How to Start a CDF

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1. What is a Christian Dance Fellowship (CDF)?

• CDF is a network. A Christian Dance Fellowship is a community of people who want to bless, encourage and support one another by the use of dance and creative movement arts in the full expression of Christian faith and in the life of the Church ie. the worldwide body of Christ.
• CDF draws people from different backgrounds. A Christian Dance Fellowship draws people together from different backgrounds of dance style and denominational affiliation with a unified vision to advance the role of dance in all aspects of Christian life. Learning to cope with differences is an important part of being involved in a Christian Dance Fellowship. It means that we actively seek and encourage participation from all areas of the body of believers who follow Jesus and identify with our aims.
• CDF is Christ centered. A Christian Dance Fellowship is Christ centered. We trust our inspiration to come from the mind of Christ and, through our ministry, we aim to bring glory and honour to God, not to our own individual names or that of CDF.
• CDF is Spirit filled and Church blessing. A Christian Dance Fellowship encourages the full expression and use of the whole range of spiritual gifts to bless the worldwide Church. We acknowledge that gifts are given freely, to be shared freely, and should be used in a responsible and mature way.
• CDF is a proper organisation. A Christian Dance Fellowship has an organisational structure within a country that is relevant to the following broad aims:

• (a)The organisation should cover or be able to cover the whole of the country
• (b)The organisation should encourage membership from as wide a base as possible and should deliberately include people from more than one individual church, denomination, city or region.
• (c)The organisation should be capable of running independently of any particular individuals, free of personal prejudice, and should be governed by a set of rules or procedures (normally a constitution) which describes the structure of the organisation and how it is run (including such things as administration, committees, elections, finances, membership lists etc)
• (d)The organisation should find a balance in the structure which keeps minimal control through a caring oversight structure but encourages maximum involvement and support for members at the local level - churches, districts, cities etc.

2. What is the International Christian Dance Fellowship (ICDF)?

• ICDF is a network The International Christian Dance Fellowship or "ICDF" is the linking entity for all the Christian Dance Fellowships around the world. Each Christian Dance Fellowship or "CDF" that has been properly established and properly accredited by ICDF is a full member of ICDF (i.e. a chartered CDF). ICDF is the big network of all the smaller CDF and other Christian Dance related networks. ICDF links CDFs and other ministries and organisations so that we can achieve the aim of encouraging and supporting each other all over the world.
• ICDF helps start new Christian Dance Fellowships Another role of ICDF is to encourage and assist in the formation of new CDFs in countries where none exists. This means that we work with people from such countries who are interested in the aims of CDF to spread news of what is happening in the world of Christian Dance and encourage any vision and action to form a CDF in that country. We appoint Country Representatives and work closely with people throughout the formation process to ensure that Fellowships are set up on a secure and stable basis so that they can gain experience and understanding as they mature into fully chartered CDFs.
• ICDF is NOT a funding organisation ICDF operates with limited funds that are raised mainly by tithes and contributions from member CDFs and from supporter fees and other donations. These funds enable us to print material and maintain other communications within our network. ICDF encourages and supports the formation and running of individual CDFs in many ways, but there are no funds allocated to provide direct financial support to any CDF. Each CDF is encouraged to operate within the framework of its own resources and finance, trusting in god's provision for the work entrusted to this ministry.

3. How do you link in with ICDF?

• If there is no CDF in the country where you live – become an ICDF Friend If you live in a country where there is no CDF and would like to investigate starting one or at least keep in contact with what is happening in the rest of the world of Christian Dance, then you need to register with ICDF Administration, currently in Australia. By registering as an ICDF Friend, we can keep you in touch with world happenings via email, especially any events in counties in your region, and also with any other people from your country who register with us as an ICDF Friend. There is no charge to register as an ICDF Friend.
  
  If you believe that God's timing is right to move towards establishing a CDF in your country and you believe that somehow God wants you to be part of the vision of making this happen, please contact ICDF to discuss this further. Together we can work towards achieving God's will in regard to this.
• If you live in a country that has a CDF – join your CDF If you live in a country where there is a CDF, you are automatically connected with ICDF and all the other CDFs around the world through membership and involvement with your own CDF. Your own CDF will share news from around the world in their newsletters from time to time. Your own CDF will be supporting the work of ICDF as they are able via tithes and other donations.
• Become an ICDF Supporter Both ICDF Friends and members of individual CDFs can choose to specifically encourage the ministry of ICDF by becoming an ICDF Supporter. This can be done by paying a yearly contribution of $AUD20 or $US20 either direct to ICDF Administration in the case of no CDF in your country, or included with the normal membership fees you pay to your CDF. ICDF Supporters also help by praying specifically for needs in the world of Christian Dance. Their fees provide some additional funds to help ICDF in the work of forming new CDFs. Supporters receive copies of ICDF newsletters and other updates.
• How to contact ICDF To become an ICDF Friend or Supporter if there is no CDF in your country, send us the following details:
  
  (1)Your name
  (2)Your address
  (3)Your phone number (and fax number if you have one)
  (4)Your email address
  (5)If you are part of a group, let us know the name of your group and the name of the group's leader
  (6)The name of the church you attend
  (7)If you wish to become a Supporter, please enclose an international bank cheque or your credit card details for an amount of $AUD20 or $US20.
  
  You can contact us by email:
  coord@icdf.com
  
  Or via mail:
  ICDF
  PO Box 943
  Lane Cove 1595 NSW
  Australia
  
  You may also send a fax:
  +61-2-9437 5610

Start a CDF in your country - the 10 Step Plan...