Home Forums ACOP Vision and Culture ACOP as a Fellowship

  • Chris

    Member
    June 8, 2023 at 12:56 pm

    I think conferences play an important role for relationship building and for the direction of the fellowship as a whole. People have the opportunity to get to know each other better and to learn about resources that can be shared throughout the fellowship. It's also a time to come together and vote on important issues.

    I have been a part of a network church as well as a somewhat centrally controlled church. I noticed the biggest difference in the network church, as when we ran into leadership issues, we didn't really have apostolic leadership who could come in and assist. I would say that the ACOP, while still a fellowship, has a more defined and known apostolic team, ready to encourage, offer direction & support and step in, without overstepping, when needed.

  • Taliya

    Member
    May 18, 2023 at 3:08 pm

    Conferences allow a time of connection for members of a fellowship like ACOP. It is a great way to build relationships, encourage one another and be updated about ministry ventures. A fellowship like ACOP feels so much more like a family or a community than more structured denominations. I grew up in a PAOC church and while I was too young to understand the hierarchy, I definitely felt a difference in my sense of belonging.

  • Sarah

    Member
    May 17, 2023 at 4:49 pm

    I attended Ambrose University to I saw the structure of the CMA (Alliance) and Nazarene Churches. The big difference was the level of influence there was from the denomination compared to ACOP head office as a fellowship. The leaders were just as accountable to the denomination as they were to the church. However, I see the ACOP churches as more autonomous. As Wes said I see pros and cons to both models. I see how the relational side is much stronger (in my observation) in the ACOP; however, there is perhaps more accountability within the CMA for church leaders as the denomination does not have to be invited in to speak into church issues. I think there is no perfect formula but I value the structure of the ACOP.

  • Nate

    Member
    February 5, 2023 at 2:31 pm

    Conferences play such a vital role because it creates a space for connection to the wider fellowship. By not being a denomination we lose that sense of being one church and instead can fall into feeling like multiple, splintered churches. Conferences allow for us to meet as one wider, united church.

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