GENERAL QUALIFICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
In 2 Timothy 2:15, St. Paul advised Timothy thus “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth”. It is a common trend for people to desire to associate with success. In a world like ours where it is now very difficult to recognize who a real believer is. This is as a result of gross compromise, pretense, deception and worldliness which is found even in the church as such the need for a line of distinction and separation should be drawn to show a spot light on who is who. In order to present ourselves approved as God’s elect, anyone who wishes to be a member of Amen C.C.R.N must have to go through some formation stages before emerging as a bonafide member of the community or charismatic renewal in general.
For membership, firstly such a person has to enroll in the foundation class where he/she will be counseled, nursed and followed up. In the foundation class, special programs which includes Bible and moral teachings as well as catholic faith, prayers, classes, meetings, vigils, camping etc are to be organized for the new comers to enable them understand the principles, doctrines, rules and regulations guiding renewal and the church at large. Off course, every member must be a practicing catholic who is ready to abide in the teachings of the church. One is expected to graduate from class six which is the last class after which the person starts a life in the Spirit Seminar. The duration for these events runs from within 1-2 yrs depending on the programs of the renewal.
This will be followed by being prayed over for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit before the individual will be fully commissioned into a ministry of his/her calling. It is expected that anyone who sincerely follows these processes before entering any ministry must have been grounded with the knowledge of the truth of God’s words and Christian standards. To this end, being a bonafide member of any of the six ministries in the renewal makes you a full member of the community.
However, none active and committed members as well as any person identified with a sinful and worldly lifestyle stands the risk of losing his/her membership.
LEADERSHIP SET UP
So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve, if it is teaching, let him teach, if it is encouraging, let him encourage, if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously, if it is LEADERSHIP let him govern DILIGENTLY, if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully” Romans 12:5-8
The concept of leadership is very dispensable in every organization both secular and religious. The misconception of this important responsibility has caused too many untold vices and un-progressiveness in many walks of life. The importance of this concept has prompted this column to throw light about the hierarchy of leadership in our community.
It is worthy to note here that we run a spiritual kind of leadership, the processes of becoming a leader and our system of leadership thereof is purely different from what is obtainable in the word. The worldly or secular leadership is characterized with selfishness, corruption, injustice and greed for money. Interestingly, our leadership is spiritual in the sense that we understand spirituality not as a kind of religious dogma or ideology but as the domain of awareness where we experience values like truth, goodness, love, generosity & compassion, intuition, creativity, insight, vision, discipline and focused attention.
We want to use this platform to appreciate the founding fathers, men of great mind and integrity, those God used to lay the foundation of the great community we see today, indeed a leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shoes the way.
The Apex Authority of the community is comprised of 12 or more apostles as the case may be who form a team called “THE SERVICE TEAM” the leader of this team is known as the “GENERAL COORDINATOR” or “THE CHIEF SERVANT” of the community. They serve as the executive arm of the community. The leaders of the various ministries in the community are automatic members of the Service Team for proper representation of every ministry. The Team is usually made up of both brothers and sisters who as their name implies, prefers to serve than being served. It is the duty of the Service Team through the general co-ordinator, to bring out the declaration or theme of the year, which is normally in line with the vision and mandate God has given them, they also create sub-committees and make appointments into such committee.
The next level of authority is the ministry leadership. The leader of each ministry serves as the Chief Servant of that ministry. They also carry out similar functions as of the general co-ordinator but at the ministry’s capacity. The ministries are further divided into groups and committees for easy and smooth running of the affairs of the ministry. It is good to note here that each tenure lasts between two-three years as the case may be.
The progress both physically and spiritually recorded so far in the community is enough evidence to prove that God has always provided the community with effective and visionary leaders. In all however, it is wise to mention here that Amen Community is not a church of its own but a society in St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. We are active part of the church that believes and holds unto the doctrine and faith of the church. To this end, the leadership of the community is totally submissive to the authority of the Church and other higher hierarchies of the renewal.