The following are guidelines that CCC has adopted before they consider either consecrating a bishop or commissioning and Apostolic Leader.
Criteria for Commissioning Apostolic Leaders/Bishops
The following is our list of guidelines/criteria required to facilitate our participation in any apostolic commissioning or the consecration of any Christian minister to the office of a bishop. Kindly note that these guidelines are not meant to be a personal slight towards potential candidates, but rather they are our conviction based on our knowledge of church history and scriptural protocol. This guide will be a necessary filter for requests from those who desire someone to participate and/or preside over their commissioning or consecration.
(Any other leader is free to adopt these guidelines or post them as they wish.)
What does the term “apostolic” mean?
By apostolic, we refer to ministry with a missional posture that involves oversight of an impactful church, an effective church planter, a convening of ecclesial and marketplace leaders, or a proclivity to expansion along with a track record of entrepreneurial and pioneering leadership.
It is interesting to note that Paul never described himself as the Apostle Paul. In his writings, he stated: Paul, an apostle. This use of the Greek word (apostolos) in scripture refers to the function of a messenger, delegate, or ambassador with the grace to build or establish the body of Christ on the foundation of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Paul never used it as a title but clearly defined it as a foundational function (training & building) in the church. (Eph. 2:19-22; Eph. 4:11-12)
Due to theological misunderstandings and/or abuse related to the apostolic, our general inclination is NOT to commission anyone as an apostle, but rather to commission candidates into apostolic leadership as a function-not as an office.
(Allowance will be made for extraordinary apostolic leaders who oversee a movement of churches and have a groundswell of support for such an appointment in their region. Also, consideration will be given to those desiring to be set in as an apostle rather than as a “bishop” to avoid historical and/or denominational connotations.)
What is the office of Bishop?
By the bishopric, we refer to the historic successors of the apostles. However, the office of a bishop (overseer) is now more related to oversight and governance than expansion. To be initially qualified, any candidate for this office should operate in this grace over at least three legitimate pastors and/or churches.
The following inquiries will be made regarding potential candidates for apostolic commissioning and or for the consecration to the office of a bishop:
1) Does the apostolic candidate lead a genuine apostolic church that has impacted the community? (An online church community generally will not count as significant for this kind of commissioning.)
2) Does the candidate oversee other pastors and churches?
(At least three respected lead pastors and/or churches should be the minimum.)
3) Do at least 3 significant bishops and/or apostles in their city or region recognize the apostolic ministry of this candidate?
4) Did other leaders in the region initiate this commissioning, or was it initiated by leadership within their local church? (Unless leaders in their own region either initiate said commissioning and or are part of the initial process of affirmation- it would be red flag to me.)
5) Does this person have the capacity to convene bishops, and apostolic leaders from their region to discuss serious ecclesial matters related to the region? (Merely networking people for evangelistic meetings or any other cause is not necessarily apostolic in nature. An evangelist or a guest speaker can achieve this by gathering pastors and churches in any region for planned events. We have seen many examples of this over the years.)
6) Does this person meet the requirements that the apostle Paul laid out for the eldership in 1st Timothy 3:1-5 and Titus 1:6-9? Do they have a good reputation with outsiders? Do they manage their own household well? What is their track record with other ministries in their community or city? Do they walk in the humility of Jesus? Do they have an agenda for the kingdom of God, or do they merely promote their own? (For the bishopric this may also include a criminal background check, a credit check, as well as interviews with spouse, and children, when applicable; church elders, overseers, and regional apostolic leaders to validate their reputation)
[1 Timothy 3:1-7 NKJV] This [is] a faithful saying: If a man desires the position (office) of a bishop (overseer), he desires a good work.
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having [his] children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the [same] condemnation as the devil. Moreover, he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
[Titus 1:5-9 NKJV] For this reason I (Paul the apostle) left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you--if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
7) Is the candidate presently in a relationship with CCC and in good standing with CCC at least the covenant partner level?
In conclusion:
The commissioning of either apostolic or of the bishopric is a serious matter and cannot merely be titular, hierarchical, or something a person desires to grant themselves self-worth. Furthermore, it should not be conferred merely on a minister because people desire to honor that person in a region.
All candidates should have, at a minimum, a proven track record of years of seasoned apostolic ministry and/or governmental oversight of other pastors. Anything less than this diminishes apostolic function and the office of bishop; and it can even dissipate the respect and the honor of legitimate apostolic leaders and bishops in a particular region.