Unite prioritises small, devoted communities called Neighbourhood Churches. These Neighbourhood Churches gather on Sunday mornings as a weekly rhythm, and connect throughout the week in prayer and bible reading also.

Apprentices of Jesus in Unite commit to being in a Neighbourhood Church and growing together in accordance with our Mission, Core Beliefs, and Practices.

Our Core Beliefs:
Create a framework of apprenticeship under Jesus according to scripture. They are the DNA of Unite. More on our Core Beliefs here.

Our Practices give clarity to practice the Way of Jesus by the continuing work of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of the Father. More on our Practices here. More on our Practices here.

We practice the way of Jesus in small groups called Neighbourhood Churches. The goal is that God’s love becomes manifest in our relationships as we support and hold each other accountable as apprentices under Jesus. As NC (Neighbourhood Churches) grow in numbers, we look to plant new Churches so as to keep our Church number small so that each apprentice can contribute and truly lay down their lives for each other (Galatians 6:2-6 on carrying each others burdens and carry your own load). The four practical principles that our Churches practice are from Acts 2:42. Each NC devotes themselves to the apostles teaching [the Holy Bible] and to fellowship [relationship], to the breaking of bread [the Lord’s Supper/Holy Communion] and to prayer.

Oversight Community:

The Oversight Community of Unite includes both the spiritual eldership and legal trust board (governance) of Unite Church.

It is made up of people who either lead (govern) to achieve our Purpose, or who oversee (in the way of prayer and caring for) those that govern, or both.

The Trust Board is included in Unite Oversight and some of their responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

• The raising, appointing, and equipping of Neighbourhood Church Shepherds. 
  

• Supporting the Lead Pastors as they lead in prayer, teaching, and shepherding of Unite Church, in accordance with our Mission and Purpose.

• The creation and overseeing of affiliated-trusts or partnerships that extend the Mission of Unite. 

• Fulfilling all legal, charitable, and financial obligations of an Incorporated Charitable Trust in Aotearoa according to our Trust Deed and NZ Law This includes managing property and other assets, preparing budgets, managing finances, and appropriate reporting.

Shepherds Community:

Neighbourhood Churches are pastored and facilitated by leaders. These leaders are known as Shepherds or NC Pastors. Their responsibility is the shepherding of their NC. This involves facilitating weekly gatherings, praying over their flock, calling out the gifts of the Church, and moderating and clarifying the Truth of the Gospel. In everything, Shepherds lovingly hold the NC they shepherd to the shared mission of growing as Apprentices of Jesus. Shepherds are appointed by the Unite Lead Pastors with the support of the Oversight Community. They are supported by the Lead Pastors who facilitate the Shepherd Community with regular rhythms that involve coaching with each Neighbourhood Church Shepherd team, and bringing the Shepherd Community together for prayer, sharing, fellowship, and family time.

The goal is that leadership should never be done alone, but in a close community where trust and love are growing. This community enables Unite to be united as a collective as each Shepherd team is overseen by Oversight via Lead Pastors who lovingly hold Shepherds accountable to the Mission of Unite.

Apprentices relationship to Leadership:

Oversight encourages an open channel for communication of any kind between Oversight and Unite Apprentices for queries, feedback or concerns.

Unite Apprentices can email the Lead Pastors or the Trust Board Chair. Email addresses are publically further down on this webpage.

Every Unite Apprentice is connected to a Neighbourhood Church Shepherd who is a link to Oversight and also a trusted option within this channel of communication.

The Lead Pastors commit to maintaining strong relationships with the Neighbourhood Church Shepherds supporting them with any query a Partner has brought to them, or any concern a Shepherd has, in accordance with our Privacy Policy.