Multiplication Field Guide when Hiring a Planter

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Information taken from Multiplication Moves: A Field Guide for Churches Planting Churches by Ben Ingebretson (Faith Alive, 2013). Chapter numbers refer to this book.

 

First phase: Prepare

Step 1: Map your starting point (Chapter 1)

• Gauge the congregation’s commitment level.
• Build trust as a foundation to action.
• Seek God’s will with an eye toward where God is already moving.

Step 2: Make the case to parent (Chapter 2)

• Discover the biblical, demographic, strategic, and pragmatic reasons to parent.
• Develop a case and prepare a winsome presentation.

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Second phase: Engage

Step 1: Build a lead team and engage the congregation (Chapter 3)

• Define the purpose of the team.
• Recruit a lead team of qualified people.
• Develop team trust.
• Orient the team to the parenting process.
• Engage the congregation in the vision for parenting.
• Engage the conference director of new church development for partnership resources.

Step 2: Navigate hidden forces (Chapter 4)

• Address the parenting congregation’s fears.
• Identify the congregation’s existing values and develop parenting values.
• Address resistance to change.
• Develop prayer energy and strategy.
• Use “force field analysis” to gain perspective.

 Step 3: Build a sustainable funding plan (Chapter 5)

• Develop a preliminary funding plan that will bring the plant to sustainability in three to four years.
• Develop a preliminary budget and define revenue sources.
• Discern your approach to risk management.
• Set the planter up for funding success.

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Third phase: Establish

Step 1: Discern planting opportunity (Chapter 6)

• Determine general need in your community.
• Discern your congregation’s capacity for “cultural reach.”
• Leverage tools to discern best potential target group.
• Make room for planter input and Spirit leading.

Step 2: Select a parenting model (Chapter 7)

• Consider a range of parenting options.
• Select a model based on integrating principles.
• Seek confirmation of parenting model through prayer.

Step 3: Call a lead planter (Chapter 8)

• Build a planter profile based on potential target group.
• Determine potential candidates’ accountability to Minnesota Annual Conference, basic pastoral skills, environmental risk, and financial and marital health.
• Check references.
• Arrange for an expert assessment of the chosen candidate, and employ other assessment tools.
• Confirm vision alignment of planter and parenting church.

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Fourth phase: Release

Step 1: Release the planting team (Chapter 9)

• Release the planter for full-time planting work.
• Release members from the congregation to the plant through the selection process.
• Release a wide range of resources to the plant.

Step 2: Support the planter (Chapter 9)

• Understand and participate in the governing team.
• Provide for planter coaching.
• Develop planter/parent covenant.

Step 3: Allow the parent church to recover (Chapter 9)

• Accelerate the parenting church’s health with Natural Church Development checkup (available through the Office of Congregational Development).
• Address leadership development with mentoring.
• Take time for recovery of attendance, finances, and emotions.
• Celebrate successes and understand setbacks.
• Capture learning from parenting experience for next plant.