Newfrontiers now describes itself as ‘a group of apostolic leaders, together with our teams and churches, united on global mission and by core values and genuine relationships’. This is a very important statement that needs careful unpacking.

“Apostles are ground-breakers who open up the way for fresh advance of the Kingdom.”

Firstly, ‘a group of apostolic leaders’. How do we recognise an apostle? Apostles are recognised, not appointed. You can’t apply for the role of an apostle. It is not the top of a career ladder. Apostleship is anointing from heaven that is recognised by others and demonstrated by effective fruitfulness in apostolic activity. It is not pre-eminent among other spiritual ministries, but it is a foundational priority for the healthy establishment of the local church [1].

This activity includes the fathering of other leaders, [2] a fathering that is appreciated and sought after by senior men and women. It also includes the firsthand ability to defend and articulate the deep truths of the faith; apostles shape the values of whole communities of churches, and elders are stewards of these apostolic values [3]. Apostles catalyse spiritual faith through their anointed preaching of the Word, their own spiritual anointing, and their demonstration of the Spirit’s activity [4]. Apostles are ground-breakers who open up the way for fresh advance of the Kingdom [5], rally men and women and resources to this cause, lay fresh foundation of values and practice in emerging church communities, and help identify and raise up local leaders to take responsibility for freshly-established Kingdom work [6]. Apostles love the poor [7].

“Apostles are not ‘under’ anyone else’s authority, but are called by and accountable to God for their ministry. They are not appointed or employed. This is packed with powerful implications.”

It’s worth noting that in the New Testament, while deacons are appointed by elders [8] and elders by apostles [9] (often recognised through the laying-on of hands to denote commissioning), apostles are recognised by their peers through the right-hand of fellowship [10]. A small detail, but a hugely significant one! Apostles are not ‘under’ anyone else’s authority, but are called by and accountable to God for their ministry [11]. They are not appointed or employed. This is packed with powerful implications.

If apostles are not subject to any other authority, how can we be sure that they do not ‘go rogue’ and abuse their position and authority? One of the hallmarks of authentic and mature apostleship is a compelling appetite for accountability [12]. What is there to hide if conscience is clear? Any minister of the new covenant, whatever their role, demonstrates his or her maturity by making every effort to make their life and ministry transparent and open to loving scrutiny in accountable relationships [13].

And what is the collective noun for apostles? A shiver? A glaring? A mess? Here, it says, ‘a group’. Not a team or a committee, but a group of apostles gathering together simply because they have the appetite to do so out of shared purpose and values and genuine relationships. And through this they would eagerly want to submit to one-another out of reverence for Christ and present themselves, their lives, and their ministries to one-another in mutual accountability out of genuine and trusting relationship.

In a series of articles, Maurice Nightingale will detail the change of shape at Relational Mission, and how the journey we are on has lessons for movements across the wider Church. Find them all here.

Shape #5: How do we recognise apostles?

Newfrontiers now describes itself as ‘a group of apostolic leaders, together with our teams and churches, united on global mission and by core values and genuine relationships’. This is a very important statement that needs careful unpacking.

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