The Evangel Dean Basic Training Resource Handbook

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7. Churches in a distinctive city, locale, and region

D. The pieces of the puzzle: creating a template for Church Association

If we admit that every urban congregation fundamentally needs association to survive and grow, regardless of model, size, or governance structure, we must train church planters to plant churches that long for intimate connection with other congrega- tions. Association is a solid biblical and historical concept that allows for freedom of expression, to be structured in any number of legitimate ways. Please refer to “Looking Toward the Horizons: Facilitating an Association of Urban Congregations” ( Planting Churches among the City’s Poor: An Anthology of Urban Church Planting Resources , Vol. 2, pp. 172-176) to find a ready template of the various elements by which a group of like-minded churches can unite around.

III. Evangel Schools and UCAs – The Concept of a Locale Church

The concept of the Locale Church: “The presence and association of all Christ-honoring congregations in a particular geographical area, regardless of form, denomination, or structure (whether traditional, community, mega-churches, or cell or house churches) which together represent the body of Christ and kingdom witness in a region.”

A. Elements of the locale church (i.e., regional church)

1. In the NT, the churches throughout Asia Minor and the Roman empire were connected and built upon the apostolic witness concerning the person and work of Jesus Christ; in every sense, the early Church was: a. One : Eph. 4.4-6 – There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call – one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.