The Canmore Accord

[Melissa Smyth]

I really appreciate the 5-fold ministry and the fact that this is something that ACOP is intentionally encouraging and fostering! I have heard different groups talk about the 5-fold ministry and have had conversations with different ACOP pastors on it. Some things that I have been wondering and hoping for are a clear understanding or definitions to help have a unified language and clarity when talking about prophets and shepherds, and apostles, etc. I often find it difficult as I don’t understand what someone means when they talk about a prophet and what that all entails, it might be similar or different from my understanding, and makes it difficult to have those conversations without confusion.

[Aidan]

I think all five ministry gifts are present in the church today because Jesus is the One who administers these gifts, not the church. However, I think our local churches do not always make space for some of these gifts very well. The prophet and the apostle are probably the greatest examples of this, as these gifts can and have sometimes been misused or perceived to be misused and often get shut down as attempts to overthrow or subvert local leadership. We also live in a church cultural context that is very much geared towards the gifts of pastor and teacher, which I think is to the detriment of the Kingdom. We need to make more space for all five gifts to be vibrant and active, and to invest in stewarding these gifts to maturity so they may honour God and bring life to the local church.

[Kevin]

If I had to pick one gift I believe is most lacking in the global church today, I would say the prophet, although the apostle comes in at a close second. I appreciate that the Canmore Accord validates the prophetic gifting as being for today in the church and helpful in building the Kingdom and encouraging the body of Christ. I also appreciate the intent to bring balance to the suspicion that the gift has been historically viewed with.

The ACOP perspective is consistent with my belief structure in that all five gifts are not only valid for today, but vital. We may not have all five giftings operating at high levels in our churches, but we should be intentional about seeking out people who can provide that influence to our churches.

[Celestine]

I believe that the gift of apostle is often lacking in the church today. Apostles play a crucial role in pioneering new works, establishing churches, and providing visionary leadership. The Canmore Accord addresses this lack by emphasizing the importance of apostolic ministry and gifting within the church. It provides a framework for understanding and operating in the fivefold ministry gifts, including apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.

I’ve received various teachings on the fivefold ministry, and I appreciate the Canmore Accord’s emphasis on equipping saints for ministry and promoting unity among diverse gifting. Further questions I have include: How can we practically recognize and release apostolic and prophetic gifting in our churches? What are the key characteristics and roles of each ministry gift, and how can we better understand their functions?

The Canmore Accord’s insights will help me better understand the fivefold ministry and its application in the church.