BUILDING LONG TERM MINISTRY EFFECTIVENESS

1. Belonging to a relational network structure that represents an identity wider than the local church. Crosslink was never designed to be the primary nominal identity for a church in the way that the word “Anglican” or “Baptist” might be. The fact that a congregation in a local community can identify themselves by their membership of Crosslink does avoid some of the negative impressions afforded to the purely “independent” churches.

2. Professional recognition through the Endorsed Minister membership category. This provides general professional recognition in much the same way as an accountant may be an accredited member of the Certified Practicing Accountant’s (CPA) Association. It also enables a pastor to receive the Fringe Benefits Tax concessions.

3. Opportunity to qualify for registration as a Marriage Celebrant under the Family Law Act. (Commonwealth Government). It is possible to become registered as in individual pastor of a congregation, but the process is becoming more complex.

4. Accountability to the Biblical values represented by the Network. Crosslink has a declared set of values and its members are required to conduct their ministry within the boundaries of those values.

While the emphasis on the legal autonomy of local congregations is primary, it is also true that membership of the Network will depend on an individual commitment to them. It will never be the intention for the Network (e.g. through any of its officers) to unilaterally intervene in the running of a church, if there were some clear breach of commitment to our values we would exercise a discipline through the withdrawal of membership privileges.

5. Personal accountability to apostolic covering under the membership requirements of the Network It is necessary for an Endorsed Minister to nominate at least two people who provide active oversight or mentoring for their ministries. In other words, all pastors need to have relationship with people who give them “apostolic covering.” We emphasize relationship because we require this to be organic in nature, not institutional. It needs to be happening. This becomes the basic form of pastoral oversight for pastors. We are spread out across the nation and have deliberately avoided appointing state or regional leaders. We want that leadership to operate out of a mutual recognition rather than institutional appointment. This is further emphasized by the fact that these “apostolic” ministries need not be members of the Network. They just need to be active and real.

6. Opportunity for fellowship and relationship with other pastors and leaders in the Network. We represent a very broad range of ministry styles, emphases and experience. Our commitment is to “broker” relationships where insights and support can be generated in such a way that value is added to an individual members’ ministry. We have any number of experiences when it comes to planting churches, legal structures, leadership structures. We have churches and ministries who are modeling wonderful enterprise in advancing the kingdom of God. We continue to seek ways of making this encouragement available through more effective communication and through interaction made possible at annual conferences and other regionally based gatherings.

7. Opportunity for low premium professional indemnity insurance cover through collective policy. Unfortunately these things are becoming more and more necessary for pastors and leaders as they conduct their week by week ministry. As far as we know the collective benefit we gain enables members and their churches to be covered at a much lower rate than is possible for an individual.

Ministers Endorsement

Applications for Endorsed Minister status will only be approved if the congregations or ministry organizations to which they belong are also Affiliated Members of Crosslink Christian Network.

All Endorsed Ministers must have at least two people who are giving active apostolic input into their life and ministry.

All Affiliated Churches must have at least two people who provide active apostolic covering for the church. (Board of Reference).

Only pastors who are leaders of congregations will be eligible to apply for registration as an Authorized Marriage Celebrant. A congregation must have more than a hundred members to qualify for a second registered Celebrant.