Local Churches

The Local Church in The Christian And Missionary Alliance

Introduction
The Christian and Missionary Alliance recognizes the need for multiple models of church planting as
it carries its mission to “reach the least reached parts of the world,” by “raising up networks of
churches that multiply gospel access.” To provide room for diverse and effective biblical expressions
of the local church, the Church Multiplication Team seeks to establish a working ecclesiology to help
identify and classify church plants, churches in development, and established churches, along with
their denominational requirements.

What is the local church?

The Christian and Missionary Alliance believes the local church is a group of people, joined
together in their submission to Jesus, that:

Lives as family, learning to trust Jesus as Lord, together.

Christ-followers are adopted into the sonship/daughtership of God and the local church is the family
of God, living in intimacy and submission to the Father and each other. 2 As a family, the church
gathers and participates in the ordinances of Communion and Baptism, recognizing the living
presence of Jesus and welcoming new members.3 In the context of family, the church then spurs its
members to lives worthy of their calling, learning to trust Jesus as Lord over every aspect of their
lives through the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit.4
Multiplies disciples by giving witness of the Gospel to the community.
The local church equips and sends disciples beyond their immediate community and/or supports the
mission regionally and globally.5 On mission, it is present in the local community, making disciples,
and witnessing to those around them as an agent of the Kingdom and co-laborer with God.6 Through
the power of the Holy Spirit, the local church discerns how God is working in the community and
creates space for the salvific work of Jesus by proclaiming and demonstrating the Gospel.7 This leads
to the conversion of new believers, the sanctification of Christ-followers, and to restoration within
the larger context of the local community.

2
Ephesians 1:5; Romans 8:15-17; Galatians 3:26; Romans 12:1 and 2
3
Acts 2:41-47; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32, 12:13, Colossians 2:12
4
Ephesians 4:1, Hebrews 10:23-25, 1 Thessalonians 5:14
5
Matthew 28:16-20,
6
Matthew 28:18-20, 10:1; Romans 10:14-15, 2 Corinthians 5:18
7
Philippians 1:9-10; Matthew 16:17-19 ; Acts 2:42-47

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Exercises the Spiritual Gifts in leadership and ministry.
The Holy Spirit gives the spiritual gifts to the followers of Christ so they can do the work of building
up the church and carry out the mission of God.8 Leadership empowered by the Holy Spirit is
evidenced by the gifts and leads the community to worship, surrender to the lordship of Jesus. Spirit-
led ministry cultivates unity and accountability, as well as makes the knowledge of God known. 9
Makes self-governing decisions.
The local church discerns the will of God for their community and makes decision according to the
leading of the Holy Spirit. This discernment is the result of the spiritual gifts manifested in leadership
and appropriately affirmed by constituted authority.10

Denominational Considerations
Local churches must also fulfill institutional requirements to be within the Christian and Missionary
Alliance. These requirements include:

Local district affirmation of church leadership.

As part of the regional work of the Alliance, local church leadership is in sync with the vision and
mission of the district and the denomination. Other district churches and ministries partner with the
local church in prayer and support. District affirmation may include, but is not limited to,
accreditation as an official worker(s), pastoral counseling, financial guidance, ministerial training,
and discipline and restoration processes.
Financial Giving to Christian and Missionary Alliance Work.
Christian and Missionary Alliance churches agree to be a part of what God is doing through the
denomination regionally and globally through financial giving. The mission and burden of reaching
the least reached parts of the world and raising networks of churches that multiply gospel access is
shared by all Alliance churches. This connects local churches to the larger movement and fosters
partner networked support within the larger Alliance family.
Working towards full church accreditation within the Alliance.
Every church plant is different, and it is the hope of the Alliance that all churches grow to maturity
and self-sufficiency. Church growth timelines and paths may differ depending on factors like context,
model, and development. Yet, healthy churches can show how they are growing and maturing as they
serve and witness to their community (see CMA Church-Plant Stages and Reporting Process for
more detail).

