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Tools To Develop Vital Churches
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Church Planting, What Have We Learned?
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If you want to grow something to last a season -
plant flowers.
If you want to grow something to last a lifetime -
plant trees.
If you want to grow something to last through eternity -
plant churches.
-Anonymous
An experienced group of Congregational Development leaders recently gathered to discuss what we have learned about planting new churches. The result of their work is found in the following pages. Participants included:
Kirk Hadaway, researcher and author; United Church of Christ staff
Sheila Ferguson Diocese of Chicago; Congregational Development
George Martin, church planter and interim minister
John McCann, Diocese of West Missouri; Archdeacon
Victoria Heard, Diocese of Virginia; Missioner for Church Planting
Jenny Vervynck, Diocese of San Diego; Development and Nurturer of Ministries
Charles Fulton, Director of Congregational Development and Episcopal Church Building Fund President
Ben Helmer, Congregational Development Staff
The purpose of entering into church planting is driven by the Great Commission and a passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ that invites people into a relationship with Jesus Christ and others who know him.
What is your purpose in planting churches? Here is a mixed bag of examples:
• We'll start a church that will never have any conflicts
• We have ten families that we can't stand who we think should be missionaries
• Keeping up with the diocese of ___________
• Way to increase income base from assessment
• Bishop is retiring and needs a legacy
• Jesus told us to
• Presiding Bishop says it's a good idea
• It's the hot thing to do
• Existing churches have left us a lot of work to do
• We have someone who needs something easy to do
• Feel driven by the Great Commission to go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ
• We care more about people who don't know Jesus than ourselves
• Knowing Jesus makes people happy
• People need a faith community
• Following Jesus who is out there
• Living the Baptismal Covenant
• Finding the living Christ in the world in the other, the stranger
• A church to include our children and our children's children
• The full Sacramental expression of the Gospel is worth sharing with the world
• The National Church can't do it
• That's what a Diocese does when its leadership lives with an Apostolic vision
• Because research shows more people are brought to Christ through new churches than any other strategy
• Single greatest changes in the Church have occurred through church planting movements
• Best way to be in a transformed community is to bring others into transformation
New Church Development: A Research Report
Document Description: Research report prepared by C. Kirk Hadaway, Office of Research, Episcopal Church Center, and Penny Marler, Samford University.
The Episcopal Church, through the Office of Congregational Development, participated with other mainline Protestant denominations in a watershed study of new church development. Congregations that were founded between the years of 1980 and 1996 were surveyed to determine the state of new church development and the commonalties of successful new starts. The Lilly Foundation and the participating denominations funded the study.
The goal of the study was to learn the characteristics and growth patterns of new congregations, characteristics of their leaders, and what it takes to successfully plant a new church. Questionnaires were sent to the founding clergy, the current clergy, and five lay leaders who were knowledgeable about the founding of the new congregation. 'Success' was defined as a congregation that grew large enough to achieve self-sufficiency within seven years. An average Sunday attendance of 250 or more was determined by the ecumenical partners to be the benchmark for determining successful self-sufficiency.
The first important result of the survey was learning that the Episcopal Church had very limited records about our new churches. In the future Parochial Reports will track new churches.
The founding clergy of the new churches that had reached an average attendance of 250 or more have been invited to participate in ecumenical focus groups with other successful new church developers to deepen the understanding of what it takes to grow a new congregation.
You can view the full survey results on line or in print by downloading the report in Acrobat at the bottom of this page or ordering the report "New Church Development: A Research Report" through Episcopal Parish Services at 1-800-903-5544 (38 pp., $10.00). The print version provides color graphs and charts.
Some of what we learned about New Church Development in the Episcopal Church:
During the 16-year period between 1980 and 1996 the Episcopal Church planted 337 new churches nationwide. 14 of those congregations reached an average Sunday attendance of 250 or more by their 7th year.
The strongest correlate of new church success was the initial size of the congregation. Congregations that had 75+ in worship attendance at the outset (by the third month) grew to be the largest and strongest. Those that began with few than 40 remained small.
Researching the demographics to inform site selection increased the likelihood of success. Knowing the community demographics did not ensure success, but unorganized placement almost assured failure.
Clergy who continue their focus on those not yet members grow larger congregations than those whose focus turns inward toward institutional and programmatic maintenance.
The new starts that are now the largest and strongest reported that they had a strategy and systematic effort to track visitors and prospects.
Founding clergy driven by a clear purpose, not a need to please people, grew larger congregations.
A common vision shared by the clergy and membership was a key correlate for the largest and strongest congregations.
