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ARC Statement
This is a brief introduction to a new movement which we have named "ARC". Due to the purpose of this essay, there is no space here to outline the biblical, historical, and theological work that underlies the vision we will describe in what follows. Should the reader desire to have further background material, please read The ARC Apology on this website. Who are we? We have come together representing an international group of Christians and churches. We are from several expressions of Anglicanism, or are seeking to become part of the Christian movement that developed in the English reformation. We are Korean and American. We also represent a movement of churches in an Islamic country. These churches are made up of believers in Christ who have been raised Muslim. As we launch, we include one Anglican Bishop, several ordained clergy, and a growing number of churches and church plants. While it is true that this movement of churches desires to remain aligned with the worldwide Body of Christ, particularly the part of that Body we know of as "Anglican", it is also true that we seek to do this in a particular way. In our day many Anglicans are re-forming new churches, new dioceses, and new forms of Episcopal oversight. At first glance our movement may appear to be another form of this trend. However, what we seek is not re-formation, but true reformation. The reformation we seek requires not only a recovery of orthodoxy, but also a transformation of church structures, and a new focus for mission. Here is a brief description of that reformation. Why have we come together, and why the name "ARC"? An "arc" is a picture that portrays movement and trajectory. Therefore it is a fitting image for this movement. We have come together because we dream of new movements to Jesus within cultural contexts where there are no churches. We dream of seeing existing churches transformed by the Spirit through fresh discovery and application of the riches of God’s Word. An "arc" is an image of this movement. In addition, "arc" also fits because the letters that combine to spell the word arc are also the first letters of three key words that describe our vision. Our vision is to see contextualized movements to Jesus, but the "dna" of those movements is that they will be apostolic, reformed, and catholic. We have come together to see such movements emerge. There are several key terms in the above paragraph:
CONTEXTUALIZED We believe that the Holy Spirit inspired the life, ministry, structures, polities, and worship of the early church as seen in the New Testament. Throughout the church’s history, the Spirit has inspired new and creative ways of expressing and re-expressing the dynamics of the New Testament church in new forms as the church encountered new cultural contexts. This is what we mean by seeing CONTEXTUALIZED movements to Jesus.
APOSTOLIC We want to be clear that we are not here referring to what many in Anglican circles will assume at first: apostolic orders (that is, polity, and bishops). We are keeping ourselves within the stream of historic apostolic succession. But by using the word "apostolic" in our name we are referring to what the scriptures mean by this. Namely: Church planters and leaders serving in teams focused on the multiplication of churches and the building up of those churches to participate in the ongoing expansion of the Church through the sending of more apostolic teams. THEREFORE: The ARC Movement believes that the role and function of Bishops needs to be transformed from the current focus on administrative and pastoral duties to recover the original apostolic functions of blessing and authorizing new leaders to evangelize, plant churches, and appoint (ordain) new leaders especially for new and non-geographic movements among cultures not yet reached by the church.
REFORMED We are not primarily referring here to a specific confession of "reformed" faith, or a specific theological stance. We mean primarily to the PRINCIPLE of reform. The church needs to be constantly reformed by the Word through the Holy Spirit. This principle was in fact captured very well by the Anglican prayer books (especially the older ones) and in the 39 Articles. For example the Anglican Reformation developed a prayer book tradition and lectionary system (bible reading plan) that encouraged the discipleship of all believers through a process rooted in reading large sections of scripture in the context of daily prayer and worship. We desire to continue to be a part of a movement of churches that embraces this vision of discipleship and formation that fosters personal renewal and reformation as well as corporate renewal and reformation under the Word. At the same time, the Anglican Reformation sought to develop worship that was a new blend of ancient tradition and cultural "vernacular". We desire to be part of a movement that continues this heritage of creative use of ancient elements in modern forms of art, music, dance, and communication. Further, the Anglican Reformation developed expressions of its theology that were not only rooted in creeds (though it held to the classic creeds) or confessions of faith (though the 39 Articles developed by the Anglican Church are very solid biblically), but also in its worship. The Books of Common Prayer developed by the Communion reflect a tradition of prayer and worship that is deeply infused with scripture itself. This is a very healthy element and reminds us of Paul’s letters, in which he discusses deep theology in the language of praise and worship (Ephesians 1 through 3 for example is an extended prayer of worship). THEREFORE: The ARC Movement believes that an apostolic, reformed, and catholic movement flowing from an Anglican foundation would hold firmly to all that has passed on to the Body of Christ through the Anglican Reformation, as described above.
