The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles recently approved changes in the policies regarding length of senior missionary service and missionary housing to encourage more couples to serve full-time missions and to improve their missionary experience.
As of September 1, 2011, couples may serve for 6, 12, 18, or 23 months. In addition, a cap of $1,400 (US) per month will be established for housing costs.
In the past, the policy has been that couples serving outside their country of residence were called for at least 18 months. Those wishing to serve outside their country of residence for less than 18 months may now do so if they pay for their own transportation to and from the field.
A change in housing costs for senior missionaries will also take place in September. Missions, temples, or area administration offices now will locate and secure appropriate housing and pay all housing costs (including rent, utilities, and furnishings). Missionary couples will then reimburse some or all of those housing costs up to the cap.
Missionaries from the United States, Canada, western Europe, Japan, and Australia will be expected to reimburse the cost of housing up to the cap, while those from all other countries will be expected to reimburse the costs up to their individual ability to pay (but not to exceed $1,400 a month). Couples will continue to pay for food and other personal expenses.
The cap on housing costs is intended to allow more couples to serve and to allow Church leaders to make assignments without being constrained by whether couples can afford housing costs.
If you have questions about senior missions, please call 1-800-453-3860, ext. 2-6741 (or 801-240-6741), or e-mail Senior Missionary Services to receive a response to your specific questions.
