Affirmations

We affirm that:

1. Apostles and prophets have always operated in the church.

2. The restoration of the use of the terms apostle and prophet is not to establish a movement to replace other church streams, but to clarify these scripturally-based ministries.

3. New Covenant leadership is not measured by titles, but according to the fruit produced and by godly influence in peoples' lives. Apostles in the Book of Acts were recognized as such by the congregations that followed them.

4. Apostolic leadership should not seek to assert authority over others who do not see themselves as called to their sphere or stream (1 Cor. 9:2; 2 Cor. 10:13).

5. An apostle may have an oversight role, but oversight is ideally exercised among a plurality of leaders who are mutually accountable.

6. Part of the calling of apostles and prophets is to seek unity and cooperation with all church streams that are true to the Gospel (Jn. 17:21).

7. Charismatic leaders today should understand and affirm the basic biblical doctrines that have always unified true believing Christians. All teaching should be tested by the authority of the Scriptures. 

Mistakes

We recognize the following mistakes:

1. Lack of Humility:

The functions of apostle and prophet require genuine humility and a desire to lift up others. We repent of arrogant statements that have come from some who have perpetuated these aberrations.

2. Dishonoring of Historic Church Streams:

We reject any presentation of the restoration of apostles and prophets that would delegitimize the historic church streams, suggesting that they were not truly an authentic part of the full ecclesia. 

3. Claim to Authoritative Influence Like the Canonical Apostles and Prophets:

There is a great difference between the canonical apostles and prophets, and those who serve as apostles and prophets within the Body since their time. Modern day apostles are not equal to the 12 Apostles of the Lamb (Rev. 21:14). 

4. The Royal Apostle/Pastor Model:

We repudiate the model that elevates the role of apostle or pastor to a type of dictator or king where unilateral decisions are made without accountability. The biblical model of leadership includes teamwork and mutual submission. 

5. Non-Accountable Apostle/Prophet/Pastor:

We reject the claim that ministry leaders are not accountable to other leaders; and that only God can remove an apostle/prophet from their position (perhaps by the leader's death), even in the case of gross moral failure. We reject the use of “touch not God’s anointed,” to suggest that leaders are only accountable to God, as this often leads to abuse. 

6. Unaccountable Prophecy:

Prophecies in the church today are to be tested by mature elder-level leaders. Those who prophesy in a way that is proven to be inaccurate, need to repent and submit to a team of senior ministers for reevaluation. 

7. Imbalanced Prosperity Teaching:

We reject the misuse of the Bible’s teaching on prosperity that places manipulative emphasis on giving to the one who is preaching as the primary way to receive blessing and enrichment. We believe that God meets our needs and provides abundance, so that we can bless others, not to accumulate material wealth for ourselves (Luke 12:15). 

8. Ignoring Biblical Character Standards:

We reject the idea that apostles and prophets are beyond the standards of character required for all elders, as taught in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1. The higher the level of leadership, the greater the demand for character (James 3:1). 

9. Undue and Unbiblical Authority:

Leaders should never pressure people to obey their instructions beyond the dictates of the individual's own conscience and of the Scriptures; nor use their leadership position as a means of demanding obedience to them.