Church
Planting
Residence
Job
Description
Sovereign
Grace
Ministries
Goal
To
prepare
the
resident
to
plant
a
church.
A
Church
Planting
Residence
is
awarded
to
candidates
who
display
a
desire
and
capacity
for
church
planting,
and
are
carried
out
at
a
church
where
a
member
of
the
leadership
team
or
regional
leadership
team
resides
or
a
church
approved
by
the
Director
of
Church
Planting.
The
resident
will
spend
eight
to
twenty-four
months
mentored
by,
observing,
and
working
with
the
pastors
and
ministries
of
the
hosting
church.
Strategy
A
successful
residence
is
accomplished
through
Sovereign
Grace
Ministries
partnering
with
a
local
church
to
evaluate,
train,
and
prepare
the
prospective
church
planter.
To
embrace
the
dynamics
of
this
partnership,
the
residence
is
structured
in
three
parts.
1. Relationships
The
primary
context
in
which
evaluation
and
guidance
occur.
2. Training
Those
opportunities
provided
the
resident
to
observe
and
participate
in
local
church
ministries
that
most
strategically
train
him
for
church
planting
and
pastoral
ministry.
3. Preparation
Those
endeavors
the
resident
fulfills
to
prepare
for
a
church
plant.
The
residence
is
designed
to
evaluate
three
areas
of
the
residents
life,
with
an
emphasis
placed
on
his
capabilities.
1. Character
and
spirituality
2. Conduct
in
the
home
3. Capabilities,
especially:
a. Preaching
b. Leadership
c. Care
d. Evangelism
An
effective
church
planter
displays
excellence
in
all
three
areas.
[Link] 1. MentoringPastor:TheSeniorPastorofthehostingchurch,willeitherbetheresidents mentor,orwillassignhimamentoringpastor. a. Thementoringpastor,inconjunctionwiththeSGMChurchPlantingGroup,will adaptthisjobdescriptionanditstimelineasisbestsuitabletotheresidentand thehostchurch. b. Whiletheresponsibilitytofulfillthedutiesofthisresidenceistheresidents,the mentoringpastorwillprovideleadership,input,andcarealongtheway. c. Thementoringpastorwillmeetwiththeresidentonaweeklyorbiweeklybasis, tooverseeandserveaspointmanforallmattersrelatingtohisresidenceas wellastoprovidepastoralcare. d. Iftheresidentisengagedormarried,thementoringpastorswifemaybe involvedinthementoringprocess,particularlyinquarterlycouplesmeetingsor asneeded. 2. PastorsandWivesSmallGroup:Theresident(andhiswife,ifmarried)willparticipatein [Link] growth,biblicalfellowship,andaccountabilityaswellasprovideamodelforcommunity andteamcare. 3. EldersMeetings:Theresidentwillparticipateineldersmeetingsinordertolearnhow pastorsworkasateam,applywisdomtopastoralissues,andmakedecisionsasthey leadalocalchurch. a. [Link] mightinclude:theimportanceinstrategicallybuildingateam,pluralityatwork inandoutofeldermeetings,thetaskofateamcomingtoaconsensus,andthe challengeofmaintainingelderrulewhileachievingcongregationalparticipation. b. Theresidentsseniorpastormayalsoassignhimtoleadsomediscussionsin eldersmeetingsinordertodevelopandassesshisleadershipskills. [Link] Theresidentwillobserveandactivelyparticipateineachmajordepartmentofthehosting church,including(butnotlimitedto)preaching,publicministry,counseling,andoversightand administrationoflargescaleprojects,allforthepurposeofevaluationandequipping.(The residentwillincreasinglybereleasedfromtheseresponsibilitiesasthelaunchofthechurch plantdrawsnearer.) 1. MajorMinistries/Departments:Theresidentwillobserveandparticipateineachmajor ministry/[Link] achurchplant([Link],generalchurchadministration,Sundaymorning
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administration,andworship).Hissecondprioritieswillbethoseimportantinlateryears ([Link],youth,familylife,singles,andmercyministries).Theresidentis responsibleto: a. Beactivelyinvolvedineachdepartmentforfourtoeightweeks. b. Participateinalladministrativemeetingandatleastonecorporatemeeting. c. Holdtwomeetingwithministrys/departmentsoverseeingpastororlayleader. i. Initial 1. Tobehadbeforeoratthebeginningoftheresidents participationinthedepartment. 2. Discussparticipation. a. Identifyingmeetingstoattend. b. Identifyingwaystheresidentcanactivelyparticipate. c. Interviewtheleaderregardingtheministry. ii. Exiting 1. Reviewanyevaluationtheleaderisabletoprovideofthe residentsparticipation. 2. Discussexperiencesandhowtheymighttranslateintoachurch plant. d. Meetwithmentoringpastor. i. Discusshisexperiencesandobservationswiththementoringpastor. ii. Reviewanyevaluationgivenbyministry/departmentleader. iii. Discusshowprinciplesandvaluesmighttranslateintoachurchplant. 2. PreachingandPublicMinistry:Theresidentwillparticipateinpublicministryinthe [Link],atleastone pastorordesignatedpersonwillofferaformalevaluationoftheresidentsstrengths, weaknesses,[Link]:Nopreachingorpublicministryassignmentis completeduntiltheresidentsecuresanevaluationofhimself.(Thementoringpastor canrecommendthebestwaytoensurethatthefollowingisscheduled.) a. Preachingatleasttwiceamonth,insomecontext(Sundaymorning,singles event,childrensministry,etc.). b. Servingpublicly,besidespreaching,atleastonceamonth,insuchmeansas(but notlimitedto)communion,Sundaymorningwelcomeandannouncements, Scripturereading,pastoralprayer,closingaservice,newmembersclass,or outreachinitiative. 3. Counseling: a. Theresidentwilljoinhismentoringpastororadesignatedpastorinseveral counselingsituationsanddiscussthesessionwiththepastorafterwards. b. Thementoringpastorwillalsoattempttoarrangefortheresidenttocarrya smallcounselingload,asbestservesthehostingchurchandcomplieswiththe residentsschedule.
