffer

3.4. “Immediate family” means the staffer’s spouse, brother, sister, parent, child, step-child, father-in-law, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and any other member of the staffer’s household.

4.1. Wind and Fire Ministries Inc: A fully incorporated non-profit ministry with IRS 501(3)c status. Also known as WFM Inc. the ministry operates a fully volunteer based prayer missions base with a functioning board with access to key advisors and an accountability based leadership team.

4.2. WFM Prayer Missions Base: The WFM Missions Base is comprised of groups of volunteers, called ‘companies’ that work in gracious cooperation with each other in order to fulfill our mandate to become a ‘place of refuge.’

4.3. Midwest Prayer Center: This new facility serves as another of the states dedicated prayer facilities to house a Night and Day House of Prayer.

4.4. WFM Climate: Climate is simply the choice we, as an organization, decide to contend for in how we minister in His name. Our attitudes, purposes and goals can be accomplished several ways. Our ministry climate will indicate methods, tones, characteristics and attitudes we choose to implement in order to press toward the goal in a Christlike manner. We will set principle based policies in place to assist us.

4.5. WFM Covering Organization: Wind and Fire Ministries Inc (WFM Inc.), as an organization, is accepted and recognized by World Ministry Fellowship as under their administrative and spiritual oversight. Several of our ministers are also credentialed through World Ministry Fellowship. We are blessed to part of this organization that provides apostolic encouragement and covering while allowing for the release and spurring of others into the fullness of Christ. We are part of their group 501(3) c IRS covering and report quarterly and annually.

4.6. WFM Advisors: An advisor pool of at-large wisdom represented by pastors and/or spiritual leadership that may be contacted by the WFM Board Leadership for wisdom and wise counsel. These individuals do not meet collectively, but meet as needed or desired with leadership members as needed. While not part of the organization, these at-large spiritual leaders speak life to us from outside perspectives and help keep us on the centerline of the Lord’s plan.

4.7. WFM Executive Team: Is a team of three positions consisting of a CEO – Chief Executive Officer, COO – Chief Operations Officer and a CFO – Chief Financial Officer.

4.8. WFM Leadership Team: This team of leadership serves managing body of the missions base and is comprised of all of the company pastors and directors. Led by the Senior Pastor they have decision making and staff responsibility for their areas and meet at bi-monthly leadership meetings to direct the interactions and flow of the missions base.

4.9. Companies: Each ministry area is structured as a company of volunteers such as ‘Worship Company’ where all volunteers have applied and been accepted as full or part-time staff of that company of volunteers.

4.10. Missions Base Pastors: WFM has several licensed pastors available to steward our staff as they work through life in the missions base environment.

4.11. Company Directors: Each company has at its helm a director who handles the functional direction of the company. The director works with the company pastor to provide leadership support to the company of volunteers.

4.12. Human Resource Officer: The Chief Operations Officer is WFM’s Senior Human Resource Officer and is responsible for fair and consistent enforcement of WFM’s Human Resource Policies. The Human Resources Director provides staff assistance to company directors and department heads in developing, communicating, and carrying out WFM’s Human Resource Policies.

WFM maintains Human Resource records for applicants, volunteers, and past volunteers in order to document volunteerism related decisions, evaluate and assess policies, and comply with government record keeping and reporting requirements. WFM strives to balance its need to obtain, use, and retain volunteerism information with each individual’s right to privacy. To this end, it attempts to restrict the Human Resource information maintained to that which is necessary for the conduct of its ministry operations or which is required by federal, state, or local law.

5.1. Volunteers have a responsibility to make sure their Human Resource records are up to date and should notify the Human Resources Director in writing of any changes in at least the following:

5.2. Volunteers may inspect their own Human Resource records in the presence of the Human Resources Director and may copy, but not remove, documents in the file. Such an inspection must be requested in writing to the Human Resources Director and will be scheduled at a mutually convenient time during regular office hours.

5.3. Volunteers who feel that any file material is incomplete, inaccurate, or irrelevant may submit a written request to the Human Resources Director that the files be revised accordingly. If such a request is not granted, the staffer may place a written statement of disagreement in the file and pursue the matter further using the regular grievance procedure.

6.1. Term of Volunteerism at the Missions Base: I agree that unless the Lord moves me away or changes my plans significantly, I will remain as staff and move with the Lord in the plans He has for the WFM Missions Base throughout the calendar year 2008. My commitment is fulfilled December 31st. 2008.

