Planting Churches Among the City's Poor - Volume 2

370 • P LANTING C HURCHES AMONG THE C ITY ’ S P OOR : V OLUME 2

• We believe that multi-culturalism is an integral part of the body of Christ and that no ethnic group nor socio-economic group is more or less acceptable to God than the others (Gal. 3.26-29). • We believe that each cultural/sub-cultural group has the right to worship God in their own way, preaching the Gospel and living out its implications in a way that is both faithful to Scripture and uniquely fitted to their own worldview (Acts 15.1-31; 2 Cor. 3.17; 1 Pet. 2.16). • We believe that God intends for his people to have unity with one another and that through Christ, racial, cultural, and socio economic barriers are abolished (John 17.20-21; Eph. 2.14-18). • We believe that prayer and dependence upon the power of the Holy Spirit is absolutely necessary for doing the work of God in this world (Acts 1.8; Eph. 6.10-12, 18-20; James 5.16). • The principles are true with the bonds of polity of the partnering denomination. • The emerging church has the right to choose its own leaders and establish its own leadership structures. They shall establish by-laws and a church constitution in consultation with the leadership of its future affiliation. • The emerging church has the right to establish its own ministry program and shall not use volunteers from its sponsoring partners unless it is deemed strategically appropriate by both the emerging church and the church plant team. • The emerging church has the right to manage its own finances and make its own financial decisions in regard to monies collected through tithes and offerings. • The emerging church will keep a clear list of all equipment/ supplies purchased with these monies which are to be kept within the emerging structure as it moves into independence from its sponsoring partners. • The emerging church has the right to determine its own name.

Addendum B: Indigenous Church Planting Principles