This is how the local church government of Abundant Life operates. This may help you as well. The terminology can change, but the basic structure works very well and I believe is a very Biblical in its operation.

At Abundant Life, the oversight of the local church is done under my direction as the senior leader in conjunction with the counsel of the “Ruling Elders.” I depend on this team of elders to speak their sense of things and to help in hearing the direction of God for the church. The basic vision has been set for the church, but there is a specific vision set each year for the church by this team under my direction. This yearly direction always falls within the parameters of the overall vision of the house, but makes the vision very specific for each year. This includes practical ways of implementing vision for each year.

I am joined in a spiritual relationship with others in apostolic ministry. I have a personal relationship with apostles who can speak direction, correction, and/or counsel into my life. There is more than one apostle who has the right and the ability to speak into my life on a consistent basis. I am in a regular relationship with these individuals. My main apostolic connection comes to the ministry at least 4 times in the year and I also meet him in other places throughout the year. The other apostolic relationships come at least once per year and some twice each year. Phone conversations and e-mails are also regular.

The general oversight and operation of the entire ministry is done by me and a “Ruling Elder/Deacon Team”, individual members of that team and/or corporate delegations of that team. All decisions concerning the local church ministry are done under my direction. I am not always involved in every decision, but I am made aware of every decision.

The final decision in every governing situation is my sole responsibility as the senior leader. However, each and every decision that involves a change of direction for the ministry is made with the input of God’s wisdom and direction from each and every member of the “Ruling Elder Team.” My final decision is not based upon a unanimous agreement of the “Ruling Elder Team”, but rather a prayerful consideration and judgment based upon my sense of God’s perfect will in every matter. Normal operational decisions can be made by me without the involvement of the “Ruling Elder Team”, but I keep the “Ruling Elder/Deacon Team” up to date as to the general operational decisions of the church. My desire is to seek out and hear the voice of God through my personal relationship with God, the voice of God through the elders, prophecies, and other sources in life. I carry the responsibility of the final decision, but each and every leader carries the responsibility of helping me hear what God is saying. They are anointed for the pieces of the picture and I am anointed for the big picture. I need each piece that they have and they need me to put the pieces together in one vision.

Should there be a disagreement on a matter, it is my obligation and responsibility to spend an adequate amount of time in prayer and God’s word in order to make a final decision based upon a clear heart and conscience in hearing the voice of God in the matter. All of my decisions must be based upon the Word of God and in accordance with the Abundant Life Corporation Bylaws and Constitution. I often seek out my apostolic oversight as well in order to gain understanding of the direction that God is giving to me and the church.

In any case where a decision is made that is contrary to the Word of God (the Bible), it is the responsibility of the Ruling Elders of the ministry to present their belief to me in prayer and presentation of the Word of God (the Bible). If after meeting with me, and I am persistent to make any action or decision that is contrary to the Word of God (the Bible), it is then the responsibility of the Ruling Elders of the local ministry to seek out my relational oversight and present their concern. Any examination of my decision will then be dealt with by my spiritual oversight in conjunction with the Ruling Elder Team. Just because an accusation or a concern is made to my overseer (or overseers), by the Ruling Elders of the ministry, it does not mean that I am in contradiction to the Word of God (the Bible), but an examination and ruling by my oversight must be made.

From time to time, I may delegate certain church decisions to the “Ruling Elder/Deacon Team.” Those decisions will be made by the team, or a designated elder, and will be based upon the prayerful consideration and wisdom of all of the Ruling Elders on the team. Many individual responsibilities of the elders or other leaders don’t need my input, but I must be generally aware of the direction of everything. Many different leaders can be responsible for various pieces of the big picture, but I am responsible for the big picture. Because this is my responsibility, I must be aware of the details that make the main picture. Each piece of the picture must also fit the picture. No one is doing their own thing. We are all doing one thing and that is the vision of the house.

There are times designated where a team meeting or decision will only involve the Ruling Elders and not the Deacons. When dealing in decision making matters that would involve the direction of the church, counsel to peoples’ lives, or any matter deemed to be significant as an Ruling Elder’s affair, the Deacons need not participate. This is done at my discretion and the Ruling Elders. This can be true for any given “Ruling Elder/Deacon Team” meeting.

I have a planning meeting at the beginning of each year with the Ruling Elders where we look at the previous year of ministry as well as look at the prophecies given to the ministry. I spend a considerable amount of time in prayer and strategy before this meeting so that I have a sense of what I believe God is saying for the coming year. I share what I sense and see for the coming year with the team. They share what they sense and see. We take all of this and submit it to the prophecies that have been given to us. We then draft a vision for the year. This includes a strategy to implement that vision.

Our overall vision is to cause people to see, experience, and walk in the abundant Life that Jesus came to give. This general will is seen in a local church, an armory, and a storehouse. The general view is great, but it is general and people can’t see generalities clear enough to rally to them, so we set a goal of vision each year that falls within the boundaries of this general vision. The general vision never changes, but serves as a foundation for the specific vision of each year.

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