Perhaps the most difficult thing to swallow as an Assembly of God pastor in Illinois is that there are so pitifully few Church plants in the IDCAG. I conjecture that the reason for this is that Illinois has become a toxic environment for Church planters in the AG, especially so in the city of Chicago. In order for that to change it must be addressed.
I call the environment toxic because of the following reasons.
Despite statements to the contrary- church planting is on the back burner. As an outsider looking in one cannot help but notice that there are no church plants happening, there is little attention given to directing/coordinating church plants, and there is no recruitment for church planters. Currently I am unaware of any attempts to help church planters as they are coming out of our schools. Why couldn't we (IDCAG)pay their school loan payments as they are serving as church planters? This way if they are bivocational pastors they have one less bill to worry about. That moves Bible College Educated church planters toward Illinois. And it is less likely they will be wooed away by other church planting organizations (Many of which offer a salary of $30K for church planters)
There is an unwillingness to invest in the salaries of church planters.Due to a history of failed attempts to plant churches, we have grown gun-shy in investing in the salaries of laborers. I have heard it said that IDCAG would be "more comfortable in investing in buildings". Does this not communicate to the planters that they are not a valued asset? If you are about the failure rate then I suggest that you have little faith in the assessment process of the AG. If that is so then it must be changed too. In addition to supporting financially the pastor mentorships could be developed as well as oversight teams. The purpose would be to develop and encourage the planter in whatever way necessary.
The form(s) promoted for church planting are not contemporary.
These might have worked a while ago, but they were not without problems. Economic tension and spiralling costs of planting threatens the church planter with extinction. While I had very little financial support from IDCAG, I was able to work a trade and develop a business while planting. The economic pressure on the trades makes that less likely these days. So bivocational pastors are less workable than teams or other concepts. Our framework has to be flexible.
There is a general impatience with church plants. Church planting takes time. How many years does it take to raise up a strong self supporting and sending church. 5, 10, 15? The road is hard. The drumming sound from friend's and overseer's fingers on the desktop can add additional pressure.
We continue to emphasize the man versus the team.There is no Biblical justification for a church planting individual- rather they (in the Bible) planted in teams. Without going into the verses to cover this, it is likely that we will have to change our paradigm in order to be faithfully reaching the this world.
There must be an environment of support. Salary should be the beginning of support. Neighboring pastors in the region should be partnering at some capacity to insure the success of the plant and the planter. Why couldn't the local churches around the plant be a resource? Why is competition the model and not commaraderie?
There must be willingness to invest in "faithful men" who have the goods. Apostolic giftings aren't as rare as some think. But where they exist they must be nurtured. Instead of giving lip service alone to the 5 fold ministry we should be raising up apostolic planters who will develop networks of churches. Loyalty flows both ways. For the person who is supported on the plant, there will be more loyalty that flows back from them toward the brotherhood of believers that carried them.
Those are my thoughts. What do you think?
Exciting Transitions!
7 years ago
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ReplyDeleteDave thanks for creating this blog.
ReplyDeleteThe Illinois District has done good communicating to their church (us) the need to plant churches. As we Pastor our churches we let them know where the Lord is leading us and hope that they will catch the vision and do it. Church Planting is important, however it is just one of the many jobs our District does. Maybe they have done what God is asking them and it is time for us to hear it and do it; like we hope our church people will. Do you know how many ministries have been planted at COTR with no budget or money from us the leaders. God used us to put it in their hearts and then they step out in their own faith and vision and it comes to pass. I think that our District has done a good job telling us to plant churches we need to take what they say and do it. And don't look to them to provide everything from up top and send it down.
Again Church Planting is just one of their Hats to wear. But God has called people strictly to plant churches. We saw 12 together the other day. I think God is gathering the people that he has called specifically to plant churches together. None of the 12 that were at the meeting the other day is ready to plant a church and may never be able to alone. But the 12 of us together we can do it. If 12 of us gave $100 month = $14,400 and then the Districts $6000 = $20400. Great beginning. If we step forward with the 12 of us the other day and then begin to make it a Regional effort it will even expand to more in our region. I believe talk is cheap and we need to act out our faith. We can do it in our region and be a catalyst to flow over to the other regions.
