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.

I.Relationships 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 apastorsandwivessmallgroupthroughouttheresidence.Thiswillpromotepersonal growth,biblicalfellowship,andaccountabilityaswellasprovideamodelforcommunity andteamcare. 3. EldersMeetings:Theresidentwillparticipateineldersmeetingsinordertolearnhow pastorsworkasateam,applywisdomtopastoralissues,andmakedecisionsasthey leadalocalchurch. a. Theresidentwilldiscusstheseexperienceswithhismentor.Topicstocover mightinclude:theimportanceinstrategicallybuildingateam,pluralityatwork inandoutofeldermeetings,thetaskofateamcomingtoaconsensus,andthe challengeofmaintainingelderrulewhileachievingcongregationalparticipation. b. Theresidentsseniorpastormayalsoassignhimtoleadsomediscussionsin eldersmeetingsinordertodevelopandassesshisleadershipskills. II.Training Theresidentwillobserveandactivelyparticipateineachmajordepartmentofthehosting church,including(butnotlimitedto)preaching,publicministry,counseling,andoversightand administrationoflargescaleprojects,allforthepurposeofevaluationandequipping.(The residentwillincreasinglybereleasedfromtheseresponsibilitiesasthelaunchofthechurch plantdrawsnearer.) 1. MajorMinistries/Departments:Theresidentwillobserveandparticipateineachmajor ministry/department.Hisfirstprioritieswillbethosemostimportantinthefirstyearsof achurchplant(e.g.evangelism,generalchurchadministration,Sundaymorning
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administration,andworship).Hissecondprioritieswillbethoseimportantinlateryears (e.g.childrensministry,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 followingwaysastoolsforequippingandevaluation.Inanysituation,atleastone pastorordesignatedpersonwillofferaformalevaluationoftheresidentsstrengths, weaknesses,andgrowthinministry.Note: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 participationinoutreachwithhishostingchurch.Understandably,everylocalchurchs evangelismgoalsandinitiativeswillvary,butitisexpectedthattheresidentwill participateinbothcorporateandindividualoutreaches. 5. Projects:Theresidentwillbeinvitedtoassumeoversightofatleastonemajorproject requiringleadership,initiative,wisdom,andcaretoensurehissuccess.Pastorswillthen evaluatehissuitabilityforchurchplantinginlightofhisabilitytorisetothechallengeof thisproject,hisgiftofleadership,andhisoverallperformance. III.Preparation 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,onaSunday.Ideallythiswouldbedoneinconjunction withhisinterviewingapastororthroughanopportunitytopreachindifferent SGMchurches. 2. Study:Theresidentwillstudymaterialsfocusedonchurchplantingandwhatismost relevanttothefirstyearsofachurchandpastoralministry.
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a. Thecurriculumofhisstudymightinclude,butisnotlimitedto: i. GospelandMissionintheWritingofPaul(P.T.OBrien) ii. ChurchPlanter:TheMan,theMessage,andtheMission(DarrinPatrick) iii. PlantingMissionalChurches(EdStetzer) iv. C.H.SpurgeononSpiritualLeadership(SteveMiller) v. RescuingAmbition(DaveHarvey) vi. PaulsUnderstandingoftheChurchsMission(Pummer) b. Theresidentwilldiscusswithhismentorwhatprovestobemostformative, stimulating,orcompellingoutofhisstuding. c. TheresidentandhismentorwilljoinotherSGMchurchplantingresidentsand theirmentorsinamonthlyroundtablediscussion,coveringtheassigned curriculum.ThisdiscussionwillbeledbyamemberoftheSGMchurchplanting 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 beevaluatedandadjustedcasebycase.Itisexpectedthatthementoringpastorwillguidethe residentthroughhisowntimeline,asthementorworkswiththehostingchurchandtheSGM ChurchPlantingGroup. TrackA(12months)Generalguidelineswithsuggestedtimeallotments Timeline Tasks June GraduateSGMPastorsCollege Settlefamily Prepforresidence +ReadGospelandMissionintheWritingofPaul(P.T.OBrien) +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(P.T.OBrien) +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