The Ethos of ACOP

[Anna]

There are many factors that can pollute the environment of an organization. Wes talked about the elements that make up a healthy organization, like the ACOP, such as grace, hope, acceptance, generosity and more. It therefore makes sense that the opposite of these would create a polluted environment. I also believe, as we talked about vision and mission in earlier lessons, that if there are people within the organization who disagree with the mission, our who haven’t caught the vision, the ethos of that organization can get polluted. Negative, disrespectful, quarrelsome attitudes are often invisible contaminants that can demoralize and deflate am organization.

Thankfully, I don’t see these attitudes within ACOP. I would describe the ACOP as a large family that strives or encourages growth in its members. The verse that comes to mind is

1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV

[11] Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

https://bible.com/bible/111/1th.5.11.NIV

The environment within ACOP is definitely one of encouragement.

[Zach]

Things that can pollute the atmosphere of an organization are things like mistrust, suspicion, control, selfishness, and self-seeking. These things can be systemic within an organization, slowly introduced, or the product of negative abrupt changes. I think it is very import to guard and protect the ethos of an organization as it can silently kill, mis-direct, and subtly choke out its effectiveness if it is not healthy. So far, in my brief engagement I have found the character of the ACOP to be deeply supportive, engaging, and accepting. I really love what was said about grace and power, and a belief that when God’s grace and power is present, anything is possible, yet all are safe and welcome. Thats’ a unique combination of factors that can be catalytic for great things.

[Jaylen]

I would agree that the ethos of ACOP is more relational, at least from what I’ve seen. Of course I haven’t been in much of the ACOP or in their circles, but from my experiences it would be relational. One event I can draw from is the most recent Conference. There I saw a strong culture of focus on discipleship, and really at its core discipleship is relational. So that is what I see in ACOP.

[Kimberly]

Factors that pollute the environment would include lack of communication, gossip, unforgiveness, distrust, taking advantage of others, and being closed off to new members. A polluted environment is something that not only isn’t safe to be in, but it stops people from wanting be a part of – and if there is a lack of respect and trust it would definitely deter people from wanting to be a part of the fellowship.

From my experience with ACOP I would use the word family as a descriptive word. I have had the privilege of joining two ACOP conferences now and they have been incredible. It has been so cool to be the new person in a group and feel so accepted, and encouraged in my ministry work. My experience in an ACOP partner church has been the same. My family struggled to find a church that felt like home until we joined an ACOP church. Immediately we knew we belonged there and have made friends that we can share our faith with way deeper than we have been able to before.