Church Cooperation

The Sponsoring Church Concept

Introduction:

“Church cooperation” is not a biblical phrase, but the subject has caused much discussion over last 150 years. Many have the idea that “mother” churches can oversee mission works and that elderships were placed over an entire geographical area. Church cooperation is synomous w/ “the sponsoring church concept.” How churches may cooperate must be decided on basis of Bible authority. Do the scriptures prescribe a plan by which congregations CAN cooperate?

I.  What is it?

A.     An arrangement of local churches placing themselves under oversight of one eldership of another congregation.

B.     No precedent in scripture. 

C.    Some argue church should be organized as a man-made corporation.

II. The NT Pattern.

A.     Only functional arrangement whereby church cooperates collectively = local church!

B.     See Phil. 4:15-16

1.     Congregations acted concurrently to spread gospel to the world.

2.     Concurrently = occurring at same time or acting together w/equal authority.

III. A Closer Look.

A.     A church sending to another church: Acts 11; 13-14; 15; Col. 4:16

B.     A congregation may support it’s own evangelist – 1 Cor. 12:13

C.    One church may support a preacher elsewhere – Phil. 1:3-5; 2:25, 30; 4:14-18

D.    Several churches may independently & directly support a preacher anywhere – 2 Cor. 8:9

IV.           What About Benevolent Work?

A.     There is no “great commission” for benevolent work. Not a universal task.

B.     Pattern in scriptures is as follows:

1.     1 Cor. 16:1-2 – each congregation raises its own funds by free will!

2.     1 Cor. 16:3-4; 2 Cor. 8:19, 23 – each congregation selects its own messenger.

3.     1 Cor. 16:3 – each church sends to the church in need.

4.     Acts 11:27-30 – churches send to another church when need church cannot care for all their own members.

1.     What’s the purpose behind this? Equality!  2 Cor. 8:13

C.    Benevolence to other congregations.

1.     Was temporary in nature.  (To restore equality.)

2.     Receiving church in need – need among its own numerical membership.

3.     Was an effort of cooperation – coordinated effort – not centralized control.

V.  Why this is an important issue.

A.  Sponsoring church concept represents a centralization of power.

1.  Each congregation is autonomous.

2.  Equality is destroyed in the sponsoring church system.

B.  It sets the wrong example before churches.

C.    Sponsoring church elders do not recognize restrictions placed upon them.

1.     Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-4; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Acts 11:27-30

2.     Elders work & oversight is not geographical; but rather organizational.  God has limited them to the congregation & its treasury. (Eugene Britnell.)

C.    Sponsoring church system creates a missionary society.

D.    This arrangement causes division & leads to apostasy.