DOVE Partner Churches

DOVE USA is a family of churches in the USA that are a part of DOVE International. Our God-given mandate is to plant, connect and empower healthy churches throughout the USA and other nations. Check out the “church locator” to see current DOVE USA churches.

Our History

The DOVE family of churches began in 1980 when our first congregation was planted in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. We built the church around the small group model building healthy relationships. We grew to numerous gatherings, meeting at locations in seven counties in Pennsylvania. We were one church. We also planted three churches internationally. In 1994, we took the step to go from being a “mother church” with church plants to becoming a “family of churches.” We established local pastors and elder teams to give leadership at each church. An apostolic council was also established to give oversight to these lead elders (pastors) and elder teams, beginning a “apostolic movement” January 1996. That same year we felt the Lord asking us to open our doors to other churches of like values. We do not solicit churches but are open to those who desire to become part of the DOVE family. More here

We Build by Relationship

If a church is interested in becoming part of the DOVE family, we ask that they first get to know us and determine if our values and guiding principles are the same. We begin to develop the relationship through phone calls, emails, and meeting together to get to know each other. The goal of this communication is a time of discernment so that the potential church can find out more about us and we can get to know the church better. We have a Leadership Handbook that is available for those who are genuinely interested in pursuing a relationship with DOVE. It answers many questions and outlines our structure as a movement of churches. Since we build by relationships, the process of being part of the DOVe family takes time.

How DOVE USA provides apostolic and spiritual oversight

Spiritual oversight is about relationship. It involves looking out for the best interests of another while providing spiritual protection. You could liken it to a shoot-out in a western movie. Someone shouts, “Cover me,” and runs out into the line of fire. Protecting that person involves looking out for the individual, protecting his back if needed, and engaging the enemy while the “covered” one is free to go and do what he needs to do. That’s what spiritual oversight is all about.
 
What spiritual oversight is not
Spiritual oversight may mean different things to different people. Some, because of  oversight abuses in the past, think of control. Others, because of a denominational understanding, think of spiritual oversight from an organizational viewpoint only and overlook its additional relational aspect. To others, spiritual oversight is a formal term on paper but has little meaning in a practical sense. Finally, some may think of spiritual oversight as providing help only if a major problem arises.
 
What DOVE offers:

Pastoral care When we provide spiritual oversight for a church or ministry, we look out for their well-being. We pray for the leadership and work with them to help solve difficult problems and walk through troubled situations. We strive to protect the vision of the lead elder and the purpose for which the church or ministry was created. 

We provide an “outside court of appeal” for people within the church or ministry if there is a situation that the leadership team is unable to work through. Often someone with relationship from the “outside” is able to bring a clearer perspective and be more objective than those who are in the center of the situation. We will travel on-site to provide problem-solving and relationship-restoring input, attempting to look at the situation from the perspective of helping the team fulfill their God-given vision and plan. 
 
Accountability When a church or ministry chooses to come under the apostolic oversight of  DOVE USA, the leaders are asking for accountability by becoming part of the DOVE USA family of churches. The leader and the team are requesting that we, as apostolic overseers, speak into their lives and their ministry. Oversight must be established and built by relationship. While most accountability for a church or ministry is between the elders or board and the lead elder, the apostolic overseer provides a level of accountability for the lead elder. 
The apostolic overseer’s primary communication and relationship is with the lead elder. However, they also maintain relationship with the elders and/or board members of the ministry in case a problem arises that cannot be solved as a team. In such cases,  the elders or ministry board members have the freedom and relationship to go to the overseer as an outside court of appeal.
 
The apostolic overseer serves the lead elder and team. His heart and goal is to serve in such a way that the leader and team are successful in what the Lord has called them to accomplish. 
 