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4. Evangelism:Theresident,inpartnershipwithhismentoringpastor,willplanhisregular [Link],everylocalchurchs evangelismgoalsandinitiativeswillvary,butitisexpectedthattheresidentwill participateinbothcorporateandindividualoutreaches. 5. Projects:Theresidentwillbeinvitedtoassumeoversightofatleastonemajorproject requiringleadership,initiative,wisdom,[Link] evaluatehissuitabilityforchurchplantinginlightofhisabilitytorisetothechallengeof thisproject,hisgiftofleadership,andhisoverallperformance. [Link] 1. Interviews: a. TheresidentwillinterviewotherSovereignGraceMinistrieschurchplanters abouttheirexperience,conductinginterviewsineachcategory: i. Oneyearorlessintoachurchplant ii. Twotothreeyearsintoachurchplant iii. Fourtofiveyearsintoachurchplant b. TheresidentwillalsointerviewatleasttwochurchplantersoutsideofSGM. c. Questionsshouldinclude,butarenotlimitedto: i. Howdidyoucareforyourfamilyduringthefirstyear? ii. Whathasbeenyourgreatestchallenges? iii. Howdidhaveyousoughttobuildandcareforyourteam? iv. Whatoutreacheshavebeeneffective? v. Whathaveyoulearned? vi. Whatwouldyoudodifferently? vii. Whatmostencouragedyourfaith? viii. Whendidyoustartsmallgroups? ix. Whowascaringforyouandwhatdidthatcarelooklike? x. Howdidyoustirfaithtopreach45+timesayearandhowdidyouplan bringinginguestspeakers? d. Theresidentshouldbepreparedtodiscusstheoutcomeoftheseinterviews withhismentoringpastor. e. ItisalsoimportantfortheresidenttovisitotherSovereignGracechurches,and possiblyachurchplant,[Link] withhisinterviewingapastororthroughanopportunitytopreachindifferent SGMchurches. 2. Study:Theresidentwillstudymaterialsfocusedonchurchplantingandwhatismost relevanttothefirstyearsofachurchandpastoralministry.
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a. Thecurriculumofhisstudymightinclude,butisnotlimitedto: i. GospelandMissionintheWritingofPaul([Link]) ii. ChurchPlanter:TheMan,theMessage,andtheMission(DarrinPatrick) iii. PlantingMissionalChurches(EdStetzer) iv. [Link](SteveMiller) v. RescuingAmbition(DaveHarvey) vi. PaulsUnderstandingoftheChurchsMission(Pummer) b. Theresidentwilldiscusswithhismentorwhatprovestobemostformative, stimulating,orcompellingoutofhisstuding. c. TheresidentandhismentorwilljoinotherSGMchurchplantingresidentsand theirmentorsinamonthlyroundtablediscussion,coveringtheassigned [Link] group. d. Thementoringpastorwillhelptheresidenttoestablishastudyschedule. (Suggestedschedule:onehourofstudyaday,onethreehourstudysessiona week,andonedayofstudyamonth.) 3. ChurchPlantingPlan a. TheresidentwilldevelopaChurchPlantingPlanfortheyearsofplanting, includingthefollowing: i. Astrategyfordevelopingachurchplantingteam,agendaforteam buildingmeetings,andaprayerfocus ii. Creationofaleadershipadvisoryboard(foradviceandaccountability) iii. Quarterlygoals iv. Anoutreachstrategy v. Teachingstrategy:whatserieswillyoudo,whenandhowwillyoulay foundation? vi. AthroughreviewanddiscussionofSovereignGraceMinistriesChurch PlantingGuide vii. Developmentofpublicmaterials(logo,letterhead,website,welcome cards,etc.) viii. Locationforcorporatemeeting ix. Abudgetandfinancialproceduresforthefirstyear(seeSGMforfurther resources) b. Identifyandtrainthechurchplantingteam c. Identifykeylayleadersanddevelopjobdescriptionsforeachrole(worship, childrensministry,Sundayadministrator,treasurer,booktable) d. DevelopatenweekseriesfromEphesiansundertheguidanceofthehost churchspastoralteam e. Getademographicstudyofthechurchplantingarea f. IdentifyanykeyChristianleadersintheareawithwhomheshouldmeet
