New Church Development Overview
Throughout the Southeast Conference, people have been longing for the witness and proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it is known in and through the United Church of Christ. The UCC's commitment to inclusivity, its celebration of diversity, and its proclamation of a Gospel grounded in the call to social justice and peace are striking chords in many settings for new church starts.
In response we have developed a comprehensive system for developing new churches.
Recruitment
We have found that the key to effective Church Development is LEADERSHIP, LEADERSHIP, LEADERSHIP. Having the right leader in the right context is essential for success. We take seriously our task in finding the right people for our new church starts by recruiting potential leaders from our local seminaries, TAP Program and Youth Ministries. If you are interested in starting a church, click here.
Assessment
Birthing a new church takes a specific skill set. We use a number of tools to assess if our potential new church start leaders have the natural gifts and skills necessary to do this work. We require that all candidate complete the DISC Profile, the TEAM Profile, psychological evaluation, background check, verbal and written interviews.
Training
We offer a number of training courses that are critical for New Church Development pastors to attend with their lay leadership. Some of the courses include:
- How to Market Your Ministry
- Church Administration
- Building Leaders in Your Congregation
- Marks of a Hospitable Church
- Boundaries - Are They Important?
- UCC Polity, Constitution and Bylaws
- Self Care
- Leadership Skill for Church Start Pastors
- Technology in Ministry
- Worship/Liturgy
For more information on these courses including a schedule of classes, please click here.
Mentoring
We are blessed in the UCC to have a talented group of ministers who have successfully launched a number of new churches. We are intentional about leveraging our connection with them to the benefit of our new church start leaders. We are designing a national mentoring program which allows new church start pastors to engage in a mentoring relationship with a pastor who has successfully launched a church similar in style to the one being launched by the new leader. This program allows for mentoring opportunities of as little as 6 weeks to as much as 6 months.
Coaching
Launching a new church can be lonely and intimidating work. We never want our leaders to feel like they are out in the world without a vital support system. We are actively partnering pastors together in coaching relationships designed to help the new church start pastor both feel supported and provide a safe place for processing the development of his or her church plant. Coaching relationship last up to one year.
Listen
