Local Churches and ACOP

[Karlena]

ACOP and regional director is available to provide spiritual covering and to facilitate ministry through the provision of counsel, guidance, resources, and expertise. The lead pastor is the critical channel of communication from ACOP and a self-governing church. I am familiar with some partnership agreements with other contexts (e.g. denominations or mission organizations) and I would say that the distinctives of ACOP's Partnership agreement that most stand out to me are: 1) it is a relational agreement and not legally binding; 2) it is based on relational authority, not titles or hierarchal authority; 3) it encourages and empowers local churches to take an active part in every aspect of the governing, decision-making, and administrative process. It is item 3 that is most significant to me because making the local church responsible for self-governing is a catalyst for producing mature, responsible, involved and engaged members. If churches have less involvement in the decision-making and ministries of their church, it can produce members who take a passive stance to disciple-making and missions (for example).