6.2. Monthly Staff Meeting: I understand that in any organization, regular staff meetings are critical to keeping processes, information, responsibility and relationship flowing well. The last Saturday of the month at 6pm we hold a one hour mandatory staff meeting prior to EGS. All staff will sign-in upon arrival to staff meetings. We take the operation of what the Lord has before us seriously and expect leadership and staff to also. If I am unable to attend I will contact my director. Should you have repeated unexcused absences from monthly meetings or scheduled Company events, you will be subject to the following policies

· 2nd Unexcused absence - Move to Inactive Status and removed from Activity

6.3. Time Accountability: I agree to the following time commitments in order to flow as part of this organization. Although there may be personal emergencies, special occasions and vacations, I agree to this level of commitment in order to be considered staff of the Missions Base:

6.3.1. Pray: I understand that I am involved in a ‘Prayer’ ministry and prayer must be a staple of my life. I agree to cultivate my life in daily relationship with God through daily Prayer allowing Him to minister and lead my life on a consistent basis.

6.3.2. Serve: I will agree to a minimum of 2 two hours of active ministry time weekly. I will adhere to the staff requirements for the company I am enrolled with.

6.3.3. Work: I know that this Missions Base is always growing and changing. I will agree to be involved in times of service, helping the labor needs of this Missions Base.

6.4. Local Fellowship of Believers: I understand that the WFM Prayer Missions Base and its activities are not designed to replace my involvement in a ‘local fellowship of believers.’ I commit to keep myself in ‘good standing’ with a local fellowship of believers as the Lord leads me.

6.5. Unlocked Heart: I agree to move toward and maintain an unlocked heart by giving monthly to three places, people or organizations. I know it can be anything, any amount or anywhere, but I choose to sow seed in preparation of reaping an unlocked heart.

6.6. Confidentiality: I understand that the Missions Base operates in an intercessory nature where, from time to time, I may become aware of personal challenges or personal histories of WFM Staff and or the public we minister to. I agree to treat that information with the utmost respect and protection. I will not ask for, nor tell any personal information unless I am part of the ‘circle of solution.’

6.7. Climate of Speech: While in operations of the WFM Missions Base, I agree to conduct my speech in the characteristics of Exhortation, Encouragement and Edification. I will not speak ill or critically of people, churches (my own or others), government, ministers or other organizations. I choose to sow those words I desire to reap for myself and the organization.

7.1. God: We believe in one God, Creator and Sustainer of all things, infinitely perfect, holy, and eternally co-existing in three persons Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Who are omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent.

7.2. Authority of Scripture: We believe the Scripture, both Old and New Testaments, are the Word of God. We believe that the original manuscripts are the inspired, inerrant, and trustworthy Word of God, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of human beings, and the final authority for all matters about which it speaks. We believe that God still does everything today that He did in Scripture.

7.3. God the Father: We believe in God the Father, who is an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love; that He mercifully concerns Himself in the affairs of mankind; that He hears and answers prayer; and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.

7.4. Jesus Christ: We believe Jesus Christ is God, and that He is God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the seed of the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles and infallibly taught, lived and is the Word of God from the beginning. He pre-existed with God in the form of God. He freely gave up His position, humbled Himself, and became incarnated as a man. We believe Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and mankind.

7.5. The Atonement: We believe the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ for the atonement of our sins and His bodily resurrection provides the only ground for justification, forgiveness, and salvation for all who believe that He is the Son of God. Through the atonement, and therefore as the “Last Adam,” Jesus came to return all who believe in Him to the original mandate that the first Adam failed to accomplish.

7.6. Salvation: We believe that accepting and confessing Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God and asking Him to forgive our sins and become King of our lives, results in the re-birth of our human spirit. This results in a new birth as we become a new creation in Him. This new birth or being “born again” does not inherently alter our physical state, our mind or make our decisions and actions immediately perfect; it is the beginning of a new way of life that allows God, in His faithfulness, to conform us to His nature (Romans 5:10; Philippians 1:6).

7.7. The Resurrection: We believe Jesus Christ resurrected from the dead and ascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father, forever making intercession for His people. Just as He resurrected from the dead, His resurrection is the first-fruits promise of the resurrection into eternity for all who believe in Him.

We believe that when Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father He gave five ministry gifts to mankind: the Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher. These ministry gifts are to mature and unify His people, help His people grow in intimacy with the Father, and advance His Kingdom.

7.8. The Holy Spirit: We believe the Holy Spirit is God. He came forth from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit is the agent of regeneration and sanctification for believers in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit makes the presence of Jesus Christ real in believers. He teaches, comforts, guides, convicts, and enables believers to live in ways that honor God. He empowers believers for ministry. We believe in the present and interactive ministry of the Holy Spirit and in all the biblical gifts which He continues to give today.