Trained lay leaders made a difference. The most successful new congregations had lay leaders with some intentional training and experience in practical evangelism, outreach development, and conflict resolution.
Clergy that are the best at starting groups 'from scratch' grew the largest congregations.
The greatest number of large and strong congregations had young founding clergy (age 24-35).
An informal finding, not documented in the survey, was that a number of founding clergy left the Episcopal Church after the work of starting a new congregation.
Why plant new churches?
We know from research that it is much easier for people to join a new church plant than it is to become a member of an existing congregation. We also know from research there is an enormous number of people who don't know Christ. Up to 40 % of the American population remains unchurched. And we know from Scripture that every human being matters greatly to God. God calls us through Christ to go and find the ones we can reach and walk with them long enough so they can introduce Christ to others. We also know that in fishing, the initiative is with the fisherman, not the fish!
The Planting Process
Planting a new church is a process the leads to a new church start. From our experience here is what a church plant process looks like.
Stage I.
Planning and Sending Missioner (9 months to 1 year)
Dynamic: Diocese explores potential, identifies site, model and begins to search for planter.
Staff and committee responsibility is assigned
Demographic study is done before site selection
Process for planter selection is underway
Identify missioner and planting team
Identify region (location) and available resources
Kind of plant(s) chosen (see "models")
Adjacent congregations are consulted
Resources identified
Gathering strategies identified
General site selection is made
Interference and resistance dealt with
Theological clarity (vision)
Difficulty of ecumenical plants considered
Make heroes of planters
Stage II.
Gathering, Reaching People for Christ (1-2 years)
Dynamic: Community formation begins and 1st public worship service
Site has adequate demographics to support vision and model
Other Christian communities identified
Gathering strategies decided
Recruiting planter with training
Identify potential worship sites
Coaching contracted
Recruitment, small groups and "taste and see" publicity
Team development (shared leadership training)
Vision and values articulated congruent with demographics and planter.
Missionary context "gotta love 'em where they are"
Benchmarks articulated in call letter with exit strategy for shutdown
Identification of investors, prayer support
Financial plan (see sample)
Stage III.
Forming a Faith Community to Reach People for Christ (Year 1-3)
Dynamic: Regular services. Small groups are formed
Benchmarks determined for size at start predict future size
If attendance 1 yr. after 1st service falls to 40-60(in dense areas) plan to implement exit strategy
Attendance and resources: more is better-even more is better
Beware of plateaus
Count people and money
Identity is in energy more than organization
1-5 years fluid with minimal structure
Large size does not necessarily equal mature community
Basic safety and consistency provided with anxiety avoided
Continuation of gathering strategies (tracking visitors and prospects) is primary
Spiritual gifts identification continues
Provisions for staff (music and programmatic/secretarial)
Tenure of planter critical and transitions carefully done
Lay leadership and ministry is being developed
Equipping people for varieties of ministries continues
Patterns of outreach are the norm
Love of chairs and trailers (set up and storage important) making lemonade from lemons
Find ways to make nice easy and easy nice to avoid burnout
Clear sense of music that will be excellent in community's view and missionary in strategy
Start stewardship education in the community
Intentional leadership training and delegation
Equipping and nurturing people for ministries continues
Act larger than your average attendance
Stage IV.
Church is given Canonical Status (about year 3)
Dynamic: Structures begin to emerge to support the mission and ministry.
Formation and growth continue
Multi-cell (small groups) approach developed whenever possible from the beginning
On-going collegial support, especially for planter and leaders provided by diocese
Be prepared for revolt of some lay leader(s) in first 3 years
Evaluation and re-negotiation of vision and core values based on new data
Leadership and delegation continue in balance
Stage V.
Permanent Building if appropriate (Year 4-5)
Dynamic: Building facilities does not usually occur until year 4-5 to avoid
building too small or creating an ethos too early
A permanent building is appropriate when
Congregation is mature. Larger the congregation, the more mature the membership, the sooner to think about building.
But renting of "permanent" space may be more reasonable than debt service on a mortgage payment.
New Church Planting Models
Below are 8 models of Church Plants identified by church planters in the Episcopal Church. Each has specific strengths and challenges (+ or -) depending on the demographics and vision and resources available.
1. Apostolic Start Description: Cold start with little or no preparation characterized by a "parachute" drop where planter is told to go there and start with few resources.
+ Total exposure of the planter to the community
+ Passion driven
+ High risk/high potential gain in terms of new Christians
+ Requires accurate assessment of planter
- Takes time and money, more than most willing to give
- Absolutely leadership dependent, may result in "lone ranger" ministry
- Burnout highly possible
- Missioner can be disconnected from diocese
2. Mother/Daughter Start Description: Church begins out of existing parish with a parish staff priest, who goes with other leaders from the existing church. Gospel/mission based.
