1. Do you perceive that confusion currently exists around the use and definition of “Affiliation”? Should this term be formally defined? What would be the defining elements of an affiliated ministry? Please list those elements in an outline form.
Answer: Unanimously, Yes confusion exists around the use and definition of “Affiliation”. It would be helpful for the term to be formally defined.
Comments:
· Cardinal doctrines; primary distinctives of GGWO – no women preachers, Finished Work. methodology.
· (a) Self-governing, self-propagating, self-supporting; (b) similarity of primary doctrine; similarity of purpose reaching the lost worldwide; sharing the purpose of the vision worldwide in dollars and cents; (e) uniqueness of our fellowship to promote this and to strategize for its accomplishment; (f) support of the highest form of education (i.e. Bible Colleges and Institutes); (g) always operating in the purity of love, mercy, grace with an emphasis on the Finished Work. message of Jesus Christ.
· Spiritual life exchange; respect for home base; ordination of the Pastor from GGWO; agreed doctrines; should each church agree to a common Statement of Faith to which every affiliated pastor signs?
· Just lack of definition. Pastor who may join later must agree to ord. requirements and consequences for breaking them. Definition should be clearly defined.
· The term is not confused, but the term should be formally defined. Definition from Latin filios – to adopt as a son; to trace origin; branch with purpose of inter-connecting. Love, mutual respect and honor and primary doctrines.
· Term to be defined as “a group of local assemblies who voluntarily submit to doctrine, policies and shared heritage with oneness of heart.
· (1) common statement of faith; (2) common bond of fellowship; (3) common vision and mission; (4) common understanding and acceptance of F.W. message; (5) common commitment to edify by the royal law of love.
2. Why is it important that churches be affiliated; in general, and specifically with GGWO?
Comments:
· (1) Affiliation promotes and preserves unity and insures blessing (Ps. 133). (2) it provides a vehicle for accountability and security and trust for local churches. (3) Affiliation provides an opportunity to share in a worldwide vision given to Dr. Stevens.
· Corporate strength and synergism of ministry; doctrinal purity; spiritual accountability; fellowship and edification; wisdom of those who bear the scars of walking with Jesus Christ; diversity of portions; ability to share the joy and heartaches of ministry.
· General – greater way to promote vision and missions; larger resources; greater credibility of being affiliated with spiritual accountability.
· Spiritual covering; accountability by receiving input; motivation and edification; co-laboring; opportunity of GGWO resources (Bible College, youth min. etc.)
· Mutual support, wisdom.
· Draw from experience; benefits from working together; work will be stronger; you can get help from Home Base; important because of vision and message; builds validity.
· For its effectiveness and continuity; for protection; for exchange of love, experience and life of Jesus Christ; to experience the mystery of the fellowship (Eph 3:9).
· Accountability; strength in unity; networking capabilities; enlarges our scope of opportunities; support; fellowship and shared information. Methods often change – principles never do.
3. Should each affiliated ministry subscribe to the Primary Doctrines of GGWO? Should each affiliated ministry adhere to agreed upon policies concerning church finances, pastoral ethics, methodology, etc.?
Answer: Unanimously, Yes each GGWO Affiliated ministry should be expected to subscribe to the same Primary Doctrines.
Comments:
· No for finances; yes – pastoral ethics; methodology – No.
· Finances and ethics, need a written policy. Methodology – No.
· Changed “policies” to “guidelines” – yes for finances and ethics; no to methodology.
· Primary doctrine needs to be defined as distinct from cardinal doctrine. Ethics and finances – yes.
· Finances – local church has Biblical ethics but affiliate or home base cannot determine how local church uses its finances.
· No – too general, but good general guidelines.
· GGWO should make recommendations on those 3; then governance of each local church should decide how to implement them.
· Yes – ethics, but we need to define it.
· Yes a written policy that defines general practices.
· Yes, but only as far as the Scripture dictates.
4. Does affiliation mean restricted liberty in any secondary areas of methodology? (ex: music, programs, implementation of “vision”, choice of speakers, etc.)
Answer: Generally, No Affiliated ministries should have freedom related to secondary doctrines depending on how they would be defined. Should consider a hierarchy list of doctrine: 1) Cardinal Doctrines that all Christian Churches would be expected to support; 2) GGWO Primary Doctrines that are distinctives of this ministry; and 3) Secondary Doctrines.
Comments:
· No unless it is going to be harmful, etc.
· No. Gal. 5:1, 5:13 – balance. But we entrust the Spirit in the local church to exercise that balance.
· Home Base cannot restrict the worship of the local church (instruments, etc.), outreaches, etc.; cannot invite itself; cannot restrict their speakers. Local church is autonomous. Keeps from undermining the local pastor’s position.