7.9. Original Sin: We believe that human nature derives from two historic persons — male and female, who were created in God’s image from the dust of the earth, without the knowledge of good and evil. They were created perfect, but they sinned, thus plunging themselves and all humanity into sin, guilt, suffering, and death. Therefore all human beings are sinners by nature and by choice. We believe that God through Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit, regenerates those who repent of their sins, confess Jesus Christ as Lord, and chooses to renew their mind in Christ.

7.10. The Lord’s Supper: We believe and acknowledge the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of Jesus and His crucifixion for the atonement for our sins. He was the Passover Lamb and fulfilled the Feast of Passover. We believe the Lord’s Supper is a holy ordinance, and that it testifies of our union with Him and of the remission of our sins through His sacrifice on the Cross. Partaking of the Lord’s Supper in a corporate or church setting also testifies of our relationship with each other as the Body of Christ.

7.11. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit: We believe in the Baptism in the Holy Spirit as being an additional impartation which empowers, strengthens, comforts, and is usually accompanied by the manifestations of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life. These gifts are available to all who believe. Baptism in the Holy Spirit endues and transforms the believer to increasingly take on more of the nature of Christ. We accept, acknowledge, encourage, and seek all of the biblical gifts and ministries of the Holy Spirit. They are present, active, and vital in aiding the Church and the advancing of the glorious Kingdom of God.

7.12. The Second Coming: We believe in the literal, physical, personal, and visible return of Jesus Christ to the Earth and the establishment of His Kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, and the eternal blessing of the righteous, as well as endless suffering for the wicked. Only those who have made Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior and are born of the Holy Spirit are members of the Body of Christ, and will spend eternity with Christ.

7.13. The Purpose of Faith: We believe true faith is borne in a believer’s heart and not just in their mind. God requires us to exercise faith for our salvation as well as for all other issues in His Kingdom. In exercising our faith, we lift our focus above the temporal terrestrial realm to the eternal celestial realm. We focus on God’s infinite nature, Whose desire is for our good. We grow to see that all things eternal happen through faith in God.

Our faith activates the movement of the Holy Spirit. Only the Holy Spirit of God can reveal the Son of God, and only the Son can reveal the Father. This is the Kingdom process. Eternal change can only happen as the Spirit of God initiates the Kingdom processes thus the Holy Spirit moves and convicts the heart of mankind. Neither the eloquence of speech nor the passionate presentation of the Gospel can activate the Kingdom process and eternally change the hearts of men and women. It is God Who draws us to Himself.

It is WFM’s policy to implement fair and effective Human Resource policies and to require all volunteers to serve WFM’s best interests.

8.1.1. To deal with Missions Base staff and Missions Base visitors and suppliers in a professional manner;

8.1.4. To demonstrate a considerate, friendly, and constructive attitude toward fellow volunteers

9.1. All volunteers of the WFM Missions Base enlist for a volunteer period of not more than one (1) calendar year period at a time. In the event of a mid-year entry, their commitment is only to the end of the current calendar year. This, however, is a heart item and such volunteers may terminate their volunteerism at any time and for any reason as also WFM may, in the case of an unresolved indiscretion, terminate a staffer’s term of volunteerism.

10.1. Volunteerism Categories: It is the intent of WFM to clarify the definitions of volunteerism classifications so that volunteers understand their volunteerism status and benefit eligibility. These classifications do not guarantee volunteerism for any specified period of time. Accordingly, the right to terminate the volunteerism relationship at will at any time is retained by both the staffer and WFM.

10.1.1. FULL-TIME volunteers are those who are not in a temporary status and who are regularly scheduled to work at least 30 hours in a ministerial position.

10.1.2. PART-TIME volunteers are those who are not assigned to a temporary status and who are regularly scheduled to work less than 30 hours per week.

10.2. Equal Volunteerism Opportunity: It is the intention of WFM to practice equal volunteerism opportunity without regard to an individual’s race, color, national origin, marital status, sex, disability, or age in application of any policy, practice, rule, or regulation. Functioning as a religious organization, we can and do discriminate on the basis of religion.

10.3. Staffer Harassment: WFM is committed to maintaining a ministry environment in which all individuals treat each other with dignity and respect and is free from all forms of intimidation, exploitation and harassment, including sexual harassment. WFM is prepared to take action to prevent and correct any violations of this policy. Anyone who violates this policy will be subject to discipline, up to and including termination.

