Senior Couple Mission Financing

Where can I find more info on financing a senior couple's mission. A couple leaving for a mission soon wanted to donate the required funds to the ward missionary fund, but were told that is not how it works for Senior Couple. Appreciate some guidance.

Handbook 1: 4.6.3. They pay the expenses directly.

russellhltn wrote:Handbook 1: 4.6.3. They pay the expenses directly.

Actually, that handbook section has been superseded in large part by official letters dated 27 May 2011, 1 September 2011, 21 October 2011, and 10 December 2011.

See the letters for details, since the policies are different for different countries of residence, but the key statement is from the 10 Dec 2011 letter: "Missionary couples who reside in self-supporting countries donate their assigned monthly housing cost to their home ward or branch missionary fund." (Self-supporting countries are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States.)

I'd feel better if they first get confirmation from the missionary department. Once they donate, they can't get it back. They can always donate later.

russellhltn wrote:I'd feel better if they first get confirmation from the missionary department. Once they donate, they can't get it back. They can always donate later.

Although it's true that they can always donate later, the housing payments will be deducted from the ward's missionary account each month once their mission starts.

The letters specifically advise that missionaries pay only a month at a time, precisely because the donations are nonrefundable. But on the other hand, failing to pay the amounts that are deducted monthly could lead to a burden on the ward missionary fund that there may not be available funds to cover.

The ward clerk should have access to the letters, which explain in detail what the process is. All the letters are available in the Official Communications Library, if the ward doesn't have copies of the letters already.