1. A PASTOR'S PASTOR

Every pastor needs a pastor, especially these days. He needs the encouragement and practical counsel of an experienced man. He needs the affirmation of a license and ordination. He needs the fellowship of fellow pastors who are committed to one another. He needs refresher studies and specialized seminars as he goes on in the ministry. He needs the personalized attention of a pastor's pastor.

 2. AN OVERSEER TO CARE FOR THE CHURCHES (II Corinthians. 11:28)

This includes...

A. Ministering of the Word. District leaders are available for pulpit ministry upon invitation.

B. Preserving the purity of doctrine through clear teaching and Biblical discipline exercised according to uniform procedures outlined in a Manual.

C. Providing pastoral candidates from a wide pool of carefully accredited pastors that are then prayerfully screened as to their suitability to a particular local church. The local church then makes the final selection through its Governing Board.

D. Mediating difficult situations, especially those between pastor and elected leaders of the church. There is a "higher court of appeals" when needed.

E. Consulting with a local church to help it do what God has called it to do. This can mean all kinds of help and counsel in areas such as building, evangelism, making disciples, finances, organization, etc.

F. Providing training programs for lay leaders - both formal and informal.

3. A CHANNEL FOR REACHING "JUDEA...SAMARIA...UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE EARTH"

DISTRICT EXTENSION provides a way whereby each church can help plant other churches throughout the District.

INTERCULTURAL MINISTRIES provides an opportunity to minister to the many ethnic people that are coming to America. 25% of all churches in the U.S. are non-Anglo.

OVERSEAS MISSIONS is supported through the Great Commission Fund. Over 1,100 missionaries serve in 47 different countries around the globe. Each missionary is supported on an equal basis--depending on the economy of that particular country--out of a central fund with the budget adopted by the General Council of the C&MA.

4. A FACILITATOR OF MINISTRIES ON A LARGER SCALE

FOR EXAMPLE: Not many churches can have a Youth Retreat all by themselves, but we can have one together with other churches...Bible quizzing gains a lot of excitement when a number of youth groups can get together...Few churches can train their own pastoral staff. The Alliance has both Bible Colleges and a Seminary. Our goal is to serve the local church by helping it do what it is to do and doing for it what can better be done on a larger scale.

5. A LARGER FELLOWSHIP

Sometimes we all feel like Elijah. But the fact is that many people are following Christ. And they are experiencing some of the same things we do. It is good to get together...at Youth Camps and Rallies...at Men's and Women's Retreats and Rallies...at a District Family Camp...at District Conference and at national Councils. We are all enriched by these experiences. It is not just what the larger body can do for you, but what you can do for the larger body; the Christian life is a giving life. "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

6. PRACTICAL ORGANIZATIONAL HELPS

This can mean anything from group health insurance to tax exempt status that satisfies the IRS. The Federal Government will be tightening its regulations on non-profit organizations, and independent local churches will need the help of a larger body.

This also means that the local church is constitutionally represented at the legislative sessions where the leaders are elected, the budget is adopted and the policies are set. A local church does not just give its money and have no input as to how it is spent.