I found this very usefull from Ryk van Velden.

·         Ownership is important and the local church is the owner of the project. Involvement from outside should be seen in the light of enriching and empowering that which is already there. Local church must have real decision making power, even if they make wrong decisions.  One of the challenges for non-local brothers and sisters who are involved as part of the body of Christ, is to enlarge the understanding of “church” and give models of other ways of giving practical expression on being church.  We need to serve one another with other perspectives from our background and Christian experience without forcing others to be in agreement with our understanding

·         People can only make decisions in the light of their current frame of reference and biblical knowledge and understanding. If this is twisted and little, the changes are good that they may make decisions which may really do the church no good. If “outsiders” can’t convince them to consider other models or practices, they should withdraw with regard to that project or practice without forcing others to accept their specific point of view. This however should not be a total withdrawal from the people, but only from that specific project/practice. In other areas contact and interactions should be kept so that space for discussion, growth and mutual enrichment can still be protected.

·         In the African context it will be difficult for a small congregation to make decisions which make the quite unique and different from the other known congregations of the church. Even if they are convinced of what would be the best for their congregation, they will not easily accept it if they are nog assured that the leaders of the church in general are in agreement or are thinking in the same line. Different models of being church etc. Should therefore in most cases also be shared with leaders in general.

R van Velden