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Government:
At Harvest Community Church, we believe the governmental pattern for the Church is given in the New Testament. Oversight of each local church is in the hands of elders who are appointed by apostles (Acts 14:21-23; 20:17, 28; 1 Timothy 5:17-19). The eldership team expresses its oversight using the principles of servant leadership (1 Peter 5:1-4). In addition to elders, God provides deacons to help with the physical needs of the local church (Acts 6:1-7). Together, elders and deacons provide complete local government (Philippians 1:1). Elders are the highest authority in the local assembly (Hebrews 13:17), and local churches are the highest authority for God’s people (Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 6:1-8). This is God’s pattern for governing His covenant people, the Church, until Jesus returns.

When Christ ascended to the Father, He gave gifts to men in the offices of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher (Ephesians 4:8-16). Each is an office which Jesus himself possesses (Hebrews 3:1; Matthew 21:11 and Deuteronomy 18:18; Matthew 4:23; Hebrews 13:20 and 1 Peter 5:4; and John 13:13) and distributes among His people for the purpose of building the Church. These individuals use their gifts to provide spiritual counsel and protection for the local church. They are servants to the local church to help God’s people grow into maturity and into the fullness of what God has intended.

Harvest Community Church submits to the counsel and oversight of an apostolic network called Ascension Fellowships International (AFI). Local government for Harvest Community Church resides in the hands of the local elders. The counsel of the apostles and prophets of AFI is given to the elders, but final decisions are made by the local elders. For an example of this, see 1 Corinthians 7.


 


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Last modified:24 October 2009