A partner church consists of believers, involved in a small group (house church) or cluster of small groups, who receive leadership from a lead elder and an eldership team. The lead elder and eldership team are of like vision and purpose and called by God to partner together with other churches within the DOVE International family. They have the same values and mission as DOVE International including prayer, evangelism and discipleship (see DOVE International values beginning on page 3). Some DOVE International partner churches are small group-based community churches, others are small group-based mega churches, while still others are small group-based micro churches who network together.
Steps to Becoming a Partner Church
- The leadership team is encouraged to read these books written by Larry Kreider: House to House, which defines our vision; and The Cry for Spiritual Mothers and Fathers, which defines our heart and explains why we do what we do.
- The leadership team is encouraged to read and align with the Biblical Foundation Series by Larry Kreider. This defines our doctrine.
- The leadership team needs to understand and have the same values as established by the DOVE International Apostolic Council. See DOVE International values. The leadership team reads, understands and agrees with the procedures of DOVE International as outlined within this DOVE International Leadership Handbook.
- If the potential partner church agrees with the values, vision, doctrine and procedure and is in unity with the Regional/Specialized Apostolic Council, there needs to be a time set aside for prayer and waiting before the Lord to receive the Lord’s confirmation before the engagement begins. An on-site personal visit with the potential engagement church and its leaders is recommended at this point.
- If the Lord gives His confirmation, an engagement period begins. This lasts for one year and can be shortened or lengthened upon agreement.
- The lead elder and the Regional/Specialized Apostolic Council begin to build relationships. In some cases, the lead elder may relate to a designate appointed by the Apostolic Council.
- Apostolic coverage begins with an established engagement period.
- Tithing begins by the lead elder and the partner church at the beginning of the engagement period as per the guidelines for tithing on page 28.
- The lead elder begins to relate to other DOVE International leaders within his or her geographical area.
- If there is full agreement between Regional/Specialized Apostolic Council and the potential partner church’s eldership team, a partnership agreement may be signed by two members of the Regional/Specialized Apostolic Council and/or designates and the lead elder and the other elders of the partner church. A copy of this agreement can be obtained from the DOVE International Office. There will be a public commissioning service by one or more Regional/Specialized Apostolic Council member(s) and/or a designate(s) appointed by the Apostolic Council. There may be times when a church is a part of two movements for a season during transition. This process is worked out between the lead elder and elder team, the Regional/Specialized Apostolic Council and the leadership of the other movement.
Adoption of Movements
The same basic process is used in the DOVE International family to adopt a movement as is used to adopt a partner church. This process may take longer due to the number of persons involved in the adoption process involving potential apostolic leaders and lead elders.
