History of ICA

The International Coalition of Apostles (ICA) was conceived in Singapore in 1999 by a group of apostles convened by Ed Silvoso. The group discussed how God could use the combined efforts of global apostolic leadership to advance the Kingdom of God more rapidly and effectively.

In order to accomplish the mission, establishing a communication center would be essential. During the discussion, John P. Kelly was asked to assume leadership as Convening Apostle for the new coalition and to establish an office in Fort Worth, Texas. He was directed to organize a council and to begin inviting apostles to join the ICA fellowship network. The first Annual Meeting was held near Dallas, Texas in 2000.

That year, John Kelly was directed by the Lord to ask C. Peter Wagner to assume the roll of Presiding  Apostle. In 2001, ICA moved into the offices of Global Harvest in Colorado Springs, Colorado. John Kelly continued to serve ICA as the Ambassadorial Apostle, representing ICA globally and conducting ICA Regional Summits throughout the United States.

In 2009, on the eve of his 80th birthday, C. Peter Wagner was directed by the Lord to ask John P. Kelly to again assume the roll of Presiding (now Convening) Apostle over ICA. ICA was transferred back to Fort Worth, Texas in the spring of 2010. With an official handing of the baton ceremony at the 2010 Annual November Gathering, Dr. Wagner was installed as the Presiding Apostle Emeritus of ICA and John P. Kelly became the new Convening Apostle.

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Mission of ICA

ICA is designed to connect apostles’ wisdom and resources in order that each member can function more strategically, combine their efforts globally, and effectively accelerate the advancement of the Kingdom of God into every sphere of society.

.ICA Definition of Apostle
 

The name “apostle” is a New Testament word the Apostle Paul described as a person who serves in the office that Jesus established at His ascension: “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:11-12.)

C. Peter Wagner defines an apostle as a Christian leader gifted, taught, commissioned, and sent by God with the authority to establish the foundational government of a church within an assigned sphere by hearing what the Spirit is saying and set things in order accordingly for the growth and maturity of the group or complex of groups.

 Since apostles operate in several different ways, ICA is open to “vertical apostles” (including ecclesiastical, functional, congregational, and team-member vertical apostles), to “horizontal apostles” (including convening, ambassadorial, mobilizing, and territorial horizontal apostles), and to different kinds of “marketplace apostles.”

.Structure of ICA

ICA is apostolically lead and prophetically influenced.

ICA is primarily a professional society in which confirmed apostles are able to relate to and connect with each other. It is secondarily a training ground for “emerging” apostles.

ICA focuses on the strategic development of creative strategies for combining apostolic efforts on the widest basis possible in order to fulfill Jesus’ great commission and mandates.

ICA recognizes that autonomy is important for members of differing apostolic networks and business leaders. Leaders, who are the heads or “top” of networks, or marketplace CEOs, are technically “vertical” apostles. Vertical apostolic leaders have few mechanisms designed to fulfill their need to relate horizontally; to meet and work with their peers in anything other than a casual way. This is an important aspect of ICA.

ICA provides venues at the Annual Meeting, Regional Summits, and International Summits to facilitate connections with like-minded apostolic leaders. These settings promote a structure of meaningful gatherings for peer-level apostles, representing both the nuclear and marketplace church. Here, apostles meet one another, build relationships, and exchange wisdom, knowledge, skills, and resources.

ICA uses available technology: Internet, blogs, online videos, etc., to facilitate written communication and live interaction among apostles, apostolic networks, and apostolic ministries.

ICA Provides Apostolic Accountability

ICA members are committed to maintaining the highest possible levels of integrity of personal character and operational methodology among its members. The ICA Advisory Council gives oversight and enforces the code of Biblical conduct required of each member to insure the standards of ICA and maintain unity among the brethren (Psalm 133:1, Eph.4:3). This does not mean “covering.” ICA does not ordain or cover individuals or groups of apostles.

.ICA Membership

Membership in ICA is restricted to individuals who have been recognized by a significant segment of the church, including peer-level apostles, as having the gift of apostle and who have been ministering through this gift for a period of time.

 An invitation to join ICA requires a nomination to be made and seconded by any two active ICA members. Under extenuating circumstances where two nominators are not available, an explanation as to why there is no second nominee is weighed in the decision-making process. Nomination forms are available to ICA apostles on the website, www.coalitionofapostles.com, or through the ICA office.

Nominations by the two active members are then processed through the ICA office and the Convening Apostle. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis as to whether official invitations will be extended.

