President's Blog

Our Fellowship’s Affirmation of Faith states that the local church is a “sovereign, independent body”. No argument there. Our autonomy is part of our identity as a fellowship of churches.

However, how is this autonomy supposed to work?  Years ago, I ate lunch in Calgary with an elder from one of our Fellowship churches. Mike asked me if I knew what “autindiginy” meant.  I had to admit I had never heard the term.  He sent me the following in an email:

AUTINDIGINY, AUTINDIGINOUS:

A characteristic of the first-century church (which should also characterize the present-day church): Autonomous assemblies of believers where leadership was developed from within the body.

Although local bodies retained their independence, in practice there was a unity throughout the fellowship of churches in adherence to the gospel. This was fostered by an INTERDEPENDENCE.

Leadership giftings were developed indigenously, fulfilling the mandate of Ephesians 4 (every believer motivated to maturity). These gifts were recognized when they began to function, and leaders were appointed to public service by the apostles.

Does this characterize our fellowship of churches? Before you point fingers, ask yourself, “When was the last time I or my church did something for another local church or church leaders that brought no visible benefit to me or my church?” Interdependence…something to think about.  Autonomous bodies functioning like they’re completely dependent on the Lord, but also on one another, to get the mission accomplished.

A revision to our Local Church Article

You’ll note that our revised Fellowship National Affirmation of Faith has sought to pick up this convictional nuance in the revised article on The Local Church.

The revised article states:

The Church

We believe that the universal church, the Body of Christ, comprised of all true believers in heaven and on earth, is expressed on earth in local churches. We believe a properly ordered local church consists of believers, baptized by immersion, who have been called out from the world, separated to the Lord Jesus; and voluntarily associated for the ministry of the word, the mutual edification of its members, the propagation of the faith, the observance of the ordinances, and the doing of good works. We believe it is a self-governing body responsible for exercising its own divinely awarded gifts, precepts, and privileges under the lordship of Christ, the Head and Chief Shepherd of the church. We believe that its officers are biblically qualified elders, who shepherd and oversee God’s flock, and deacons, who serve and support.

View the entire revised Fellowship National Affirmation of Faith here.

You’ll note that the revised article states: “We believe it is a self-governing body responsible for exercising its own divinely awarded gifts…”

Hope to see you at FNC 2025 for the VOTE

We gather on November 4, 2025 at 2:00pm to VOTE on 14 motions associated with each of the 14 Articles that comprise the revised Fellowship National Affirmation of Faith. Come as a church delegate and participate in this historic vote. See you in Toronto from November 3-5 for “FAN the FLAME”. Register TODAY!