Apostolic And Prophetic Leadership

Grace Canberra is a congregation committed to discovering the spiritual leadership structures described in the Bible as founded upon the leadership functions of apostles and prophets and the equipping functions of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.

...built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Ephesians 2:20-22

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Ephesians 4:11-13

Most of us are where we are today because we saw something that God had said and wanted to embrace it. We didn’t know what salvation in Jesus Christ was until we believed something God said about Jesus saving us. As a result, the experience was so much more than anything we entertained beforehand, but the Word was what gave us access. We feel the same way about leadership in the church.

We believe that leaders are people whose anointing empowers them to serve the purposes of God represented in the whole missionary congregation. Leaders who are called and anointed by God are one essential element. The other is people want to serve God with the support of appropriate anointed leadership. It is not a question of power and decisions; it is a question of responsibility. Leaders are people whose gift enables them to carry responsibility for a sphere of people.

We have taken the Bible seriously despite our shortcomings. We seek to develop practical leadership structures that fulfil Ephesians 2:20 (and 1 Corinthians 12:28). We are attempting to find an associated practical expression of the five equipping leadership ministries spoken about in Ephesians 4. These ministries create stronger links to the Chief Cornerstone (Jesus) and to the full ministry of Christ in our community.

To this point in the journey our prayer of faith toward God has produced some fine, trusted and anointed leaders who are prepared to give us their support. Following a period of informal relationship we appointed Rob Holmes, an internationally accredited prophetic ministry as a part time staff person and Company member.  Two other wonderful and nationally recognized apostolic ministries have committed to joining Brian Medway as additional members of the Company. Their leadership support and wise counsel provides the best form of accountability for the local leadership of Grace Canberra. Their support will greatly enhance our ability to focus on the ministry mandate that God has given us.

The leadership environment of the local Grace congregation is served by people who have been appointed on the basis of gift and calling. Their heart and character serve our Commander’s Intention. They are accountable to the Senior Minister and through him to the Board and Members. They are also accountable to the congregation as they commit to equip the saints for the work of ministry.

We want to be accountable, and we want to get the job done. We value the gifts God has given and the calling that places us in this ministry setting.