Great Commission Association - May 2001

1. What do you believe?
GCA churches are evangelical in doctrine and practice, holding to the basic truths of Protestant Christianity (inerrancy of Scripture, salvation by grace alone, the physical death and resurrection of Jesus, His second coming, assurance of salvation, etc.), including the Great Commission of Jesus Christ as recorded in the gospels (Matt. 28:18-20, Luke 24:46-49). Our doctrinal statement is available on this site for more detail.

2. How are we organized?
Great Commission Association (GCA) functions as an interdependent family of churches where each church is autonomous and self-governed by its pastors, but united in mission, doctrine, and core values.

3. What are GCA's roots?
GCA began in the early 1970's as a campus church movement and has since developed into an association of churches based in the community and campuses in the U.S. and throughout the world. In 1989, Great Commission Ministries (GCM) was formed to continue the campus emphasis through a staff-based support system.

4. What are your views on controversial topics such as charismatic issues?
In general our focus is on the basic gospel of Jesus Christ, the fulfilling of the Great Commission and uniting with followers of Jesus Christ to worship and serve Him. In light of this, there is a great degree of flexibility on historically controversial issues that fall within the bounds of orthodox doctrine. In this way, we as an association of churches and believers in Jesus Christ can go about doing the Lord's will in the world while at the same time working through difficult issues. Having said this, the churches in GCA are generally non-charismatic in their beliefs and practices.

5. Who leads in GCA?
GCA has a board of directors representing the various regions of our world. It consists of pastors and ministry leaders in GCA. Presently the board is: Terry Bartley , Dave Bovenmyer, Dennis Clark, Nelson Guerra , John Hopler, Jeff Kern , Brent Knox, Herschel Martindale, and Rick Whitney.

John Hopler is the Executive Director of GCA. John Hopler, Rick Whitney and Dave Bovenmyer represent the Executive Committee of GCA.

6. What services does GCA provide for churches?
GCA and other GCA ministries host several conferences for pastors, couples, families, teens, and college students on a regular basis. Regional leaders provide coaching and support to pastors and churches, both to new church plants and to established churches. GCA also has a leadership development program called Great Commission leadership Institute (GCLI) that includes pastoral mentoring, local mentor groups, and extensive doctrinal study, and regional conferences. GCA also provides funding for mission efforts in the U.S. and overseas, as well as relief for churches in need. Our devotional, Daylights, is also published quarterly for the encouragement of the churches.

7. Where are GCA member churches and ministries?
Member churches and ministries can be found in 180 locations, including over 21 countries worldwide and 43 U.S. campuses. There is a listing of our locations on this site, most of which are located near major universities or metropolitan areas throughout the world.

8. Any special ministry focus?
Generally, our priority has been on reaching the youth. Historically, GCA began as a movement on college campuses in order to reach the next generation. GCM, GCA's international mission organization, provides support for all U.s. campus ministry efforts. GCM directs all U.S. campus ministry efforts. As we've grown as a movement of churches, we've planted more and more churches in U.S. communities to the point that today most of GCA's members are in community churches. As part of this community ministry a major focus has been on high schools. Finally, because of our emphasis on reaching the whole world with the gospel, we are increasingly putting more emphasis on international ministry through GCM, which also coordinates all overseas ministry.

9. What are your values?
As an association of churches, we have always cherished the Great Commission and it remains our focus today. From that common mandate, our other core values have developed, including a strong emphasis on the grace of God, reaching youth, church-based leadership development, strong families, and a devotion to God and His Word. See our Core Values for a more complete listing and explanation of the values that shape our association.