Church Guidelines

GENERAL CHURCH GUIDELINES

As a movement of like‑minded yet diverse churches NLCNZ expects a high standard of practice and ethics, so determining our corporate witness.

•A. Finances

"If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?" (Luke 16:10‑12)

General Accounting Guidelines for NLCNZ Pastors and Churches

(a) Proper internal control should be in place.
(b) Pastors should avoid handling money. This should apply to his family as well.
(c) Pastors should countersign cheques only as necessary.
(d) Proper filing systems should be in place.
(e) Qualified people should advise on taxation matters.
(f) A pastor should be meticulous in his claim for expenses and provide supporting documents.
(g) Maintaining your Charities Commission registration is critical.

Finance - Missions

Each member church is encouraged to budget for a part of all income to be invested in mission beyond its own church life. Please ensure that tax receipts honour the Charities Commission rules regarding overseas donations.

Annual Accounts

(a) The annual accounts of the church should be prepared by qualified people and independently reviewed or audited.
(b) Annual accounts should be displayed or a report annually to church members.

NLCNZ credentialed ministers are expected to be responsible in areas of Pastoral Direction. A Pastor should give pastoral direction in the area of finance because all resources including financial resources and their allocation will be determined by the vision of the church. Other competent people should however act as checks and balances.

•B. Guidelines for Handling Relational Issues

"If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall" (1 Cor 10‑12)

"Flee the evil desires of youth" (2 Tim 2.22)

1. Neither a pastor nor his staff should visit a person of the opposite sex in their home alone. Either they take their spouses with them or see them at the office at a time where others are present in the vicinity.
2. As much as possible men should counsel men and women with women.
3. A pastor should be accountable to 2 or 3 mature Christians or a mentor/supervisor who could ask straight questions to guard against immorality.
4. The best protection against infidelity is a healthy relationship with a spouse.
5. Build in other margins of safety

C. Understanding Power & Authority

"Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely", so said Lord Ashton. The only person who can handle power perfectly is God because of his perfect character. All other beings must have

(a) limits to power
(b) built in checks and balances

Only God has absolute authority over individuals. All humans have circumscribed (limited) authority.

The power God entrusts to His leaders is power for, not power over.

D. Pastoral Appointments

1. New Assistant and Pastoral Appointments

In the appointing of pastors it is recommended that the Regional Leader be consulted for his input. This will give a more objective assessment.

2. Senior Ministers

To ensure smooth transition the incumbent Senior Minister should not retire or resign his/her church to take up another appointment until a successor has been appointed. Again it is recommended that the Regional Leader be consulted for advice.
The successor needs to be, or apply to be, a credentialed NLCNZ minister; must be someone with the appropriate vision and gifting to develop the church.
Senior Pastors should be training a successor. There is truth in the saying "success without a successor is failure".
A church receiving a Senior Minister should ensure the incoming minister has been released from his/her previous church before making an appointment.

No practising homosexual or lesbian person shall be appointed or function as a minister of the New Life Churches of New Zealand. On disclosure of such conduct they would be expected or requested to relinquish credentials.

E. NLCNZ Credentialling

Part A - Credentialling Criteria For Pastors

1. Credentials will be given to functioning pastors based in or ministering from or significantly related to a public established and viable NLCNZ church (ie pastoral/other gifted ministry)
2. Such ministers (male or female) will be the senior pastor or assistant / associate ministry of or accountable to an NLCNZ church led by a NLCNZ pastor who has completed a 12 month provisional period.
3. All applications for credentialing are to be endorsed by appropriate Regional Leader and a sponsoring NLCNZ Pastor and ratified by presentation at the next Apostolic Leadership Team (ALT) meeting (or by email circulation).
4. All credentials will be reviewed annually.
5. All new credentials will be issued provisionally for 12 months and then ratified by the ALT.
6. ALT and Regional Leaders would have the discretionary power to withdraw credentials if the above credentialing criteria are not adhered to, or if the credentialed person ceases to function in, be based in, or associated with a NLCNZ church.
7. At the discretion of the ALT, provision will be made for ministers to be in fellowship with NLCNZ, with the privilege of observing and attending regional gatherings, MAS and conferences, while not holding NLCNZ credentials.
8. Both husband and wife are to apply for credentialing separately. It will not be automatic for the spouse to be co‑credentialed.
9. All newly credentialed pastors will be required to attend our 2 week (2 one week modules over two years) UNLEASHED Pastors personal and professional development seminars.
10. All New Life credentialed pastors will be required to engage in regular personal supervision from suitably trained persons outside their home church.
11. All New Life Churches are required to participate in the comprehensive EIG-Ansvar National Liability Insurance plan. Premiums are payable annually in advance based on congregation size.

Part B - Required Response of Pastors

I understand that New Life Churches of NZ is a fellowship of ministers and a movement of interdependent churches, each governed by its own leadership yet recognising the anointing and authority of National Apostolic and Regional leadership to advise, counsel and encourage. In accepting credentials, I enter into the following agreement:

a. I am willing for my church and I, to seek the advice, counsel and as necessary the intervention of the Regional Leader for my region.
b. In the event of any conflict not being resolved at a local church level, I agree to refer such conflict to the Regional Leader/s. If resolution is not reached, I agree for this to be referred to the Apostolic Leadership Team for their deliberation and counsel.
c. In matters of substance concerning my tenure of ministry, my church and its future and assets, I agree to seek the counsel of the Regional Leader/ALT.
d. Understanding that membership in the New Life Churches of New Zealand requires each church to pay an annual levy based on 1.5% tithe income of each church, I agree for my church to pay this on a regular basis with an annual reconciliation and settlement. I also agree to my church paying the required premium for Liability insurance.
e. I will attend UNLEASHED pastors training as detailed in Part A, Clause 9.
f. I accept an annual reaffirmation of credentials by a response form supplied by the NLCNZ administration.
g. I agree to accept and maintain regular, objective and continuing Pastoral supervision

F. Local Church Governance

1. Pastors should voluntarily co-operate with regional and national leaders, being willing to submit to their authority.
2. Elders are to support the pastors (Aaron and Hur supporting the hands of Moses Exodus 17:12); complement pastors (Paul - I planted and Apollos watered 1Cor 3:6); provide a spiritual covering for the pastor and the church.
3. The New Testament indicates a mix of 3 components in Church government
(a) Pastors (Episcopalian pattern)
(b) Elders (Presbyterian pattern) and
(c) Congregation (Baptist pattern)

The degree of mix would depend partly on the type of decision to be taken e.g. if it is a property purchase all three should be involved in some way. We need to guard against autocracy on one hand and democracy on the other.

Trust Deeds:

NLCNZ churches normally hold property locally (not centrally), under an appropriate trust document.

The appointment of trustees is crucial; this should be in the hands of senior leadership. It is suggested that trustees comprise Senior Minister, elders and other church members with the appropriate character and skills.

All NLCNZ churches are to be registered with the Charities Commission.