+ Lessens competition
+ Finances are better
+ Planter goes with leaders (team)
+ Better knowledge of local community
- Less flexibility; new church strong tendency to becoming like the mother
- Apron string phenomenon
- Diocese may have limited input into critical mission decisions
3. Apprentice Description: Diocese calls inexperienced person to (existing) new church plant as apprentice to learn how to plant a new church after 12-18 months' apprenticeship in existing new church plant.
+Existing church is teacher, but not (necessarily) resource
+Existing church is a formation place for apprentice
+ Church connected to larger church from start up
+ Diocese finances apprenticeship and partners with host congregation
- Need a church plant that can provide formation
- Training church may provide problems
- Apprentice may love/hate training situation
4. Diocesan (or Deanery) Start Description: launch team formed by various members of area churches. Vision already established.
+ Money comes from the region
+ Wide area of natural political support, will and permission
+ Healthy transition from regional to local
+ Attractive to outside supporters
+ New start feels connected to the larger church
- Competing visions of launch team
- Who is responsible? People make decision but they will not necessarily experience consequences
- Competing oversight and lines of accountability
- No clear chain of command
5. Hosting church with cross-cultural new congregation. Description: "Side door" ministry.
+ Easy to start with leadership in place, lower cost
+ Already have land and buildings
+ Compliments existing congregation with diversity
+ Resources can generate financial responsibility
- Minority group becomes second class
- Revenue source mistaken for "mission"
+/- Minority group becomes leading and largest group
6. Self Start Description: group meets in living room
+ High value lay leadership
+ Very resilient
+ Low cost
+ Needs training and support to grow
- Never outgrows the living room
- Bound by organizational idea
- Denominationally focused
- Ordained leadership difficult to provide
- Often founded over against existing church, vulnerable to authority issues
+/- Counteract diocesan strategy
7. Satellite Launch Description: Downtown church starts number of churches with identical opportunities. Historical example is Trinity Church, Wall Street or Ponte Verde, FL.
+ Satellites can become their own identity
+ Can use temporary space for short term needs
- Exiting from area of economic decline or escaping cultural transition
- Could conflict with diocesan strategy
- Duplication of costs and overhead
8. Ecumenical plant Description: two or more denominations start together
+ Resources, financial and administrative, shared
+ Model for rural church planting
+ Models unity of the church
+ Could develop starter space and community building
+ Possible appeal to folks who aren't brand loyal
+ Works well in resort or vacation locations
- Energy to keep group together is demanding
- Loss of denominational identity
- Who's responsible?
- Competing oversight and lines of accountability
- No clear chain of command
How To Kill Your Church Plant
• Don't waste time assessing for character in choosing church planters.
• Fail to remind planters to major in the majors.
• Pressure the planter to start too soon.
• Start without a rehearsed committed team that doesn't know one another, who aren't prepared to welcome others nor do any task together. Relationships and trust are not present.
• Forget your (Episcopal) tribe - people see something from another non-Episcopal venue and try to implant it into the local scene. This can stop future church planting in the diocese as well.
• Planter preferring publicity to doing personal recruiting.
• Forget that Evangelism is always based in relationships.
• Leave land selection worry to the planter. Spend too much time chasing land rather than developing the community. (Putting money into program and staff in early years to develop the community can delay this drive for land.)
• Make them do everything this week.
• Determine type of church being planted without checking out reality of vision to demographics and vision of God.
• Allow planter be too busy for church councils and collegiality; and fail to check out with area clergy to gain support.
• Allow planter to stay a one-person band.
• Bend the vision to please others: Don't stand up for and by your planter.
• Act as if Christendom is still where the culture is.
• No planning or comprehensive vision by bishop or diocese.
• Under-fund the strategy and don't appreciate financial realities.
• Under-staff the plan.
• Call a planter not gifted to plant.
• No one responsible in particular (or make the bishop have full responsibility).
• Think church planting is simple and a no-brainer.
• Hold unrealistic, unstated or conflicting expectations of what this Episcopal Church will look like.
• Allow that planter doesn't have to live in the community.
• Do it cheap or free. (It will cost more later.)
• Locate a new plant in a low visible site because of cheap land.
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For more information:
Tools To Develop Vital Churches
523 Shane Circle
Winter Springs, FL 32708 US
Email: editor@ToolsToDevelopVitalChurches.com
(407)423-3567
Fax: (407)872-0006
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