10.4. “Harassment,” including “sexual harassment,” means unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, visual, or physical conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual because of race, color, national origin, gender, disability, or age made by someone from or in the work setting under any of the following conditions:

10.4.1. Submission to the conduct is explicitly or implicitly made a term or condition of an individual’s volunteerism;

10.4.2. Submission to, or rejection of, the conduct by the individual is used as the basis of volunteerism decisions affecting the individual;

10.4.3. The conduct has the purpose or effect of having a negative impact upon the individual’s work performance, or of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive ministry environment;

10.4.4. The conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s efforts or otherwise adversely affects an individual’s opportunity here ; or

10.4.5. Submission to, or rejection of, the conduct by the individual is used as the basis for any decision affecting the individual regarding benefits and services, honors, programs, or activities available at or through WFM.

10.5. Unwelcome conduct of this type can include a wide range of verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual or otherwise harassing nature. Among the types of conduct which would violate this policy are the following:

10.5.3. Making or threatening reprisals after a negative response to sexual advances;

10.5.4. Visual conduct such as leering, making sexual gestures, or other gestures which denigrate a person’s race, color, national origin, gender, disability, or age;

10.5.5. Written or graphic material that denigrates, or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group because of race, color, gender, national origin, age, or disability and that is placed on walls, bulletin boards, or elsewhere on WFM premises, or circulated in the ministry environment;

10.5.6. Epithets, slurs, off-color jokes, negative stereotyping, threatening, intimidating, or hostile acts that relate to race, color, gender, national origin, age, or disability, graphic verbal commentaries about an individual’s body, sexually degrading words used to describe an individual, suggestive or obscene letters, notes or invitations; and

10.5.7. Physical conduct such as unwanted and inappropriate touching, assaulting, impeding or blocking movements.

10.6. Volunteers who feel that they have been subjected to conduct of a harassing nature are encouraged to promptly report the matter to one of the following:

10.7. All complaints will be promptly investigated. Every effort will be made to protect the privacy of the parties involved in any complaint. However, WFM reserves the right to fully investigate every complaint and to notify appropriate government officials as the circumstances warrant.

10.8. If the investigation confirms the allegations, prompt corrective actions will be taken, and the individual who suffered the harassing conduct will be informed of the corrective action taken. In addition, any staffer found to be responsible for harassment in violation of this policy will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action up to and including termination. The severity of the disciplinary action will be based upon the circumstances of the infraction.

10.9. Volunteers who observe conduct of a harassing nature are required to report the matter to one of the above individuals. Volunteers who knowingly fail to report harassment may be subject to discipline.

10.10. It is against WFM’ policy to discriminate or retaliate against any person who has filed a complaint concerning harassment or has testified, assisted, or participated in any investigation or hearing concerning harassment.

11.1. WFM does not discriminate against any applicant or staffer in hiring or on the terms, conditions and privileges of volunteerism due to physical or mental disability. When WFM becomes aware of any disability which prevents an otherwise qualified applicant or staffer from performing a job, WFM will assess whether any reasonable accommodation would allow the person to perform the job before refusing volunteerism or making a distinction in terms, condition or privileges of volunteerism because of the disability. An accommodation which creates an undue hardship on WFM or which endangers health or safety is not a reasonable accommodation. WFM will make any reasonable accommodation necessary to allow an otherwise qualified applicant or staffer to perform the job.

11.2. An otherwise qualified applicant for volunteerism or staffer with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation should inform his or her Company Director or management of the nature of the disability and the accommodation required. Volunteers with access to such information shall maintain the confidentiality of the information to the extent reasonably possible and shall not release the information to anyone who does not have the right or need to know.

12.1. WFM complies with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 and is committed to enlisting only United States citizens and those aliens who are legally authorized to be in the United States.

13.1. Termination of volunteerism is an inevitable part of Human Resource activity within any organization, and many of the reasons for termination are routine. Below are examples of some of the most common circumstances under which volunteerism is terminated:

13.1.1. Resignation – voluntary volunteerism termination initiated by a volunteer staffer.

13.1.2. Released – involuntary volunteerism termination initiated by the organization.

13.1.3. Sent – voluntary volunteerism termination in order to enable the individual to pursue the next step of their destiny in God. With the blessing of the WFM Leadership team.

13.2. Volunteers are responsible for all WFM property, materials, or written information issued to them or in their possession or control. Volunteers must return all WFM property immediately upon request or upon termination of volunteerism. Where permitted by applicable laws, WFM may withhold from the staffer’s final MBA account the cost of any items that are not returned when required.