Associate ministers are not associate pastors or assistant pastors. They are ministers who affiliate (or associate) with our church's ministry and are considered members (upon normal application and completion of new member orientation) with all of the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of other members within the church.
In that they are clearly a "special" classification of member, they are accountable directly to the pastor (senior minister) and will receive all assignments, directions, opportunities for service and ministerial guidance from the pastor. They should never arrogate unto themselves any authority or audacity for leading, directing, teaching, assigning, creating, initiating, assuming, inviting, committing, obligating, manipulating, or alienating any person(s), group, ministry fellowship (or part thereof), within this church (or any church for that matter) without the specific direction and blessing of the pastor.