8
1 Corinthians 12:4, 12:8; John 14-15
9
Acts 1:8; Ephesians 4:12
10
Romans 13:1, Hebrew 13:17

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Oversight of The Local Church
The Manual of The Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA Manual) has several sections that
govern the oversight of a local Alliance Church. In the C&MA Manual you will find:
1. The Uniform Constitution for Accredited Churches in Section A5.
• The Uniform Constitution contains 19 Articles pertaining to the local church.
• Each local Alliance church constructs their own Bylaws further outlining and clarifying
their polity and structure based upon the Constitution for Churches.
2. Section E of the Manual contains a “Churches” segment. Here are the policy items found
within that section:
• E13 - Policy for the Governance of a Developing Church
• E14 - Model of Incorporation for Local Alliance Churches. These articles are used to
incorporate the church in the respective state.
• E15 - Model Bylaws for Local C&MA Churches
• E16 – Agenda for Organizing an Accredited Alliance Church
• E17 – Policy for Reclassifying Accredited Churches to Developing Church Status
• E18 – Policy for Church Closure
3. Guidance regarding an Affiliated Church is found in Section E9 Article V.

Church Plant Stages and Reporting Process

(Updated 1/4/22)
Every church plant is different. But one thing that all church plants have in common is the stages that
they go through. Each new work should be officially reported and entered into the Constituent
Management System (CMS) at step one, as outlined below. Each of these stages is overseen by the
district. Baseline requirements for the stage need to be met prior to reporting the new plant stage.

Step 1 Church Plant/Planning Stage is when a Church Plant Project has:

• A community identified,
• Appropriate demographic studies done,
• A potential planter/team identified, and
• The church plant is reported to the Data Management Office by the district as being in the
"Church Plant/Planning Status" via the “Church Change Form.”

Step 2 Church Plant/Emerging Stage is when a Church Plant Project has:

• Planter/team assessed through an assessment center or similar assessment process according
to the district plant strategy.
• Planter/team successfully completed an approved church planting training.
• A group and/or leader in the community

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 • Start approved by DEXCOM and/or sending church. The church planter has a signed
agreement with the sending organization and is placed in the community with his team.
• Apply for an EIN with the IRS (www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-ss-4)
• A prospectus [1-2 pages] is completed for the church plant including a two-year ministry
budget plan, philosophy of ministry, demographic study, timeline, etc.
• Church planter’s coach is appointed.
• The church plant is reported to the Data Management Office by the district as being in the
"Church Plant/Emerging Status" via the “Church Change Form.”
• The church plant in Emerging Status is eligible for a National Office Church Multiplication
Grant within six months projection of becoming a Developing church status. (New Plant
Grant Request Form)

Step 3 Developing Stage is when a Church Plant Project has:

• A minimum of 10 committed adult believers attend.11
• An Advisory Committee, appointed by the Governing Authority, is in place and functioning.
• The district establishes the “Governance of a Developing Church” document for oversight of
the work.
• The local church community gathers and participates in the ordinances of Communion and
Baptism regularly.
• The church plant is reported to the Data Management Office by the district as a “Developing
Church” via the “Church Change Form.”
• The church is eligible for a National Office Church Multiplication Grant within a year of
becoming a Developing church status. (New Plant Grant Request Form)

Step 4 Accredited Church Stage is when a church plant meets the following:
• The stipulations set forth in the Constitution for Churches as found in the C&MA Manual are
met.
• Constructed local church bylaws and articles of incorporation (utilizing the models provided
in the C&MA Manual and ensuring state requirements for Articles)12
• Once incorporated with Articles that meet C&MA requirements, apply for the C&MA group
exemption (501c3) via the Corporate Secretary’s Office at the National Office.13
• Developed at least 20 adult members who have completed a membership class, confessed
Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and signed the C&MA application for membership.14

The “10 committed adult believers” requirement is with a co-vocational or micro church model.
11

Otherwise, 20 committed adult believes is the recommended minimum.

12
These can be developed during the Developing Stage
13
This can be done during the Developing Stage
14
Exceptions can be made for the number of adult members at house or micro churches.

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 • Held an Accreditation meeting with the oversight of the district to adopt Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws.
• The church is reported to the Data Management Office by the district as an "Accredited
Church" via the “Church Change Form.”
• An Accredited Church could also be a “Greenhouse” church if it meets the following
criteria:
o The church is healthy and balanced.
o The church has completed a Greenhouse training.
o The church is walking with its district office with an intent to plant in three years.
o The church may or may not have a formal residency but does have a leadership
development program with a planting pathway.
o The church intentionally discovers, develops, and deploys church planters in the U.S.
mission field.
o The church is reported to the Data Management Office by the district with a
“Greenhouse Start Date” via the “Church Change Form.”
o The church is eligible for a National Office Church Multiplication Grant and
subsequent new resident grants. (Greenhouse/Residency Grant Request Form)

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