What does it mean practically?
  • We pray regularly for the lead elder, team and ministry.
  • We meet with the lead elder as needed.
  • When a church or ministry is outside our immediate area, we meet with the leader and the church at least once per year, often more frequently. We maintain contact via phone or e-mail every 2–4 weeks. 
  • We ask questions related to a leader’s personal life as well as how the team is functioning along with the ministry.
  • We ask about the lead elder’s personal walk with the Lord.
  • We ask about the lead elder’s marriage and family.
  • We monitor the functioning of the team.
  • We inquire about staff and staff relationships.
  • We help with ministry functions.
  • We help develop goals for growth and expansion.
  • We provide encouragement in what the Lord has been speaking to the team.
  • We evaluate current functions and objectives.
  • We provide financial accountability.
  • We encourage and assist in training, developing and releasing young leaders.
We meet with the team as necessary (at least once a year), observing how the team is functioning and relating to the lead elder and his leadership style. Our desire is to see the team functioning properly within the framework of “head, shoulders and body” government (see DOVE’s Handbook for an explanation). How is the leader relating to the team? How are decisions being made? Is there proper communication between the leader and the team? Is the team functioning properly? Is there an on-going developing vision? These are a few of the areas we would desire to cover with the team.
 
An equation for a healthy church or ministry 
As apostolic overseers, we are not involved in the day-to-day ministry unless we are requested to provide this type of input. Our focus is to help ministries succeed and be aware of things that cause ministries to fail. One of the equations we use is: Healthy individuals make healthy leaders, which in turn build healthy teams. Healthy teams produce healthy churches and ministries. Healthy churches lead to healthy experiences. All are necessary to build healthy churches or ministries that stand the test of time and withstand the warfare from the enemy. The true heart of any apostolic ministry should be to see the local church or ministry become a success and fulfill the vision God has given them. 
 
Apostolic oversight is one of invitation. If a church or ministry requests engagement or partnership with DOVE, they are requesting apostolic oversight. This process is our “invitation.” Apostolically, we lay down our lives to serve the church or ministry to see them become all that the Lord intends them to be.
 
 

  1. The leadership team is encouraged to read these books written by Larry Kreider: House to House, which defines our vision, and The Cry for Spiritual Mothers and Fathers, which defines our heart and explains why we do what we do.

  2. The leadership team is encouraged to read and align with The Biblical Foundation series by Larry Kreider. This defines our doctrine. This series is also available in videos as well.

  3. The leadership team needs to understand and have the same values as established by the DOVE International Apostolic Council. See DOVE International values here. The leadership team reads, understands and agrees with the procedures of DOVE International as outlined within this DOVE International Leadership Handbook.

  4. If the potential partner church leaders agree with the values, vision, doctrine, and procedure and is in unity with the Regional DOVE Apostolic Council, there needs to be a time set aside for prayer and waiting before the Lord to receive the Lord’s confirmation before an engagement begins. An on-site personal visit with the potential engaged church and the leaders is recommended at this point.

  5. If the Lord gives His confirmation, then an engagement period generally begins for one year, which can be shortened or lengthened upon agreement.

  6. The lead elder and the Regional DOVE Apostolic Council begin to build relationships. In some cases, the lead elder may relate to a designate appointed by the Apostolic Council.

  7. Apostolic coverage begins with an established engagement period.

  8. Tithing begins by the lead elder and the partner church at the beginning of the engagement period area as per the guidelines for tithing in the DOVE International Leadership Handbook.

  9. The lead elder begins to relate to other DOVE International leaders within his geographical area.

  10. If there is full agreement between Regional Apostolic Council and the potential partner church’s eldership team, a partnership agreement may be signed by two members of the Regional DOVE Apostolic Council and/or designates and the lead elder and the other elders of the partner church. A copy of this agreement can be obtained from the DOVE International Office. There will be a public commissioning service by one or more Regional DOVE Apostolic Council member(s) and/or a designate(s) appointed by the Apostolic Council. There may be times when a church is a part of two movements for a season during the transition. This process is worked out between the lead elder and elders team, the Regional DOVE Apostolic Council and the leader of the other movement.

The same basic process is used in the DOVE International family to adopt a network of churches as is used to adopt a partner church. This process may take longer due to the number of persons involved in the adoption process involving potential apostolic leaders and lead elders.I t is a real possibility for a network of churches to become part of the DOVE family.

Relationship and Resources

Our Leadership events are a great place to build relationship with like-minded ministry leaders as well as find out more about our resources.

Sign up to receive information on upcoming leadership events here.

If you are a church leader interested to connect to the DOVE family start a conversation by email here.