5. What circumstances, if any, would allow Home Base to interfere an affiliated ministry? Are there any circumstances when Home Base should have a direct relationship with an assistant pastor in a local church without consultation with the head pastor?
Answer: All GGWO Affiliated ministries (local assemblies) are autonomous churches and are affiliated only through a mutual volunteer relationship. Home Base should not have direct intervening relationships with Assistant Pastors without the Head Pastor’s knowledge and agreement, although there may be exceptions when a Head Pastor does not have a Board of Elders to be accountable to and the Assistant Pastor is meeting resistence from the Head Pastor related to problems and accountability that may be detrimental to the church, and the Assistant Pastor has followed the proper biblical principles of Pastor Discipline previously reviewed.
Comments:
· At the invitation of the indigenous government only.
· (a) Home Base should have some influence but no interference. (b) by invitation; if we violate doctrines for affiliation; pastoral ethics violations; financial improprieties. (c) assistant pastor – No.
· (1) – Yes if it is so consented to and at the request of the affiliate only for the purpose of cooperation in a certain area given and if Home Base agrees to it. (2) – No, it is dishonorable unless the Pastor who has no board of elders to hold him accountable and is living in sin, then the assistant pastor (Mt. 18:15-17) is then free to go to Home Base to try to institute accountability in that situation.
· (1) - Circumstances - If help is requested by the elders. (2) – No.
· Will concept of Home Base continue? Should be invited by Home Base. No,
· If a youth pastor went to address these 2 issues and it was not resolved. Follow Mt. 18 principle; then assistant pastor can initiate to Home Base after bringing it to the elders.
· (1) - By invitation only. (2) – if it involves local church government, No.
· If a cardinal doctrine issue, otherwise no, a violation of proper authority.
· Influence = involvement; only when invited by the entire board of elders of the local church.
· Influence = (1) negative circumstances if there are pastoral problems or the elders are requesting help for a problem; if they are disaffiliating; positive side – outreaches, radio, etc.
· (1) By an invitation from affiliated church or if a violation of Scripture and/or affiliation policy. (2) yes when the head pastor refuses to respond to Home Base.
6. In terms of affiliation, what is implied when a pastor is ordained in GGWO? Does it mean agreement and adherence to Primary Doctrines? Does it include adherence to Secondary Doctrines or policy also?
- (1) – Not yet since they have not been defined.
- (1) – Staying with the pastoral policies and honoring doctrine; (3) Yes, need definition.
- (1) – ord. is separate; it is the recognition of call and hand of God on a man’s life. (3) He and his elders would ascribe to the affirmations of a written covenant pertaining to that affiliation.
- (1) – Needs to be defined in policy.
- Policy – yes, those we were charged with at ordination.
- (1) – agrees with primary doctrines; (3) – No due to lack of definition.
- (1) – Adherence to terms of affiliation however defined in future; (3) – No.
- (1) – Policy is too vague. (3) Adherence to secondary doctrines as well. Need a Statement of Faith including secondary doctrines.
- (1) – not known. Perceived quality of call; expectations of adherence to the charge of the standards given by CHS at the ordination; (3) Policies are not known. Otherwise, no.
- (1) – in terms of affiliation, at this present time that we remain loyal to CHS. (2) – “Should” it mean adherence to primary doctrines? (3) – 3 cats. opf doct. – cardinal; primary distinctive doctrines of GGWO; Finished Work methodology; secondary doctrine under primary distinctives. NO.
- Does an affiliated ministry have the option of choosing the elder/leader(s) it desires for a covering?
· Yes. If we have a stricter sense of government and stricter sense of affiliation and we have doctrines we all agree to and adhere to, if we have a governing board, then I cannot choose my own covering.
· In the future, we want non-partisan representative governing board for the affiliates.
· Yes. It should be made known and assented to by the congregation, the method of which is determined by the local assembly.
· We have no policy at this time, so this should be addressed.
- Do you agree that the affiliate churches should have defined representation within GGWO regarding the development of policies and procedures related to their ministries? Should a board/committee be developed to allow for this representation?
- Yes. Yes.
- Yes. A representative elected with limited terms.
- Yes. Want a continuation of what was started here before our next gathering. Churches could develop policies and procedures to present to the whole.
- Yes. Honor each other with mutual respect. (2) – needs to be discussed and decided upon by home base and affiliates.
- Yes. We don’t want to lose Home Base but we don’t want them running things in the affiliate churches.
OBSERVATION: there is a distinction between the local assembly in Baltimore and the affiliates.
RECOMMENDATION: Need for a comprehensive Statement of Faith regarding the primary and secondary doctrines.
QUESTIONS and COMMENTS:
- If they were invited, but entire Board approved. What does this mean? How far does that go with respect to a PT inviting people to come to speak? Not day-to-day interaction, but more of involvement with leadership with disciplinary problems.
- Proposal of document.
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