These comments are given with a humble heart, knowing I don't know everything. This is what I sincerely think the Lord is saying to me.
Great thoughts Dave! I would add to your thought about paying student loans from those just out of college. Remember Master's Commission! We come out fresh with no debt at all! An MC student can hit the ground running with a salary and many times has great hands on experience.
ReplyDeleteI think it is time for us to develop a plan and execute! Time is wasting...
Bryan,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the need to plant is percieved by all and that there has been good communication from Idcag. Im not trying to dump on the district as much as find out what is keeping us from going forward.
When we pioneered in Cicero, we had a team that had worship leaders and pastors and counselors and a youth person. We started in a funeral home. There is a higher expectation these days from the folks that we are looking to get a buy in from. It seems that the most quickly self supporting churches have teams of leadership already in place at the launch. Im not so sure that I could win people to the vision of a new church these days without that team and alot of expenses (projectors, screens, sound sytems, comfortable chairs, etc.)
While I agree that there should be a "called person" planting the church i wonder if there isn't a higher expectation that steel folding chairs, in a circle, with some guy banging out cumbaya on the guitar. What do you think?
Church Planting Focus Group Summation – January 13, 2009
ReplyDelete1. each person shared their connect with planting.
2. two new church plants and planters shared their dream 1) South Loop – Doug Harris and 2) Arlington Heights -Mike Handler/Mark Larsen.
3. desire every other month meetings to keep this passionate
4. desire a website/blog and keeping the relationship tight between the region dreamers
5. desire national approach and system to planting from the General Council
6. Bootcamp with District investment for husband and wife is appreciated and helpful
7. Bootcamp suggestion was to add to it some current church planters (1-9 years) to help understand current conditions of planting: it would simply add to the good, encouraging veteran planters (ie. Planters 20 years ago). Great to get away and dream about it together. Coaches were encouragers and appreciated them.
8. District packet of information is not enough... relationship attached to the packet will help...but more system can help.
9. ideas to have a "menu" system with spirit led freedom and empowerment with expected strong relational connects to the planters from supporting churches
10. supporting churches want more influence in affirming an "A" type planter in addition to the tests, boot camp, etc.
11. seems to be a disconnect in that the churches needed to support a planter has the potential of no influence or determining input on whether the planter has what it takes.
12. must change the current perspective and environment to a inviting, welcoming, supporting system.
13. desire to eventually pursue planters from outside Chicago (colleges, other districts, etc.)
14. frustration with the current strategy in the financial support of the district
15. desire for larger amounts of gifts ($30,000, $50-$60,000, $100,000)....Ohio, Iowa ref.
16. desire for salary support not just building support
17. a need for the old paradigm to change of wanting only to invest in the brick/mortar and change to investing into the person/thus larger amounts that allow for salary
18. understanding exists that there must be accountability and that failures have happened in the past
19. $500/month is the same amount used for several years and $500 doesn't buy the same after 9+ years
20. Need to vary the amount of plant gifts due to some geographic locations are more costly
21. support the accountability to tithe, don’t understand the passing of checks in the mail regards tithe/monthly support
22. idea to allow planters to tithe with accountability to their church plant for x amount of years and possibly add a climbing scale back to full tithe to the district over x amount of years. (idea: first 3 years to the plant…graduating scale next 7 years back to full tithe to the district) - one shared people in plant that wanted credentials but didn’t want to hurt the church by not giving their tithe to the church
23. perception rose that district is worth $20 million due to the financial report (may need to clarify what is liquid and what is equity)
24. concern to sell off properties of closed churches to help plant new ones
25. find $100,000 plus from the current IDCAG budget
26. idea of having someone for the district – just for planting (full time, part time, contracted)
27. willingness to embrace other church planting groups strategy, ie. Arc