When the invitation is accepted by the individual nominee, a membership application and related documents will be sent to the nominated apostle. This involves the nominee submitting a written application form as well as the payment of membership dues. The applicant is required to provide the contact information for a person who knows about the nominee’s ministry and to whom the applicant is accountable. ICA will secure that person’s consent during the application approval process.

After the application is approved, the new ICA apostle will be sent:  a unique password for access to the Members Only section of the website, and other relevant items and documents.

.Annual Membership Fees

• United States based member: $450.00
• Married apostles combined : $650.00
• First Nation (American Indian): $350.00
• International independent members (those not belonging to their individual country’s Coalition): $350.00 (USD).
• International married apostles combined: $450.00.
• Fees may be paid in two installments by check or credit card.

Ordination, Commissioning, Covering, and Accountability

It must be understood that ICA membership does not confer ordination or commissioning on a given apostle. ICA does not “make” an individual an apostle. Only those who have previously been recognized as having the gift and office of apostle are accepted as members, and this recognition comes through, and is maintained, by the particular ecclesiastical network or apostolic ministry conferring the ordination or commissioning.

Because ICA is a horizontal apostolic network, as over against a vertical network, ICA does not provide “apostolic covering” or ‘spiritual covering” for its members.

Although ICA is not a primary accountability structure, membership in ICA does imply a secondary apostolic accountability. ICA members are committed to maintaining the highest possible levels of integrity of personal character and operational methodology among its members. The ICA Advisory Council gives oversight and enforces the code of Biblical conduct required of each member to insure the standards of ICA and maintain unity among the brethren (Psalm 133:1, Ephesians 4:3).

.Annual Meetings and Summits

The major structures for facilitating the interaction of apostles with one another are the Annual Member Meeting and Regional Apostolic Summits held throughout the United States and various nations.

.Annual Members Gathering

The Annual Meeting is held in Dallas, Texas the second week of November on Wednesday and Thursday.

During the  two day meeting, ICA Members speak on current topics pertaining to the global apostolic movement.  The format includes a mix of general sessions and forums, special presentations, praise and worship, and prophetic prayer. Breaks and meal times are provided for networking and fellowship.

ICA is a professional society, therefore, only members are invited to speak or participate on panels in the annual meeting.

Speakers come at their own expense and are not paid an honorarium for their participation.

Member Guests

Each member is entitled to bring their spouse and encouraged to bring anyone who is an apostle or someone whom they are mentoring/coaching, disciplining, or fathering in the apostolic. Building the next generation is a focus of ICA.

There is no limit to the number of non-members a member can invite as long as they fit the above criteria for attendance. Members and guests will pay a registration fee (outlined in the Annual Meeting details).

.Regional Summits

The Ambassadorial Apostles convene apostolic summits throughout the United States and various nations. These are open meetings for apostles or emerging apostles, not restricted to ICA members only.

Once or twice a year, the Convening Apostle and Ambassador Apostles travel to various nations and hold an invitation-only meeting of regional apostles. This invariably brings together apostles who have much in common, but who have not previously been able to connect with each other. As a result, several apostolic coalitions have been formed and the strength of the international apostolic movement has been greatly increased. All current members of ICA are invited to attend any national or international meetings.

The ICA website – www.coalitionofapostles.com – lists the contact information, dates, and locations of Regional Summits and the Annual Meeting..

How ICA is Administered

International Coalition of Apostles, Inc. is administered as a non-profit religious educational organization in the State of Texas. John P. Kelly is the Convening Apostle along with an Apostolic Council which gives advice and accountability. Thus, ICA is governed by apostolic leadership in line with a strictly biblical-based form of government (episkopos and presbuteros).

ICA is apostolically lead and prophetically influenced.

ICA has an in-house administrative team based in Fort Worth, Texas. The other necessary administrative duties are outsourced for efficiency, excellence, and cost-effectiveness.

.Apostolic Council

The Convening Apostle appoints an ICA Apostolic Council which provides advice and accountability. ICA members are free to bring any concerns which may arise to any or all council members. The Apostolic Council includes:  George Bakalov, Mark Chironna, James Chosa, Ron Cottle, Naomi Dowdy, John Eckhardt, Pat Francis, Bill Hamon, Dan Juster, John P. Kelly, Joseph Mattera, Mel Mullen, Dennis Peacocke, Mark Pfeifer, Ed Silvoso, C. Peter Wagner, Doris Wagner, Lance Wallnau, and H. Daniel Wilson.