How did these discussions begin?
- In 2015 our ICOC Chairmen Service Team began prayerful discussions to set a culture among us of thoroughly reevaluating our movement every 10 years to seek God’s guidance for the next decade or until Jesus’ return, whichever came first.
- Global Leadership Surveys were taken in 2015 and 2017. These needs have been considered and discussed at the last few Delegates Meetings.
- Listening to the hearts of many of our full-time and non-staff leaders around the world and with much prayer, the April 2017 ICOC Spring Leadership Meetings in Dallas focused on Forward by Faith . . . ICOC 3.0
- The Dallas meetings were so well-received the decision was made to invite the leadership of all 34 Regional Families of Churches to have similar discussions. All regions quickly arranged meetings and are providing input and feedback!
What are the goals of the ICOC 3.0 discussions?
- How can we change our global organization to be more effective in God’s mission?
- As we consider the future by God’s Spirit, where do we find strong consensus?
What spiritual preparation is involved?
- Prayer & fasting
- Seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit
How broad is the input in these discussions?
- Nearly 1,500 leaders from around the world have prayerfully engaged in the discussions and feedback including every one of our 34 Regional Families of Churches.
- These include evangelists, women’s ministry leaders, elders and their wives, teachers, interns, non-staff leaders, etc.
- Leaders of all generations have been included in many of these regional discussions.
- This is by far the most people ever included in a leadership discussion in our movement.
What is the process for decision making?
- Click here for: Delegates decision making process and Proposals approved from 2010-17
- Click here for the ICOC 3.0 decision making process
- July 15, 2017: Taskforces will review the input from all Regional Families of Churches and form them into proposals in the areas where there is strong consensus
- August 15, 2017: Proposals in each area of consensus circulated to the global leadership
- September 15, 2017: Feedback reviewed. Final proposals formed on greatest consensus
- October 3-5, 2017: Delegates Meeting in Chicago
- 100% international representation for the first time. 100 observer seats available
- Global Reports from every continent on good news and challenges
- Final decisions on the final proposals
Will everything be decided at the Delegates Meeting in Chicago?
- No, only the specific proposals that are put forth by the Task Forces in August will be voted on in October. These will be based on the areas where we have greatest consensus. Each proposal will have multiple options. Other areas that have less agreement will take more time and thoughtful, prayerful discussion.
- Further development will be considered each year as always with the decision-making process approved in 2010. If you have further ideas please share with your Regional Family Chairman and Delegates. If you have ideas relating to our Service Teams please contact them.
- The 2017 discussions are not an attempt to review every aspect of our churches. We had to start somewhere so we began with the most recent discussions of the last few years about how to be better organized to address our growth and other needs. Future discussions will prayerfully review other areas of how we can improve our service to God.
What principles are we basing our leadership on?
- Our agreement to the Plan for United Cooperation and the Delegates and Service Teams system were a clear move forward to mature, team leadership.
- Regional and local leadership in our churches operate on these principles:
- Team leadership, mutual respect and humility
- Collaboration and cooperation
- Interdependence
- Transparency, accountability, reviewability
Is this just a path back to our former structure?
- Not one leader in our churches has expressed a desire to return to our former structure.
Why is this being discussed now?
- We have learned it is wise to have a periodic review of our leadership.
- While we rejoice in the steady and healthy growth of our membership and planting of over 100 churches in the last 7 years, many of our leaders and members have expressed a desire to do more to reach the world with the gospel.
- Many of our leaders and members have asked why we are not better organized globally to accomplish the mission.
- Many needs arise globally that we have no one to focus on. For example, when an entire region of churches is hurting, how do they get help?
- As our movement ages, one of the clear challenges is keeping and improving the global unity God has given us.
- Leadership development is a crucial need around the globe.
- We seek God’s guidance for us to continue to build a church that will inspire and challenge our younger generation to do even greater things for God.
Is there a hidden agenda? Was the conclusion already in mind?
- Everything has been done in the open with all transparency and seeking the broadest possible input.
- The goal is to find what areas we have great consensus on, therefore certain concepts have been brought forward to stimulate conversation to move forward. Those concepts are being shaped by the degree of consensus expressed.
- New ideas and concepts are being suggested at every point along the way and will be incorporated according to the degree of consensus they stimulate.
- The final Proposals will be the clear result of the greatest consensus among us.
Will anyone be forced to abide by these decisions?
- Our entire Plan for United Cooperation to cooperate and collaborate is based on prayerful, humble and loving commitment to each other by choice.
- No one has the ability (or desire) to force others to cooperate or to keep others from cooperating.
Is this just a concern about numbers growth versus spiritual growth?
- Since God is concerned about both, to honor him disciples are concerned about both.
What is the latest news about the ICOC 3.0 discussions?
- ICOC 3.0 Update #1
- ICOC 3.0 Update #2 (coming soon)
What is our ICOC leadership structure now?
- With the adoption of the Plan for United Cooperation, our churches committed to work together as a fellowship in a structure of Regional and International cooperation based on the principles of collaboration, cooperation and team leadership.
- Each Regional Family organizes as they see fit within their Region.
- Each Regional Family selects a Chairmen and Delegates in accordance with the number of members in their region to work with the other regional leaders for international cooperation and collaboration.
Where are the various Regional Families of Churches?
- Click here to see the Regional Families of Churches
Who are the Delegates and Regional Family Chairmen?
- Click here to see the Delegates and Regional Family Chairmen
What are the various Service Teams and what do they do?
- Click here to see who is on the various Service Teams
- Click here to read the Service Teams Reports
How are the Delegates and Service Teams currently selected?
- Click here to see how they are selected and their roles and responsibilities
What decisions have been made by the Delegates process?
- Click here to see the various Proposals the Delegates and Regional Chairmen have approved.
What events do the Delegates and Service Teams sponsor?
- Click here to see the Delegate-sponsored Events