The Seven Characteristics Are

* The members of the church are learning to live by the life of Jesus Christ together and are expressing that life in tangible ways. The church’s mission is Jesus. To know Him, grow in Him, and display Him. The members are seeking to learn how to live by Christ who indwells them.

* The members are pursuing Jesus in their life together and sharing Him in their gatherings and community life. This is in contrast to most churches today, which pursue Bible knowledge, evangelism, certain doctrines, making disciples, or making the world a better place. The life of an organic church toward the lost flows out of their life together with Christ.

* There is no clergy/laity divide. Every member functions and participates. All have different ministries and roles, and all contribute in the ministry and decision-making.

* Jesus is the head in a real discernable way. A pastor isn’t the head of a true organic church. Nor is a board of elders the head. A church under the headship of Christ seeks Him together for their decision making, and receives from those who are more mature in Christ. Both things happen in true organic churches.

* The church has been founded on Christ, not a certain theological system, a set of practices, a method, or a human personality. While God uses people to root the church in a real on-going relationship with Jesus, such people point to Jesus rather than to themselves.

* The church is not a once-a-week meeting. The members of an organic church meet often. They live as a face-to face community. They are like family. Close-knit with interwoven lives.

* The church stands for and seeks to fulfill God’s eternal purpose. They don’t meet for a special interest such as evangelism, discipleship, social justice, spiritual gifts, church multiplication, but for God’s ultimate intention which may include yet transcends all of these things.