n Among Christian missionaries, the process or period of time during which they raise support in preparation for going to their mission field. This use of the word has been common in churches and mission organizations for over a century, but has recently been giving way to the more "bureaucratic" term "home ministry assignment". As commonly used, a missionary
does deputation or is
on deputation. However, the missionary is not called a "deputy" nor is the person said to be a part of a "deputation". Deputation begins when the missionary is officially commissioned to be a missionary, and it ends when the person goes to the mission field.