Many mainline Christian leaders in Africa have denounced false prophets who claim to be anointed Pentecostal preachers.
In the section titled, "Recognising True and False Apostles", the document states that there are false apostles, or people who are not appointed by God but rather "carnal men [who] usurped the role for their own glory".
To distinguish true and false apostles, the document gave a list of characteristics of a true apostle that includes: ministers with total faithfulness to the writings and teachings of the foundational apostles; who accept personal responsibility for the Lord's Great Commission, even at great cost to themselves; continue to serve even when no one confers on them a title or recognises their role; and are free from the love of money.
"The Apostolic Position Paper presents a sound Biblical foundation for both the historical and present day Apostolic Ministry," said Rev Ed Wood, Chairman of the Apostolic Commission. "The paper is the result of the International Pentecostal Holiness seeking to be Biblically based in its position regarding the current apostolic movement."
In 2005, the denomination's General Executive Board, at the request of the General Conference delegates, commissioned seven denominational scholars and theologians to conduct a biblical/historical study of the role of apostle in the church today. The board also invited a representative from each of the denomination's 28 regional offices to participate.
The document was presented to the General Board of Administration, the highest governing body between General Conference sessions, and approved by the board on October 30, 2007, with minor changes.
The document also includes practical guidelines for apostolic ministries and other current theological issues in the IPHC.
IPHC is a charter member of the National Association of Evangelicals, the Pentecostal World Conference, and was instrumental in creating the Pentecostal & Charismatic Churches of North America.
