MCC Church Planting Initiative Module II Essentials for Church Planting Rev. Elder Arlene Ackerman Lyle Schaller writes: “If you are interested in reaching new people, by far the most effective way to do this is through church planting.” Essentials for Church Planting In this module you will find an overview of the essentials for church planting within the MCC context. This is the second of three modules. This module looks at the key steps in the MCC church planting process. Authorized and Accountable * Church planting is a partnership between the Regional Elder and the Church Planter, and the parent church, if the plant is a parish extension * The Regional Elder offers support, guidance and resources * The Church Planter keeps in regular contact and keeps the Regional Elder informed at every stage of the church plant * Every stage of a church plant must be authorized by the Regional Elder Next Steps The key stages in the first part of the MCC Church Planting process are: * Identify a Church Planter/and or team * Develop an initial funding plan * Carry out a feasibility study * Develop a prayer group to support the plant * Appoint a mentor to support the Church Planter We will now look at each step in more detail A Church Planter and/or team who is/has: * A UFMCC ordained clergy person – called to plant a church: – Who understands the culture of the target community – With deep faith – With a solid support system For more information, please see the “Are You Called?” Teaching module The Funding Plan A church plant must be viable financially, so it is important to know likely sources of income and possible costs from the beginning. Funding may come from several sources – a parent church – sibling churches – the region – the denomination – individuals – a partnership of two or more Planned Expenditures * Pastor’s half time salary based on area cost of living – for at least the first year – Including salary and benefits (i.e. health insurance) – A full time salary will not help the church plant to develop more quickly and will hinder the new church down the road – It creates dependency * Enough for initial advertising, cell phone, business cards, initial meeting space The Feasibility Study * Learn all you can about the church plant locale – Population (growing or declining?) – Demographics (politics, economics, education and race) – Interview local leaders – Is there a need for MCC is this community? For more information, please see the “Feasibility Study” Teaching module Appointing a Mentor * Every new feasibility study and church plant must be authorized prior to beginning by the Regional Elder or designee * At the time of authorization, a church planting mentor must be appointed by the Regional Elder or designee A mentor is an experienced church planter * The Elder or designated person/team will serve as coach – The coach will assist planter through the process and offer encouragement The Prayer Team The Church Planter gathers individuals to form a Prayer Team. * Will commit to pray daily for the church planting effort * Can be both inside and outside of MCC, locally, regionally and internationally Next Steps 2 Once the feasibility study has been completed, and the Regional Elder has authorized the church plant to go forward, the next steps are: * Develop vision, mission, core values * Build a launch team * Establish financial protocols * Develop relationships with sibling churches * Launch regular worship services * Apply to Regional Elder for recognition as a voting MCC Develop Vision, Mission, Core Values * Have a clear vision, mission and core values about the kind of church God is calling you to Plant – this is critical to have in place prior to building the launch team. * What style and type of church do you hope to plant? * Who is God calling you to reach? Be Specific. For more information, please see the “Vision, Mission, Core Values” Teaching module A Commitment to Build a Launch Team A launch team member is someone who is: – seriously interested in seeing an MCC in her or his own community – willing to commit time and talents – willing to financially give Commitment is more than just a name on a list For more information, please see Module III in this series of teaching modules How Many Launch Team Members? “The more people you have in the core group beyond 50 adults, the better your chances are of reaching a significant number of people for Christ.” ~ Aubrey Malphurs, Planting Growing Churches for the 21st Century * Without a solid launch team, it will be harder to grow the church * The minimum number in MCC is at least 35 – For some countries and cultures, this may not be realistic. Your Regional Elder has the responsibility for setting the required number of launch team members to ensure a healthy church plant. It’s not just a number - it is so the new church can thrive, not just survive Initial Funding Protocols * Tithes & Offerings to be collected from the first information meeting * Denominational assessments not paid on grants but on all additional collections * Determination of who holds the money (Parent Church or Headquarters) in consultation with Regional Elder Establish a culture of stewardship from the beginning Develop Sibling Church Relationships * Build a relationship with at least one other MCC in the denomination * The sibling church may offer: – Prayer support – Encouragement – Financial Help A sibling church is an MCC with which the church plant has an informal, supportive relationship Regular Worship Services Worship is often a person’s first experience of MCC. When planting a church, we need to put other things in place before worship starts. Developing the launch team first, building ministry teams and structure will mean that the church is ready to minister to those who come to us through worship. Waiting until the launch team has reached a good size means that we know that we will have a committed, involved congregation in the first worship service! Remember - church planting is about building for the future! We need to take time to build firm foundations. Do not rush to start regular worship services! Recognition as a Voting MCC Do Not Rush This Step! A church plant is a ministry of Metropolitan Community Churches, beginning with the authorization to do the feasibility study. When the appropriate structures are in place and regular worship is authorized by the Regional Elder, then the plant may apply to be recognized as a voting congregation within MCC For more information, please see Module III in this series of teaching modules Church Planting Essential Reading Warren, Rick. The Purpose Driven Church. Zondervan Publishing House 1995. Crumroy, Otto Jr. Church Administration and Finance Manual: Resources for the Local Church. Morehouse Group, 1998. Pollack, David R. Business Management in the Local Church. Moody Publishers, Revised Ed. 1996. Special thanks to Rev. Stephanie Burns and Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston and the Church Planting Education Team for the development of this series of training modules. 1