A BAND OF BROTHERS – There are pastors and congregations who are looking for:
- A band of brothers and sisters who help one another stay focused on, and be equipped for, the mission at hand
- A band of brothers and sisters who will stand shoulder-to-shoulder, giving courage to one another as we engage in the great cosmic conflict of our age, because courage has a relational component to it
- A band of brothers and sisters who can pick us up and help carry us through seasons of life that are challenging, discouraging, and painful
- A band of brothers and sisters who will not let us settle for anything less than all God has for us
- A band of brothers and sisters because together we are a force to be reckoned with
- A family sharing their passion for Jesus and advancing His kingdom in our world
- A family committed to walking with each other, spurring one another on to do whatever it takes to accomplish the mission
- A family of friends and fellow followers of Jesus who are “closer than a brother”
- A family that is larger than our local family
- A family that is lovin’ on pastors and leaders
- Feel like they have been in a far country and want to come home
- Want to be celebrated, not tolerated, for being fully evangelical, Spirit-empowered, and sacramental
- Walk in unity, not uniformity
- Discover and live out God’s kingdom assignment for our lives
- Hear and follow God’s voice
- “Do the stuff” and not become entangled in unnecessary hierarchical and bureaucratic encumbrances
Is the ARC
Lutheran?
We minister in churches
in the United States and around the world across
denominational lines. We embrace our Reformation
heritage: Word alone, grace alone, faith alone. We
recognize the Lutheran Confessions as an historic,
faithful summary of the Christian faith as revealed in
the Bible.
Is the
ARC a Denomination?
Not in the sense that
the word is normally understood. The ARC puts more
emphasis on local church autonomy and on relationships
between churches than on a centralized structure. Many
of the responsibilities traditionally belonging to
denominational headquarters reside with the local
church, such as the training of church leaders, the
planting of churches, the ordaining of pastors, and the
sending of missionaries. The ARC is built on
relationships and encourages churches to network
together for strategic mission.
Where Can Arc Pastors Receive Their
Training?
The Master’s
Institute (MI) is closely related to the ARC and trains
many pastors for the ARC. However, pastors are not
required to graduate from MI, and each leader will be
encouraged to seek out the best route to his/her own
personal preparation for ministry. Click here to access
the Master's
Institute website
Are
Congregations Encouraged To Leave Their Denomination to
Join the ARC?
No. That is a question that each
congregation needs to answer for itself. Some churches
maintain their affiliation with their denomination
while partnering with the ARC. Other churches have
chosen the ARC as their sole affiliation. We bless the
choice each congregation makes in this regard.
What
About Arc Financial Management?
ARC funds are supervised by the Leadership Team. An
outside accountant retained by the ARC tracks funds
monthly.
Can you
tell me more about the convergence of the evangelical,
sacramental, and charismatic streams in the ARC?
The Evangelical Stream: emphasizing
salvation by faith in the atoning death of Jesus Christ
through personal conversion; the authority of
Scripture; theological intellectualism; evangelism; the
importance of preaching. While honoring God the Father
and God the Holy Spirit, the evangelical worship
emphasis is upon God the Son. A defining ministry
characteristic of evangelicals is proclamation of the
ministry of the Gospel, emphasizing the importance of
proclaiming biblical truth to the world around us.
The Sacramental Stream: emphasizing
the sacramental presence of God through liturgy and
rites, symbolism and signs, orthodoxy, preservation of
historical episcopacy, and a historical view of the
church. While honoring God the Son and God the Holy
Spirit, the sacramental worship emphasis is upon God
the Father. A defining ministry characteristic of
sacramentalists is incarnational ministry of the
Gospel, demonstrating spirituality through ministry to
human needs and materials signs and symbols.
The Charismatic Stream: emphasizing
the free expression of the gifts and Person of the Holy
Spirit, especially in expressive praise and in
miraculous signs and wonders; practical theology; focus
on life and ministry in the Spirit; and an informal New
Testament view of the church. While honoring God
the Father and God the Son, the charismatic worship
emphasis is upon God the Holy Spirit. A defining
ministry characteristic of charismatics is supernatural
ministry of the Gospel, emphasizing miraculous personal
experience with God through His Word and power.
[From Daniel W. Williams ,
The Sound of Rushing Waters, (Dquest:
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, ©2005), 16-17.]
ARC Pension Plan in
Place
The Alliance of Renewal Churches (ARC) has established
a pension plan for ARC members with Envoy Financial of
Colorado Springs, CO. Envoy works with large
groups (Focus on the Family for instance) and with
small groups alike in providing trustworthy pension
plans to help us all in the latter stages of life.
The ARC has put this package in place for those
who need this resource, but does not require that her
member pastors and non-clergy leaders participate.
To establish a pension plan with Envoy, go to:
http://www.envoyfinancial.org/ARC
plan setup
To read and learn more about Envoy, go to: http://www.envoyfinancial.org