Criteria for Affiliation/Adoption

  • The church must approve the Statement of Faith of the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA) as its own statement of faith without additions or omissions, and require all pastors and board members to accept all of the articles of the Statement of Faith as their own position without reservation.
  • The pastor and the board of the applying church must be conversant with the document What It Means to Be an Evangelical Free Church and demonstrate their commitment to fit into the framework of that document.
  • The church's leaders must understand and appreciate the fact that other EFCA churches may hold different positions from them on peripheral issues not addressed by the EFCA Statement of Faith.  It is necessary to understand the appropriate nature of the grace that allows freedom to differ on the non-essentials just as it is essential to have a proper theological framework.
  • The church must clearly demonstrate a willingness to enter a partnership with other EFCA West and EFCA churches in the work of the ministry.  This commitment is shown by participation in EFCA corporate events and a financial commitment to the region's ministries of service and expansion.  It is therefore a requirement that the incoming church participate fully in the Fair Share Program at least at a 3% of budget (1% to EFCA West and 1% to EFCA and 1% to EFCA West Church Planting).
  • The pastor(s) at the time of application for affiliation must meet the pastoral qualifications that would make them eligible for placement within the EFCA West region.  In addition, the lead pastor must be "ordainable" with the EFCA, as well as it can be determined without going through the full ordination process.  He must also be willing to be licensed or ordained with the EFCA, or to transfer his ordination to the EFCA.
  • The church must participate in the EFCA West church health assessment process and workshop prior to a decision about affiliation.
  • The church must be willing to thoroughly discuss any past conflicts or difficulties and must show evidence of having reached biblical resolution of past troubles in relationships or ministry.
  • The church must be willing to include the words "Evangelical Free Church" in its corporate name.  This is not necessarily its public name.  The church could, for example, include "Evangelical Free Church" in the public name, or they could have a name like Faith Church, an Evangelical Free Church.