EXPECTATIONS and GUIDELINES
1.
What Does the ARC Expect from Member
Churches?
• Willingness to network
together for strategic mission
• Openness to sharing
experience and resources with other ARC churches
• Desire to participate
in ARC gatherings for fellowship and growth
• Willingness to risk
for the sake of the Gospel
2.
Recommended Communication
Expectations—We
want to keep reporting to a minimum. At the same time,
it is helpful for the ARC Leadership Team to know what
is happening in the field. A formal annual report
describing your results from the preceding year is not
required. We would be grateful for twice-a-year
ministry updates by email, sharing how God is moving in
your church and describing how the ARC can be praying
for your ministry.
3.
Baptism and The Lord’s Supper—The
ARC takes the position that each local church has the
right to decide the manner in which to celebrate the
sacraments. For example, some congregations will
baptize infants as well as adults; others will choose
to baptize believers upon confession of faith. Some
will baptize by sprinkling, others by immersion. As
each congregation celebrates the sacraments in
accordance with its understanding of Scripture and a
desire to obey God, we believe the Lord will be
pleased. We make room for different practices and
theological understandings regarding the sacraments,
and we believe this variety is a rich blessing in the
ARC.
4.
Ordination—Ordination
is a local church responsibility. Requirements for
ordination will be determined at the local level and in
compliance with state regulations. We are available for
consultation and referral to accrediting bodies. The
Leadership Team of the ARC is generally available upon
request to come to each local church to bless and
release the new lead pastor. This usually will not
happen for each subsequent associate pastor. The ARC
takes the position that each local church has the right
to decide whether or not to ordain women. As a result,
each church is free to make the decision that most
closely aligns with their interpretation of Scripture.
We will support churches choosing either position.
5.
Financial Expectations—Giving
is a privilege of all God’s people. The ARC asks that
each congregation contribute financially to support
both the national and international ministry of the
ARC. Sowing into the ARC in a tangible way not only
supports our ministries together, but shows commitment
to the vision and purpose of the ARC. The money should
be sent by check to The ARC, 2701 Rice Street,
Roseville, MN 55113.
6.
Major Conflict Process—In
the event of serious conflicts or issues within a
church, the ARC Leadership Team, if requested, may
function as a court of last resort for the local
congregation. Our strong preference is that each church
would develop a clear policy to be followed that would
allow the conflict to be resolved at the local level.
One option is the formation of an Outside Advisory
Board to assist in resolving conflicts involving the
lead pastor or senior leaders. This board, composed of
trusted spiritual leaders who are not members of the
local congregation, can assist the leaders of the local
congregation in the disciplinary and adjudicatory
process.
7.
Growing the ARC—We
want ARC members to be involved in growing the ARC.
Direct your recommendations for potential partners to
the ARC’s Director of Development, Mike Bradley. The
ARC Leadership Team will be asking for insights from
other ARC churches that know the potential ARC partner
regarding whether the ARC and the congregation are a
good fit for each other.
Church
Partnership Procedures
1.
Be in agreement -
Churches interested in becoming part of the ARC should
agree with our theological “Beliefs”
statement, understand our spiritual DNA, and
recognize that the ARC is a network, not a
denomination. A resource to help in transmitting
these last two concepts is “The ARC
DNA,”.
2.
Get to know us -
The church and its leadership should take time to get
to know the flavor of the ARC and speak with the ARC
Leadership Team until they discern a strong sense of
unity with the ARC’s vision and values.
3.
Let us get to know you -
Applications for membership are available by contacting
the ARC office at:
arcusaorg@aol.com.
If we are not familiar with your congregation, an
ARC representative will visit your church and meet
with its leadership. The ARC Leadership Team will
review the application within one month of receiving
it. Churches must have a 75% affirmative vote of the
congregation, but a vote is not necessary if the
congregation’s leadership team is constitutionally
empowered to makes this decision.
4.
Financially support the ARC