!

FIRE Fellowships Hosting Protocol

Who can host a FIRE Fellowship?
Any FIRE member church is welcome to apply to host Fellowships and to invite other churches to attend.

If a member church wishes to host a designated FIRE International or Regional Fellowship it must receive
approval and accept shared oversight from the FIRE Board.

When do Fellowships take place?

The FIRE International Fellowship typically takes place in the spring, typically in May.

FIRE Regional Fellowships typically take place in the fall, typically in September or October.

What are the characteristics of FIRE Fellowships?

FIRE Fellowships should emphasize the following characteristics:

1. Preaching sessions
A. Conference hosts and organizers should identify a particular theme, which will provide encouragement
and benefit to those who attend, around which the speaking sessions will revolve.
B. Speakers, themes and speaking topics should always be selected with a primary view toward equip-
ping, encouraging, and comforting those who are engaged in pastoral, shepherding ministry.
C. Sessions emphasizing doctrinal and theological instruction are welcome, and should be structured to
emphasize pastoral ministry.
D. Because the emphasis of the FIRE Conferences is on the fellowship of the members, while the
preaching sessions are important, the goal is typically not to bring in outside speakers with well-known
names. Rather, the majority of speakers and sessions at a FIRE Conference should feature men
within the FIRE Fellowship.
E. Outside speakers are also welcome, so long as they are “friends of FIRE”, aligned with the doctrinal
distinctives of FIRE, and comprise a minority of the speaking sessions.
F. Preaching sessions should include times of corporate singing of songs and hymns which reflect the
doctrinal distinctives of FIRE.

2. Fellowship
A. FIRE Fellowships are intended to be times of fellowship, mutual participation in missions and ministry
projects, prayer for one another, and mutual edification around the Word of God.
B. Fellowship around shared meals.
C. Free-time activities and ample opportunity for fellowship among those who attend.

3. Church reports and prayer. New members added since the previous International Fellowship should be
mentioned and welcomed, especially those in attendance at Regional Fellowships.

4. Missions and project reports, with priority being given to FIRE members.

Version 4 – 11.15.2016
 !
Who do I coordinate with to host a FIRE Fellowship?
Churches wishing to host a FIRE Conference must coordinate with the FIRE Board Communication and
Fellowships task-group on their plans including proposed dates, proposed speakers, themes, schedule, pub-
licity (including online registration and printed conference brochures) and other conference arrangements.

Approval for proposed fellowship needs to be obtained from the FIRE Board at least 90 days prior to the pro-
posed Regional Fellowship date (prefer 180 days). It is best that Regions be approved by the International
Fellowship so they can be promoted at the International Fellowship. Internationals Fellowships should be
approved 1 year prior to the event.

Information for approved FIRE Fellowship should be posted to the FIRE Website at least 60 days prior to the
proposed conference date (prefer 120 days). As it becomes available please get in touch with the website
team to have your content posted. The Communication and Fellowships Task-group of the FIRE Board can as-
sist with this. Again, the sooner the better when it comes to promotion of the events.

The FIRE Board Executive Committee may contact potential hosts for International or Regional Conferences to
solicit their participation.

How do Fellowship conferences get publicized and funded?

FIRE does not maintain an account or funds to provide for Fellowship conference expenses. The host
church is responsible for financing and publicizing their conference. They may set a charge for the conference
attendees in order to recoup their expenses.

The host church should be prepared to invest in the Fellowship conference, especially if conference dues do
not meet all conference expenses.

FIRE does periodically receive donations designated toward granting scholarships to pastors wishing to at-
tend a Fellowship, but lacking the financial means to do so. Please contact a member of the FIRE Executive
Committee to inquire about the possibility of scholarship assistance.

The host church should designate a Fellowship conference coordinator who will manage logistics such as:

1. Housing (through church families and/or local hotels or through a conference facility).
2. Transportation (i.e. rides to and from airports).
3. Meals (ordinarily the conference attendees will eat meals together).
4. Conference materials (name badges, folder with schedules and notes, maps).
5. Music during the conference (congregational singing, special music).
6. Free-time activities.

Additional assistance with graphics, design, registration, and other fellowship items can be obtained via En-
trusted Word Ministries (entrustedword.org) which supports these kinds of efforts on behalf of FIRE.

Post Fellowship the host church needs to provide a list of churches/individuals who have attended to the
Membership task group. (Current task group members are listed on the FIRE website.)

The FIRE web site servants will assist with posting Fellowship information on the FIRE website.
* If there are audio or video recording done of the speakers the web team can get them posted for others to be
encouraged.

Version 4 – 11.15.2016
 !
Application to host a FIRE Fellowship

Please complete the following application and submit it, with the entire Hosting Protocol document, via electro-
nic mail to the FIRE Board Communications and Fellowships committee. Please submit the document in PDF
format.

Your Name:

Are you a FIRE Individual member, or member of a FIRE member church? (Please specify which church)

Have you read the entire Hosting Protocol?

Do you have any questions regarding the Hosting Protocol?

Do you agree to the terms of the Hosting Protocol? (Please type your name as a signature)

Type of Fellowship to be hosted (International or Regional):

Church Name and Location:

Will other FIRE Members or member churches be helping coordinate? (Please specify names)

Will the church serve as the conference venue? (If not, please specify the venue)

Will lodging be provided at the venue?

If not:

• Will church families be available to host some attendees?

• Will nearby hotels be recommended? (Ordinarily, attendees are expected to pay their own hotel fares)

Will any meals not be provided during the course of the conference? (please specify)

Name and Email of Fellowship Coordinator:

Proposed Fellowship Dates:

Proposed Theme:

Proposed Speakers:

Proposed Cost per Attendee:

Version 4 – 11.15.2016