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ASummaryoftheResidentsCalendarCommitments 1. Weeklyorbiweeklymentorshipmeetings 2. Ifengagedormarried,quarterlycouplesmeetingwithmentorandhiswife. 3. Regularpastorsandwivessmallgroupmeetings. 4. Regulareldersmeetings. 5. Traininginmajorministries/departments. 6. Preachingtwiceamonth. 7. Servingpublicly,besidespreaching,onceamonth. 8. Occasionalcounselingsessions. 9. Regularparticipationinevangelismwithhostchurch. 10. Intermittentinterviewsofchurchplanters 11. VisitotherSGMchurchesonsomeSundays 12. Study(possiblyonehourofstudyaday,onethreehourstudysessionaweek,and onedayofstudyamonth) 13. Monthlybooktoread. 14. Monthlyroundtablediscussiononchurchplanting.
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Timelines Thefollowingtimelinesareonlymeanttoserveassuggestive,realizingthateachresidenceisto [Link] residentthroughhisowntimeline,asthementorworkswiththehostingchurchandtheSGM ChurchPlantingGroup. TrackA(12months)Generalguidelineswithsuggestedtimeallotments Timeline Tasks June GraduateSGMPastorsCollege Settlefamily Prepforresidence +ReadGospelandMissionintheWritingofPaul([Link]) +ReviewallmaterialsfromthePCsMissiologyclass. July Residencebeginsathostchurch Relationalcommitmentsbegin Training[20%oftime] +Planoutresidence +Begintoattendpastoralmeetings +Establishcalendar Preparation +Planforinterviews +Study[40%oftime] +ChurchPlantingGuide[40%oftime] August Training[40%] through Preparation December +Interviews[10%] +Study[10%] +ChurchPlantingGuide[40%] DueSeptember1totheChurchPlantingResident +Aninitialcharacterandgiftingreviewbyhismentor +Aplanwillbeformulatedforgrowthinanyidentified deficiencies DueDecember1toSGMChurchPlantingGroup +Mentorse5evaluationofresident +Tworecordingsofresidentsmessages(preferablyfroma Sundaymorningservice)withmentorspreachingevaluations
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January Training[20%] and Preparation February +Study[10%] +ChurchPlantingGuide[40%] +Teambuilding*[30%] March Training[10%] through Preparation May +Study[10%] +ChurchPlantingGuide[40%] +Teambuilding[40%] June Residenceconcludes Plantingteamdeploys *Theprocess,timeline,andrequirementsofteambuildingwillvarygreatly,andwill thereforebeadjustedappropriately,dependingupontheplannedchurchplantsdegree ofrisk TrackB(24months)Generalguidelineswithsuggestedtimeallotments Timeline Tasks June GraduateSGMPastorsCollege Settlefamily Prepforresidence +ReadGospelandMissionintheWritingofPaul([Link]) +ReviewallmaterialsfromthePCsMissiologyclass. July Residencebeginsathostchurch Relationalcommitmentsbegin Training[40%oftime] +Planoutresidence +Begintoattendpastoralmeetings +Establishcalendar Preparation +Planforinterviews +Study[40%oftime] +ChurchPlantingGuide[20%oftime] August Training[60%]
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to August (1year)
Preparation +Interviews +Study[20%] +ChurchPlantingGuide[20%] DueDecember1toChurchPlantingResident +Aninitialcharacterandgiftingreviewbyhismentor +Aplanwillbeformulatedforgrowthinanyidentified deficiencies DueMay1toSGMChurchPlantingGroup +Mentorse5evaluationofresident +Tworecordingsofresidentsmessages(preferablyfroma Sundaymorningservice)withmentorspreachingevaluations
September Training[40%] to Preparation December +Study[20%] +ChurchPlantingGuide[20%] +Teambuilding*[20%] January Training[10%] to Preparation May +Study[10%] +ChurchPlantingGuide[40%] +Teambuilding[40%] June Residenceconcludes Plantingteamdeploys *Theprocess,timeline,andrequirementsofteambuildingwillvarygreatly,andwill thereforebeadjustedappropriately,dependingupontheplannedchurchplantsdegree ofrisk