There are many understandings on what it means to be an apostle and who exactly qualifies. Who are the apostles among us? It all really depends on how you define the term ‘apostle’ and it can be defined in many different ways.

“Apostles are able to bring their ministry with authority at the permission and invitation of the local elders.”

Benjamin McNair Scott in his helpful book ‘Apostles Today’ [1] describes three ‘types’ of apostle.

First, there is the ‘non-select’ apostle role, which by McNair Scott’s definition is not reserved for any select group of five-fold ministries we read about in the bible [2], and so anyone in the church could be any one of these five ministries. Some advocates have developed questionnaires that enable the reader to determine which of the five-fold ministries he or she may be. By this definition any number of us, men and women, may be ‘apostles’ or ‘sent ones’; missionaries sent into any arena of missional life in the neighbourhood, the workplace, and beyond.

McNair Scott also speaks about the ‘non-foundational’ apostle. These apostles serve the church and movements of churches with their apostolic gift but always under the authority and direction of the local eldership. I know of a number of men and women among us who minister very effectively and fruitfully under this definition of the term ‘apostle’.

And, somewhat awkwardly in my view, McNair Scott describes the ‘hierarchical or supreme’ apostle. This definition of ‘apostle’ sees the role as ultimately supreme in all matters of church life - the top of the hierarchical tree, if you like - and able to override eldership authority to bring direction to individual local churches and groups of churches.

Is it one of these three?

In fact, none of these definitions of ‘apostle’ are entirely satisfactory. The ‘non-select’ definition pays heed to the truth that every one of us is ‘sent’ by Jesus into the world as his ambassadors [3], but does not give weight to the specific ministry role that the apostolic office clearly carries, as we explored in the previous chapter of this series of articles.

The ‘non-foundational’ apostle places all authority in the hands of the local elders, with the apostle carrying limited capacity to intervene and correct or direct elders when necessary - for example, if there has been error or malpractice. Conversely, the ‘hierarchical or supreme’ definition does not give sufficient weight to the New Testament understanding that it is the local elders who carry ultimate authority in the affairs of the local church.

“The discussions about who among us are the apostles really does rest on the definition of the term ‘apostle’ and the extent of authority that an apostle is able to carry. ”

How do we understand apostles?

Our practice in Newfrontiers, and now in Relational Mission, is that the elders carry final responsibility for the affairs of the local church, but through trusting relationship are eager to invite the ministry of the apostle among them and give them real authority to intervene in the affairs of the church. As Terry Virgo says, ‘uninvited apostles cannot impose their authority in other churches; nor should it be their desire to do so’ [4]. Apostles are able to bring their ministry with authority at the permission and invitation of the local elders.

So, the discussions about who among us are the apostles really does rest on the definition of the term ‘apostle’, and the extent of authority that an apostle is able to carry. Go into all the world as sent ministries of the gospel? Go, everyone, go! Serve local elders and churches with your ministry as a ‘servant of the church’ [5]? If that is your call and gift, then go, and with all your might!

However - exercise real invited authority, intervene in the affairs of local churches, appeal to elders as a ‘fellow elder’ [6], direct and correct elders with real authority, lay doctrinal foundations, gather a ‘family’ of churches that identify your ministry as their apostle, raise substantial resources for apostolic mission to regions beyond..? Well, by that definition, apostleship would appear to be reserved for a relative few with a clear and recognised anointing and stature to gather and lead whole communities of elders and churches as an apostolic family.

B. G. McNair Scott, Apostles Today (Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2014).
Ephesians 4: 11-13
John 20: 21 (ESV)
T. Virgo, The Spirit-Filled Church (Oxford: Monarch Books, 2001), p. 153
Romans 16: 1 (ESV)
1 Peter 5: 1 (ESV)

In a series of articles, Maurice Nightingale will detail the change of shape at Relational Mission, and how the journey we are on has lessons for movements across the wider Church. Find them all here.