Church Authority

The AG's governance is neither purely congregational nor episcopal. Local churches have significant autonomy, but they are affiliated with district councils and the General Council — a representative body of ministers and churches that sets doctrinal and ministerial standards. Ministers hold credentials from the AG, and the Fellowship's governing bodies have authority to discipline ministers and churches for doctrinal or ethical violations.

The SFT affirms Scripture as the supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and practice. No individual leader, council, or tradition has authority above the Word of God. The AG resists the idea of a magisterium or authoritative church tradition, holding instead that Scripture, illuminated by the Spirit, is the norm for church life.

At the same time, the AG places significant de facto authority in the hands of experienced leaders and prophetic ministers. The culture of spiritual authority — in which pastors, apostles, and prophets are accorded deep respect as Spirit-led leaders — can at times operate alongside formal governance structures. This has occasionally led to controversies around authoritarian leadership within AG-affiliated ministries, which the denomination has addressed through accountability structures.