A Plan for New Church Development 2000-2010 Summary

Introduction
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church began as a frontier movement. Now, embracing the challenges of a new frontier in a new decade, the Church has adopted the priority goal of 75 new congregations. The Board of Missions, with input from other denominational agencies, presbyteries and church leaders, has developed a plan to address the priority goal of New Church Development. It is intended to be a plan that can encompass a variety of approaches and circumstances.

Theological Rationale
In each generation the church is called to declare afresh the grace of God in Christ. The church develops new churches as a way of reaching rising generations with the gospel. Our Confession of Faith affirms that the church does not exist for itself alone, but to reach out to those who have not experienced God's grace in Christ. Church planting is regarded as the most effective evangelistic methodology today, as it was in the time of the apostles. New Church Development is not fundamentally a human enterprise but a response to the divine initiative.

Part of A Movement: Three Priority Goals
The Church regards this endeavor as the beginning of a movement, not simply a decadal emphasis. Two other priority goals were adopted along with the NCD goal: the revitalization of congregations and presbyteries, and the recruitment and development of clergy and lay leaders. These three priority goals require the full commitment of the whole Church.

USA and Beyond
The General Assembly's priority goal foresees new church efforts in the USA, in Anglo and Non-Anglo settings, and in other nations. The plan anticipates 36 new USA Anglo churches and 14 Non-Anglo starts in the USA. Twenty-five new congregations are envisioned outside the USA. New congregations will strengthen the denomination, and should become sponsors of new churches later.

Cross-Culture Ministry
The plan includes a challenge to take greater initiative in reaching across cultural and racial barriers to plan new churches in the USA. Our "whosoever will" doctrine in a connectional system can offer a spiritual home to recent immigrants to the US, as well as other long-established ethnic groups in American society. Fruits of our initial efforts in cross-culture church planting are evident already. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church is a global denomination, enriched by many cultures. Development of congregations reflecting the dominant culture is also essential to the plan's success.

Sponsoring Partners
All levels of the Church will take an active role in the NCD plan — congregations, presbyteries, and denominational agencies. Since presbytery is responsible to establish churches, new congregations should fit into a presbytery's overall plan for growth and development. Presbyteries, working with local congregations, are encouraged to initiate 19 new churches. Fifty-six of the plan's 75 churches will be developed in partnership with the General Assembly Board of Missions. In these projects, the Board provides direct supervision and will supply financial support for program subsidy as well as building grants. The plan intends to avoid lengthy subsidy by providing major outside support in the first three years. The decade will begin with a modest number of church starts, but momentum will build. A suggested schedule for the new church starts is offered in the plan.

Strategies for the Decadal Goal
The mission that motivates the goal is to reach persons for Christ and the church through developing new congregations. Because communities and target constituencies are different, each project will be unique.

"Guidelines for New Church Development" were adopted by the 1978 General Assembly. Additional NCD "models" are presented in this plan, but the principles remain. Potential target communities will be selected based on professional surveys, feasibility and demographic studies. A Preliminary Mission Design sets for the goals of this project. The NCD plan assumes a variety of new church models. Population growth is a primary indicator of the new for new churches. Attention will be given to those regions where there is no Cumberland Presbyterian presence, as well as in areas where existing churches can be supportive. A new church start is desirable in every presbytery, and perhaps multiple NCD efforts in some.

Clergy Leaders for Church Planting
Effective pastoral leadership is the key to church planting. The Church is challenged to sound the call to the gospel ministry, and church planting in particular. The Board of Missions will network with others to identify ministers with the skills and desire to organize Cumberland Presbyterian congregations. Apart from a sense of calling, full commitment to Christ and the church, and special preparation for the work of church planting, several personal characteristics are desirable in leaders. The Board of Missions needs one or two especially gifted ministers to work as "home missionaries" in regions where there are no Cumberland Presbyterian churches. Constitutional interpretations and amendments are being considered to facilitate indigenous ministry in ethnic communities. Training of, and support for church planters is a vital part of the plan.

Funding for the NCD Plan
New church development is expensive, but so is the cost of not doing it. A ballpark figure for the decadal plan is approximately $7.5 million over the eleven-year period. Funding sources include Our United Outreach, Board of Missions NCD reserves, Second Mile projects, Builders Fellowship, and a Church-wide capital campaign. Builders Fellowship generates financial support for new church building programs. The potential for this program makes the priority goal seem even more "do-able".

Conclusion
If the goal for New Church Development is accepted as a true priority for the whole Church, we can approach the new frontier of the 21st century with the zeal our founders had in 1810

Outline of Preliminary Mission Design

1. Identification Facts
2. Background Information on the Project
3. Summary of Long-Range Goals
4. Expectations of Congregation's Style of Ministry
5. Expectations of Church Planter's Ministry Style and Qualifications
6. Supervision and Evaluation of the Project
7. Action Plan with Specific Membership and Financial Goals

Several NCD Models

• One Full-Time Church Planter
• Team Ministry
• Parent Church
• Cross-Culture Ministry
• "Home Missionary"
• Small Group
• Larger Church
• Multi-Site
• Adoption
• Service Ministry
• Apartment Complex/Trailer Park
• Lay Leader or Tentmaker
• Satellite

Characteristics of Effective Church Planters

• Proven evangelism skills and commitment to church growth
• Excellent preacher, communicator and worship leader
• Self-starter who can deal with frustration, self-disciplined in work habits
• Initiator, organizer; adventurous but not fool-hardy
• Pastor with a transparent love for people, friendly and warm with others
• Culturally matched with the target community and active in community life
• Support of spouse, if married
• Vision-casting, vision-sharing
• Leadership skills that recognize and use the gifts of others
• Faith that will not let go
• Commitment to the denomination
• Cooperative spirit, working well under supervision
• Healthy self-esteem and personal motivation
• Flexible, capable of "making do", resourceful
• Multi-gifted/talented
• Persistent, pragmatic and patient
• Open to new approaches
• Solid management of personal affairs
• Relationship builder
• Commitment to and passion for developing a mission-centered congregation
• Personal prayer life and devotional discipline
• Emotional stability with a positive outlook
• Can function as a "rancher" not just a "shepherd"
• Develops a personal and professional support system
• Works with goals and objectives
• Leadership development skills
• Sensitivity to multi-cultural issues

Date Last Updated: November 2, 2005