We are all ministers – We lead by example to create an Apostolic culture of servant leadership toward common beliefs, goals, and agreements. As much as these guidelines are required of those volunteering to lead, they can also be expected of those volunteering to participate in one-to-another (or any other types) of ministry. This should include everyone, since ministry is a natural occurrence among Christian friends.
We can not all do everything – While leaders are concerned with matching ministry needs with appropriate minister and setting, everyone should respect themselves and others by operating only within the bounds of their training and certification. Instead of overstepping, we can always escalate, refer, or defer to our leader.
We are all equals – “Matthew 23:9 And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father. English Standard Version” Jesus gave his disciples nicknames, like we give our friends nicknames. There were no honorific religious titles. Some of us understand, embody, and represent the implementation of scripture that people showed up for here more than others. Our resultant authority as decision makers comes out of respect for the volunteered time (or any other resources) of our participants as a whole.
Abusive Leadership – God’s authority does not come from a broken, abusive place of seeking or even usurping power or control over God, self, or others by manipulation, or maintaining or expanding control by domination – especially not out of compulsion or addiction (without even realizing it). Leaders with the above issues are likely to start with crossing some of our collectively agreed upon boundaries, move to teaching and/or ministering in a way that goes beyond what we all agreed to in the curriculum, and finally pull their followers away after themselves. Please email accountability at apostolic faith mission dot org so that we can address these issues (or any other issues herein) with our leaders as soon as possible while the issues are still manageable (and while they are still willing to allow us to help them). You can choose to remain anonymous and we will strive to improve your leadership situation in a way that does not make further unwanted demands of your time.
The name of the Lord is held in high esteem – Does not involve misusing the name of the Lord to blame His Holy Spirit for our own (1) poor planning, (2) failure to take personal responsibility for our own life and choices, (3) religious theatrics that we contrived to manipulate God or man into giving us the attention or approval that we are addicted to, (4) poor decision making process, claiming “God told me that WE…” , as if they are an oracle, with no respect for; (1) the collective mind of Christ, (1 a) confirmation from others, (2) Godly counsel, or (3) owning our impressions with statements like “I feel, sense, perceive, see, believe.. etc” instead of blaming God for them .
Integrity – Leaders are primarily evaluated according to the quality of the decisions that they make, and secondarily evaluated by their process of decision making, where a lifestyle and life of integrity is maintained by engaging both heart and mind in fellowship with God, self, and others around the Apostle’s teaching.
Gifted – Beyond the biblical qualifications set forth in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1, leaders demonstrate all of the spiritual gifts in their own life towards building theirs and the corporate body.. and coach others to do the same.
