AG History, Chapter 14

Question	Answer
General Council (21 members)	The highest decision-making body in the Assemblies of God. Meets every other year. ( #1 in flow of authority created by Constitution and Bylaws)
General Presbytery	The second highest decision-making body. They meet every year or more often if needed. (#2 in flow of authority created by Constitution and Bylaws )
Executive Presbytery	Is the executive arm of the General Presbytery - that is it carries out the will of the General Presbytery and answers to it. (#3 in flow of authority created by Constitution and Bylaws)
Board of Administration	The following six officers make up the Board of Admissions. The board oversees the daily activities of the headquarters and is made up of six officers. Reports to Executive Presbytery. #4 in chain of command (flow of authority created by Constitution and Bylaws)
General Superintendent	The president of the organization. Primary vision caster. Has oversight over all the activities of the AG including daily operation and presiding over councils and boards. He is accountable to the Executive Presbytery, the General Presbytery and the General Council. The authority he exercises is delegated from the General Council to accomplish the will of the Council when it is not in session. He is part of the Executive Presbytery.
Assistant General Superintendent	Assists the General Superintendent. He is also the designated replacement should the general superintendent become incapacitated or otherwise unavailable. He is part of the Executive Presbytery.
General Secretary	Oversees the record-keeping, including minutes of the General Council & (which he publishes to members), various boards and committees. Issues credentials to qualified ministerial candidates. Maintains records of credentialed ministers. Including annual renewal process. Nominated by the General Presbytery. He is part of the Executive Presbytery.
General Treasurer	Custodian of all funds of the General Council including bookkeeping, auditing and financial reporting. Nominated by the General Presbytery. He is part of the Executive Presbytery.
Executive Director of World Missions	Oversees all functions of the vast world missions program. Like the general secretary and general treasurer, the director of world missions is nominated by the General Presbytery. He is part of the Executive Presbytery.
Executive Director of US Missions	Oversees US missions programs, activities & funds. He is nominated by the General Presbytery. He is part of the Executive Presbytery.
Executive Presbytery (Board of Directors)	The preceding six officers are permanent executives who perform the duties of their office as individually authorized administrators. These six, together with 15 additional officers make up the administrative board called the Executive Presbytery. They represent the General Council in legal matters related to buying/holding/selling property. They supervise all departments at AG headquarters. This board is the official authority representing the General Presbytery when it is not in session.
Board of Administration	This board is made up of the six executive officers names previously. It serves as the executive arm of the Executive Presbytery-meaning they carry out the policies and decisions of the Exec. Presbytery. They reside in offices at headquarters, providing efficient management of daily affairs of the Fellowship.
General Presbytery	The prevailing authority when the General Council is not in session. The General Presbytery meets every year and as needed for emergencies. It has admin oversight and serves in a judicial capacity. Disciplined ministers who disagree with district trial proceedings can appeal to the General Council.
3. Which board functions as the trustees for the General Council?	The Executive Presbytery
4. Why are four officers nominated according to a different process than the other two?	Because they require unique skills and other qualifications
5. How is a disagreement between the Executive Presbytery and the General Presbytery resolved.	The decision of the General Presbytery is binding until the General Council can resolve it.
6. What officer is each district required to select and what is the required selection process?	superintendent; election
7. The General Council Bylaws encourage district presbyters to focus on what kind of role within the area under their leadership?	Presbyters are encouraged to serve in such a manner as to provide spiritual leadership, encouragement, and prayer support to other ministers within their jurisdiction.
8. What is the difference between a geographic district and a language/ethnic district?	The geographic district is defined as the churches located within a prescribed geographic boundary. A language/ethnic district is defined as the church affiliated with the district council by virtue of ethnic composition of the congregation or primary language.
9. What is the process for a church to transfer from a geographic district to a language district (or vice versa)? What body must initiate the decision for such a transfer?	The congregation conducts a business meeting and submits the decision to both districts. If either district objects, appeal can be made to the Executive Presbytery. The local congregation must initiate the decision.
10. Who assists a local assembly in its request to affiliate with the Assemblies of God?	The officers of the district in which the assembly is located.
11. What steps are local assemblies encouraged to take before allowing any person to teach, minister, or pastor?	The pastors and leaders of the local church should make a full investigation of any person seeking to teach, minister, or pastor in the church.
12. In your opinion, why are local churches prohibited from allowing dismissed Assemblies of God ministers to have any ministry in the church?	Ministers are only dismissed for serious reasons and the credentialing authorities must be trusted in these matters. If a minister is dismissed, it is because that minister is judged unqualified for spiritual ministry. This decision must be honored by all churches that have pledge to be amenable to the General Council. Also, it is likely for a dismissed minister to have a negative attitude toward /General Council authorities and to inflict harm on a local assembly as a result.
13. In what matters are churches expected to be amenable to the General Council and district councils?	in matters of doctrine and polity (polity: a form or process of civil government or constitution) - It is the church's commitment to only exercise its sovereignty in a manner consistent with the principles, beliefs & expectations of the General Council.)
14. According to this study, what is the essential difference between General Council affiliation and district affiliation?	Usually, district affiliated assemblies have less than twenty voting members or do not have sufficient qualified members to fill church offices. These churches function under some degree of district oversight.
15. Summarize the principles reflected in the Bylaws related to church divisions.	The Bylaws strongly encourage careful review of all aspects of the situation producing the division and that the officials responding should seek to be as redemptive as possible to all those involved.
16. Describe several problems that could develop if a Fellowship like the Assemblies of God did not have specific qualifications for ministers	Uncertainty surrounding a minister's moral values and conduct. Ministers who transferred from one district to another could not be expected to possess prescribed preaching or leadership ability or training. Ministers would not be accountable for what was taught from the pulpit. There would be no means for removal or a minister who departed from biblical standards of conduct or belief.
17. Why is knowledge of Assemblies of God polity and a commitment to the Fellowship listed as basic requirements? How are these qualifications related to ministry in the church?	We are a cooperative fellowship. Understanding how the AG is sorganized and functions is fundamental to cooperating with its goals and processes. Commitment to the Fellowship is synonymous with voluntarily cooperating. These are basic requirements because the Fellowship is weakened to the degree that its ministers fail in participation, commitment or cooperation
18. How does the General Council Credentials Committee know that an applicant for credentials possesses enough education and training to be a successful minister?	The Bylaws require that a ministry candidate fulfill the following: Interview and testing by a district credentials committee, and either complete training in a postsecondary school, or complete prescribed courses through Global University, or be recommended by a district credentials committee based on years of proven ministry and self-study.
19. What spiritual criteria must a ministerial applicant meet to be approved for credentials?	Born again, Spirit baptized with the evidence of speaking in tongues, evidence of a divine call and holiness.
20. Various Credentialing Requirements	Certified, Licensed, Ordained. $10, $20, $25 to district.
21. Based on bylaws we have considered, what is the function of districts in the credentialing process? What is the function of the General Council Credentials Committee in the credentialing process?	Districts examine, approve and recommend applicants. Also conduct ordination services, supervise the renewal and transfer of credentials, and discipline. The General Council Credentials Committee gives final approval and issues the credential. The committee also compiles and publishes annually the list of all credentialed ministers.
22. Why do you think ministers should be required to maintain high standards regarding marriage, including those related to performing marriage ceremonies?	Obedience to God's principles and commands, protection of children from emotional harm, example to unbelievers of God's nature of fidelity, love and integrity.

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