in a plurality of local (male) elders (though generally one of the elders takes a leading or senior role), often with multiple staff. Theology Complementarianism All Newfrontiers churches hold to a complementarian position on gender similar to that promoted by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. This means that women are not elders or apostolic ministers. However, women are leaders – and in many churches actively preach, teach and are a part of decision making affecting local, regional and national church decisions. Women also hold positions in almost every other area in the church and are encouraged to do so. Homosexuality Newfrontiers do not believe that being gay is a sin, but that sexual acts of homosexuality are not okay. It strongly condemns homophobia. However, views differ from church to church. There have been claims that at least one Newfrontiers church has attempted to "cure" gay people, though these have been strongly disputed. Spiritual strongholds A book by prominent Newfrontiers leader David Devenish on "spiritual warfare", praised by Terry Virgo as a text that "will help to fortify every believer intent on winning this battle", defines spiritual warfare as Responses Nigel Wright believes that Newfrontiers and other British restorationists are claiming too much when they speak of "restoring the church". In 1986, sociologist and church historian Andrew Walker wrote of Newfrontiers that "churches are far more centralised and controlled than those of… mainline charismatic fellowships… The situation seems slightly analogous to Japanese business practices: they… export with great success, but import virtually nothing from anybody else". In April 2009, the Journal of Beliefs and Values published an article reporting on a 2007 study which "set out to examine the psychological type profile of Lead Elders within the Newfrontiers network of churches in the United Kingdom and to compare this profile with the established profile of clergymen in the Church of England". One of the conclusions: In February 2016, musician Joseph Coward wrote an article for Vice Magazine, in which he described a now disbanded Newfrontiers church. He claimed that it had "all the hallmarks of a cult". References Further reading . . . . . External links Apostolic networks Evangelicalism in the United Kingdom British New Church Movement Christian organizations established in 1979