first name and function, for example, "Paul, an apostle", but never "Apostle Paul". Members of the apostolic team often refrain from describing themselves with any label at all, instead allowing local churches to "define the gifting as they perceive it". Local churches are not allowed to use the acronym NCMI or its full definition in the name of the church. Formally, churches do not say they are "NCMI churches", rather they "partner with NCMI". Appointing elders NCMI encourages local church elders to follow a specific process for selecting new elders. The elders of the local church identify one or more men (women are not eligible) who meet the various scriptural requirements (for example: , and ) and according to Pole, "have a proven track record of attending church meetings regularly, providing financial support..., exhibiting spiritual gifts and the fruit of the Holy Spirit... and supporting existing church leadership". The local church invites a member of the NCMI team to review and ultimately appoint or ordain the candidate(s), on the basis that only apostles may appoint or ordain elders (based on ). The local congregation is given an opportunity to express concerns. Elders, including elders who preach, are not expected to have formal theological or professional training, but may be encouraged to pursue it. NCMI team members also may be "based" in a local church but their function in the NCMI team is not supposed to make them superior to other elders nor does it mandate they fill the role of the "lead" elder. Manley writes that in some cases "when a lead elder leaves a church, [NCMI] will send a new lead elder and expect the existing eldership... to stand down...." According to Manley, through their influence over appointing elders, replacing lead elders and monitoring church finances, the NCMI team effectively exerts hierarchical control over local churches similar to denominations. Criticism of leadership model Third parties and ex-members of NCMI have specifically criticized NCMI's distinctive church leadership model. Allan Anderson, professor of Mission and Pentecostal Studies, remarked that NCMI churches are "highly patriarchal in leadership; leaders tend to make unilateral decisions based on the 'leading of the [Holy] Spirit'." Chris Wienand, former NCMI team member, wrote in 2009 of his NCMI experiences, "the recent years saw us preoccupied with an ecclesiology that was 'over realized'.... We preached 'model', 'pattern' passionately. But our God is gracious, kind and infinitely generous. He