{"id":293,"date":"2026-09-20T22:06:16","date_gmt":"2026-09-20T22:06:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ericmichelministries.com\/?page_id=293"},"modified":"2026-09-20T22:06:58","modified_gmt":"2026-09-20T22:06:58","slug":"calling-inclusive-christian-leaders-in-south-africa-join-us-as-an-elder-founding-partner","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ericmichelministries.com\/?page_id=293","title":{"rendered":"Calling Inclusive Christian Leaders in South Africa: Join Us as an Elder-Founding Partner"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/ericmichelministries.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/cropped-emmi2026logo.small_.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-69\" style=\"width:166px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ericmichelministries.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/cropped-emmi2026logo.small_.jpg 512w, https:\/\/ericmichelministries.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/cropped-emmi2026logo.small_-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ericmichelministries.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/cropped-emmi2026logo.small_-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/ericmichelministries.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/cropped-emmi2026logo.small_-270x270.jpg 270w, https:\/\/ericmichelministries.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/cropped-emmi2026logo.small_-192x192.jpg 192w, https:\/\/ericmichelministries.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/cropped-emmi2026logo.small_-180x180.jpg 180w, https:\/\/ericmichelministries.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/cropped-emmi2026logo.small_-64x64.jpg 64w, https:\/\/ericmichelministries.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/cropped-emmi2026logo.small_-32x32.jpg 32w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Eric Michel Ministries International<\/strong><br>222 Smit Street<br>Braamfontein<br>Johannesburg<br>2000<br>South Africa<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Eric Michel Ministries International<\/strong> is expanding into South Africa, and we are seeking four mature, dedicated <strong>Elder-Founding Partners<\/strong> to help plant our sacramental, Independent Catholic movement in Johannesburg and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We are an autocephalous, inclusive movement grounded in the Catholic Tradition and affirming the Apostles&#8217; and Nicene Creeds. We fully embrace the ordination of women, affirm the LGBTQ+ community, and welcome those who have experienced divorce or exclusion from mainstream liturgical churches due to gender, sexuality, race, or theology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Role Overview<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As an <strong>Elder-Founding Partner<\/strong>, you will serve as a fiduciary founding member and spiritual leader under the Archbishop&#8217;s direction, playing a central role in governing, shepherding, and growing the local congregation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Position Status:<\/strong> Full-Time<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Location:<\/strong> Johannesburg, South Africa <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Governance:<\/strong> Voluntary Association (Common-Law Constitution)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reports To:<\/strong> The Archbishop<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Key Requirements &amp; Investment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Community Grounding:<\/strong> You must have at least <strong>20 supportive followers<\/strong> to ensure active engagement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Documentation:<\/strong> A certified copy of your South African ID (must be independent office-bearers not closely related to other founders).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Financial Contribution:<\/strong> Elders contribute to the operational startup capital. A full launch budget is estimated at R20,000 (divided into 5 equal shares of R3,992.66 \/ ~$346 CAD per partner). <em>Note: Security deposits for leases\/equipment are held separately in trust as collateral and do not count as capital contributions.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Spiritual Commitment:<\/strong> Active Christian walk, commitment to the teachings of Jesus Christ, and demonstrated leadership skills in past congregational life.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because a security deposit is a separate amount held in trust\/escrow as performance collateral rather than a partner capital contribution, its exact cost depends entirely on the commercial terms you negotiate with landlords and equipment suppliers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Typical Security Deposit Estimates in South Africa (ZAR)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Venue Rental Deposit:<\/strong> Landlords typically require <strong>1 to 2 months&#8217; rent<\/strong> upfront as a refundable deposit. For a modest community hall or venue in Johannesburg, the cost usually ranges from <strong>R2,000 to R10,000<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>AV \/ Equipment Rental Deposit:<\/strong> Rental companies generally charge a flat, refundable damage deposit ranging from&nbsp;R1,000 to<strong> R3,000<\/strong> (or a small percentage of the total equipment replacement value).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Estimated Total Range:<\/strong> Expect to hold approximately <strong>R3,000 to R13,000<\/strong> in trust or escrow to cover venue and equipment security deposits.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because this money serves as collateral for damages or a default, it remains the property of the ministry or its partners until it is returned at the end of the partnership contract, provided all contract terms are fulfilled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Core Responsibilities<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pastoral &amp; Shepherding:<\/strong> Oversee an assigned &#8220;flock&#8221; of members, offer spiritual support, visit the homebound with communion, and monitor congregational care.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sacramental Leadership:<\/strong> Prepare communion meditations, offer prayers, preside at the communion table as congregation representative, and assist or lead services in the Pastor\u2019s absence.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Governance &amp; Education:<\/strong> Attend monthly Elders&#8217; meetings, participate in retreats\/workshops, lead Christian education classes, and counsel leadership on spiritual growth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How to Apply<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have been searching for an inclusive, sacramental home where you can serve the poorest of the poor and lead a vibrant community, we want to hear from you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udce9 <strong>Contact Us:<\/strong> Reach out via direct message at <a href=\"mailto:emmi@ericmichelministries.org\">emmi@ericmichelministries.org<\/a> or <a href=\"mailto:african.harvestime@gmail.com\">african.harvestime@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Eric Michel Ministries International222 Smit StreetBraamfonteinJohannesburg2000South Africa Eric Michel Ministries International is expanding into South Africa, and we are seeking four mature, dedicated Elder-Founding Partners to help plant our sacramental, Independent Catholic movement in Johannesburg and beyond. We are an &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/ericmichelministries.com\/?page_id=293\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-293","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ericmichelministries.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/293","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ericmichelministries.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ericmichelministries.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ericmichelministries.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ericmichelministries.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=293"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ericmichelministries.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/293\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":295,"href":"https:\/\/ericmichelministries.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/293\/revisions\/295"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ericmichelministries.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=293"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}