CATHOLIC This word is also open to misinterpretation, but we use it to emphasize that it is crucial for us to intentionally maintain a viable connection to the Body of Christ that is bigger than a local church, or indeed a diocese or province. This connection needs to have geographical, cultural, and historical breadth. We need to be a visible part of a living organism, the Body of Christ, which includes believers in many nations, from many languages, and in the past and the future. Since we refer to ourselves as a catholic movement, it is important to state here how we envision remaining in catholic "order". We stated above that we are beginning with one Anglican Bishop as we launch. We will welcome others either into this movement or to give their blessing to this movement. As this happens we will see bishops consecrated from within the movement and for the movement. However, it is also important for us to speak here of the role of Bishops in the movement we describe. We believe that the original functions of New Testament apostolic ministry, which after the New Testament period came, over time, to be vested in the role and office of bishops are necessary functions for those given oversight of churches today: to PLANT CHURCHES, ORDAIN LEADERS, GUARD and TEACH THE FAITH, and DISCIPLINE doctrinal and moral error. We dream of the recovery of apostolic functions of bishops within our movement. THEREFORE: The ARC Movement believes that a new apostolic movement needs to connect to the global, universal, "catholic" Body of Christ as symbolized not only in faith and practice but also in the role of bishops in their truly apostolic role as described above.
What is the focus of our vision and mission? As we stated above our focus is not geographical. But we do have a focus, which we refer to using the word EPIC. What is an EPIC focus? The catalytic explosion of the first century church permeated and crossed various social and geographic boundaries. Our efforts and energy will be devoted to further that catalytic explosion in our own day, with our focus determined especially by the following grid: E: The Emerging Global Culture The emerging culture is a transitional culture that is influenced by pop-culture, technology, and the passing of modernity. It can be described as tolerant, young, skeptical, and globally minded. P: Pioneer Movements among the unreached The unreached are those nations (ethne) with no viable church, including many sub-cultures in places where churches do exist but have not effectively reached these sub-cultures. I: International Cities International Cities are cities around the world with growing populations of people from other countries of origin, many of which come from unreached people groups. C: Catalytic Component
Self-Propagating Self-Governing Self-Supporting Self-Theologizing Every church planting effort in The ARC Movement will engage one or more of the cultural areas (Emerging, Pioneer, International City), and every church planting effort will exhibit and work towards the four catalytic markers.
What shapes our life together? The ARC Movement is held together by our core commitments and faith affirmations, to which we hold ourselves mutually accountable.
CORE COMMITMENTS We are committed to regular, intentional prayer for one another, both when we meet and when we are apart. We are committed to the regular gathering together of our leaders for mutual encouragement and the living out of koinonia in the Gospel. We are committed to training at every level of ministry and church life that is rooted in the inductive study of large sections of scripture (whole books) applied to real situations. We are committed to the concept of building fully team-based ministries and ministry structures and to modeling team ministry ourselves. We are committed to the leader/apprentice model of church multiplication. FAITH AFFIRMATIONS We affirm the canonical scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as inspired by the Holy Spirit and containing all things necessary for salvation and discipleship. We affirm the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds as summaries of the main themes of biblical truth. In addition we give special place to the 39 Articles as a sufficient summary of numerous elements of biblical truth reclaimed in the various reformation movements, and we receive joyfully the Anglican prayer books that are in keeping with biblical and apostolic faith. We affirm and obey the Lord’s commandment to celebrate the Lord’s Supper and Baptism, allowing for a diversity of interpretations of their meaning and form. We affirm the role of the Holy Spirit in the giving of spiritual gifts to the Body as He calls men and women into service in the church, including the ordained ministries.
This is a description of who we are, our vision, and our focus. For more information, please contact us.
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