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Apostolic Church Model

Traditional Christianity (Old Wine Skins) was organized around denominational structure. There has been a seismic shift with (New Wine Skins) around the world.  Peter Wagner terms- New Apostolic Reformation churches (Fastest growing movement around the world - 385 million). Higher Vision Church follows an Apostolic Church Model. The senior Pastor functions as the spiritual leader/chief elder of the work(s), with a Board Of Apostolic Leaders giving spiritual counsel and practical accountability. This Board of Apostolic Leaders are comprised of Pastors and Leaders who also carry a strong Apostolic gifting, leading and serving in similar works, and functioning as overseeing elders of HVC. The senior pastor does not claim to hold the office of Apostle, but understands that He walks in an Apostolic gifting and calling to establish, build, send out, and equip ministries.

The major elements of change in churches who have an Apostolic Church Model, has been the recognition of the gift and office of Apostle Seismic shifts:

A. Amount of Spiritual Authority delegated by the Holy Spirit to Individuals (Senior Pastor and Apostolic Leaders)


B. Moving from Bureaucratic (groups) authority to Leader-centered authority

C. Moving from legal structure to relational structure

D. Moving from control to coordination

E. Moving from rational leadership to charismatic (sociological term) leadership

We believe the biblical model  as given in 1 cor 12 referring to the local church - 1st - Apostles , 2nd - prophets etc.., meaning God places several foundational / 5 fold gifts in a church to lead and equip the body- ( apostolic teams - ex. church in Antioch), yet submitted to and under the authority of the spiritual head - apostle of the work(s).

Major change on the local church level:

1. Pastor is the leader, not an employee of the church in Apostolic churches. The route of Pastoral leadership in this Apostolic movement is trust.  As a result, the Pastor carries tremendous authority and leadership in the church. In traditional congregations - there is a low level of trust for the pastor, final authority rests with an elder board /congregation

2. Pastor serves as an equipper vs. the primary minister in the Apostolic movement

3. Pastor observes the leadership / ministry gifts in his church- activates and releases them into ministry.

Traditional view of the Pastor:

A. Employee of the church (our minister)

B. Pastors come and go (expectation of traditional church structure)

C. Pastors are enablers

D. Pastors are the medicine men, but not the tribal chiefs

E. Pastors are subject to performance reviews Traditional views cause the Pastor to try and maintain the status quo, not to rock the boat to keep his job.

Apostolic churches view the Pastor:

1. Pastor cast the vision with counsel from the Apostolic Board- Leadership and elders trust the Pastor's vision and support him to carry it out.

2. Pastors major on the vision and minor on management.

3. Pastors make top drawer decisions and delegate the rest

4. Pastors build a solid management team, elders and staff

5. Staff members are employees of the senior pastor

6. Pastors are called for life. Growing churches have longer tenured pastors. Pastors have greater spiritual authority in their church and community.

Other characteristics with Apostolic churches vs. traditional church structures:

Leadership training - Congregation is the primary incubator for leadership. Leaders come from the congregation vs. bible colleges and seminaries which is the primary incubator for traditional churches.

Expectations of membership with Apostolic Churches:

1. Attend faithfully

2. Tithe

3. Volunteer / Minister

4. Receive Ministry

Church members presume ministry- members minister with their spiritual gifts.