The term "in residence" implies that the resident is working in conjunction and in harmony with the Bible program and the various areas of the College for a period of time longer than one year. Residents will work in and through the Bible program and will not establish programs parallel or external to those of the Bible program while serving as residents and drawing upon the benefits of the association with the Bible program.

     The resident may receive special assignments (temporary or semi-permanent renewable annually) within the campus community that are consistent with this description and reflect the skills and talents of the resident.

"Visiting" Description
     A visiting missionary or minister (hereafter called "the visitor") is defined as a person with experience or expertise in missions or ministry who agrees to become affiliated with OVC through an arrangement generally affiliated with or arranged through the Bible department. The purpose of this liaison is to promote missions, ministry, and evangelism by making the person's expertise available to the church community, the campus community, and to the students. Visiting is defined as those appointments that are expected to last less than one year.

     The visitor will work with the Bible program in promoting and developing missions programs, student campaigns, and missions and ministry training opportunities such as internships, mentoring programs, apprenticeships, and practica. The visitor will often by assigned other responsibilities on campus consistent with experience, training, and areas of interest. The visitor will also be sensitive to off-campus opportunities to strengthen churches (especially missions churches) through consultations, diagnostics, workshops, seminars, and similar services. The visitor will work with the local church community in providing on-campus training and educational opportunities, and will also be available to the local churches for classes, preaching, and other services.

    The term "visiting" implies that the resident is working in conjunction and in harmony with the Bible program and the various areas of the College. Visitors will work in and through the Bible program and will not establish programs parallel or external to those of the Bible program while serving as visitors and drawing upon the benefits of the association with the Bible program.

     The visitor may receive special temporary assignments within the campus community that are consistent with this description and reflect the skills and talents of the resident.

Obligations

1. The resident or visitor will work closely with the director of the Bible program, or the designated person on campus.

2. The resident or visitor will be provided office space and be recognized as part of the Bible program or other faculty. The resident will meet the same general office hours requirement as regular faculty and use the same reporting procedure for travel, missions trips, leaves of absence, and other time away from duties.

3. The resident or visitor may be involved in instructional and/or non-instructional activities. The term non-instructional refers to work designated in areas unrelated to academic credit. These non-instructional tasks are usually coordinated by the director of the Bible program. The term instructional refers to teaching courses for academic credit.
   Most instructional activities will be supervised by the director of the Bible program (in coordination with the appropriate division chair).

4. In all other matters--personal support for salary and benefits, travel and work funds, reimbursable expenses--the resident or visitor is responsible to his or her supporting church(es) and supporting constituency. The Bible program and college are not responsible for raising or maintaining the finances of the resident.

5. The resident or visitor is encouraged to honor the wishes of both the supporting constituency and the college. If this brings the resident or visitor into conflict with either entity, one must not be played against the other. The resident or visitor should receive the opinions, advice, and decisions or individuals, groups, organizations, committees and churches and integrate those into the purposes, goals, and strategies of the Bible program. If such is impossible, the resident or visitor must speak to both entities. Neither entity should be used as a rationale for ignoring or undermining the work of the other.

Benefits

1. The resident or visitor will be provided office space on campus and full use of the college facilities available to other faculty.

2. The resident may, with the approval of his supporting constituency, be considered an employee of the college. If such arrangements are made, the level of personal support and benefits will be agreed upon by the supporting church and the college. Raising and maintaining said personal support and benefits will be solely the responsibility of the resident. Only in very unusual situations would a short-term visitor desire or be able to become an employee of the college.

3. Should the resident (or visitor) and supporting church desire college employee status for the resident, arrangements for payment and reimbursement of that support must be worked out with the college business office (vice president for finance). Those arrangements should insure that no salary or benefits are paid out which the supporting group(s) are not willing to reimburse.

4. The resident or visitor who is deemed an employee of the college will be eligible for the benefits as they are defined in the current faculty-staff handbook. The resident or visitor is responsible for processing all the necessary paperwork for drawing such benefits. The resident or visitor is responsible for discussing with the personnel department all benefits due.

5. No other benefits are available to the resident or visitor from the college. However, the resident or visitor may enter into a separate arrangement with his supporters for reimbursement of expenses as long as said reimbursement is legal according to the IRS code. The college only asks to be notified of said arrangements.

Basic Assumptions

1. Personal characteristics. A resident or visitor must have a good reputation in the church, among fellow workers (missionaries or ministers), friends, and the faculty of the college. The resident or visitor must be biblically and doctrinally sound and of good standing with and respect in the church and brotherhood at large. The resident or visitor must be recognized as a leader among peers and bring to the college gifts and ministries for the advancement of the goals and purposes or world missions, ministry, and evangelism as expressed in the Bible program.

2. Minimum expectations. A resident or visitor must fully support the training programs offered in the Bible program and encourage students toward Christian service. The resident or visitor will recruit students for the Bible program and for the college generally. The resident or visitor will contribute to the college and the Bible program through participation in retreats, committee assignments, chapel, college and departmental meetings, workshops, and in supportive cooperation and collaboration with colleagues.

3. The resident or visitor will general work with the direction of the director of the Bible program. The job description will vary with the needs of the department and the college and the interests of the resident. The resident or visitor will likely be involved in some of the following:
   • student recruiting for the Bible program or other programs
   • building student and missions teams to work in foreign and domestic fields, either long term or on campaigns
   • teaching credit courses at the discretion of the provost, the Bible program director, and other academic leaders
   • assisting churches and missionaries with carrying out the Great Commission

4. The resident or visitor position is not a tenured track and is evaluated annually as are all non-tenured positions at the college.

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   http://bible.ovu.edu/bible/resident.htm
   Last updated November 29, 2001.
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