Prospectus
History
The International Society of Deliverance Ministers (ISDM) was established in 2003 as an outgrowth of the Apostolic Roundtable of Deliverance Ministers (ARDM), founded in 2000. ARDM was originally convened, under the leadership of C. Peter Wagner and Doris M. Wagner, with the view of helping recognized deliverance ministers connect with each other, build personal relationships, learn from and encourage one another, and create a structure for accountability.
After a number of annual meetings, it became evident that ARDM was serving a valuable purpose, but that a broader structure was needed. We live in a time when ministries relating to demonic deliverance are rapidly increasing in the USA and in other parts of the world. Because ARDM was designed to build accountability through personal relationships, the size of the group had been limited to 25, and the meetings were conducted in a roundtable format. However, each of the ARDM members was acquainted with other deliverance ministers whom they regarded as peers, but who could not become a part of ARDM because of size limitations.
Consequently, ARDM members agreed to expand the organization from a roundtable to a professional society. The name International Society of Deliverance Ministers (ISDM) was chosen. ISDM is not limited by size, and therefore it is able to serve any number of deliverance ministers who perceive value in associating with peers for the purpose of building mutual integrity.
Structure
ISDM is currently under the leadership and direction of Sylvie Sudduth, president of Righteous Acts Ministries, Inc. McKinney, TX. ISDM is structured as a horizontal apostolic network. The members of the former ARDM constituted the initial ISDM Founders Circle, and others have since been added. It should be understood that a horizontal network (as contrasted to a vertical network) does not provide primary spiritual or apostolic covering to members, although a professional covering is implied. Each ISDM member must have their own recognized primary spiritual accountability structure.
Membership
Nominations for new members come one of two ways. (1) from a current member who knows the person and would recommend him or her for membership, or (2) from an application and interview process by ISDM leadership.
Some may question why this red tape is necessary. We feel that it is extremely important to establish and maintain a high level of integrity in ISDM if membership is to carry the professional accreditation that it implies. This membership protocol is one means of attaining that objective.
Those who receive and accept the invitation to join ISDM will pay an annual fee of $150 per calendar year plus a one-time administrative fee of $35. They will receive a certificate of membership suitable for framing and a pocket ID card, as well as credentials to access online benefits.
Presumably ISDM members will be those who are involved in deliverance ministry on a fairly consistent basis. They should have some visibility, and others in their circles of influence should recognize them as what might be termed specialists in the field. Since dealing with the demonic can open doors for possible misunderstanding, criticism, excesses, or even accusations of malpractice in counseling, it is important to establish standards of integrity and accountability among deliverance ministers. ISDM hopes to help meet that need by holding members responsible, as much as possible, for their activities. In order to do this, it must be understood that the apostolic leadership of ISDM reserves the option of discontinuing membership if, after due process, the need should arise.
All prospective members of ISDM must have read and agreed with this Prospectus.
Annual Meetings
An annual two-day meeting of ISDM is held in the Fall of each year. It is expected that members will attend the annual meeting, although this is not a requirement for ongoing membership. ISDM members are encouraged to attend along with their member spouses. Non-members can attend by paying the ‘Guest’ type registration fee for the meeting. Annual meeting registration fee is determined yearly.
Apostolic Round Table
The members of the ISDM Apostolic Round Table include Doris Wagner, Jean Zehnder, Chris & Karen Hayward, Henry & Tina Malone, Aureole and Tony Piper, Sherill Piscopo, Selwyn & Ann Stevens, Charles & Meg Kraft, Patricia & Peter Roselle, Becca Greenwood, Max and Nancy Van Dyke, Joanna Adams, and Sylvie Sudduth.
Fundamental Positions
ISDM recognizes that responsible deliverance ministers operate across a fairly wide spectrum of beliefs, convictions, techniques, methodologies, points of view, reservations, and opinions. In order to create an environment which ISDM members perceive as safe and comfortable, and in which they can openly relate to peers, it has been deemed advisable to set forth, in writing, a list of ISDM fundamental positions.
By doing this, ISDM in no way is attempting to set itself up as an authoritative guardian of legitimate deliverance truth. ISDM is fully aware that God is using other brothers and sisters in Christ to set captives free who may not agree with these fundamental positions of ISDM. We bless them and pray that God’s power will continue to work through them, even though we recognize that they would not be comfortable as ISDM members. These fundamental positions simply constitute the glue which holds ISDM together.
ISDM agrees that: there are such things as demons; demons are created beings with distinct personalities; demons are active throughout the human population; the ultimate intention of demons is evil; demons are organized under a hierarchy of leaders with Satan as the head; the legal or positional authority of demons has been nullified by Jesus’ blood on the cross; demons have supernatural power to attempt to execute their wicked desires; while demons have been defeated by the cross, they have not been destroyed and they will remain active throughout this present age; demons are vulnerable to confrontation empowered by the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus; Christian believers can be demonized and thus in need of personal deliverance ministry; deliverance can involve a truth encounter, power encounter, allegiance encounter or all three; demons may manifest during deliverance; demons can speak in the vernacular, often through the mouths of their victims; some deliverance may occur through events such as conversion, filling of the Holy Spirit, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper.
Statement of Faith
Since it is essential that the members of ISDM be cemented together by a common set of fundamental beliefs, the following doctrinal statement defines the primary biblical and theological parameters of the organization: The International Society of Deliverance Ministers (ISDM) positions itself in the evangelical theological stream of Protestant Christianity. It adheres to the Apostles’ Creed and to the core doctrines of the Protestant Reformation, namely the ultimate and essential authority of the Scriptures for Christian faith and practice, justification by faith, and the priesthood of all believers. It believes that God is a Trinity of three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, that Jesus was born of a virgin, that He was physically raised from the dead, and that an individual’s personal relationship to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior determines that individual’s eternal destiny in heaven or hell. The fulfillment of Jesus’ great commission to make disciples of all nations is central to the focus of ISDM.
Further Information
For further information, contact us at 866-794-1948 or by email at info@isdmministers.org