Church Planting

EM426/EM626
Church planting is increasingly recognised as a key evangelistic strategy and a new generation of church planters is being called to this exciting task.  This unit is designed to give church planters a theological foundation and practical framework for church planting. There will be a particular focus on the personal qualities of the church planter, and in particular the key leadership characteristics that contribute to success.  Models and strategies will be explored, and consideration will be given to cross-cultural church planting.

Assessment is designed to help you integrate your thinking and begin to develop plans for a church plant, demonstrating your grasp of the theory and capacity to apply it.

Key Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course you will be able to:

  • Prepare and present a biblical basis for church planting and the spiritual demands placed upon those involved in church planting ministry;
  • Compare and contrast different methodologies by which church planting can be undertaken in a given cultural context, such that church reproduction is the result;
  • Design a church planting program that is culturally appropriate for a particular context, including the necessary guidelines and rationale for planning, implementation and evaluation.

Indicative Unit Outline

Week

Lecturer

Topic

Week 1

Tim Foster
  • Theology of Church Planting

Week 2

Mark Leach
  • Personal Factors: motivation, spiritual life, personality, call, aptitude, leadership styles, relational skills and philosophies of ministry

Week 3

Guy Mason
  • Personal Factors (Acts 29 selection criteria and process)
  • Leadership styles
  • Selection and Preparation of Teams

Week 4

Mark Leach
  • Models & strategies, their suitability to various contexts, with evaluation of strengths and weaknesses

Week 5

Mark Leach
  • as above

Week 6

Mark Leach
  • Multiplying local churches
  • Developing central/regional church with multiple congregations

Week 7

Mark Leach
  • Acts 29 and other Church Planting Movements

Week 8

Moira Dale
  • Cross-cultural church planting

Week 9

Guy Mason
  • Gathering and interpreting relevant data, defining a people group, measuring receptivity Issues in location for ministry, transport, psycho-socio-cultural factors

Week 10

Guy Mason
  • Initial Contacts
  • Embryonic Stage

Week 11

Guy Mason
  • Maturity

Week 12

Tim Foster
  • Evaluating Church Planting

Workload: One semester, 4 credit points, 39 contact hours plus field trip.
Status: Elective
Prerequisites: 32 Credit points of core foundation units.
When: Semester 1, 2012
Who: Mark Leach, Guy Mason and Tim Foster