Church Planting And Preservation Initiative

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The purpose of this document is twofold. First, the messengers of the Southern California Association of Reformed Baptist Churches (SCARBC) wish to state our intent to cooperate in planting new churches and supporting or revitalizing existing churches in Southern California and beyond. Second, the messengers of the SCARBC wish to communicate, in general, how we plan to carry out our purposes.

Our Objective

Jesus Christ is Lord of the church. He has commissioned his church, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18–20, NKJV).

We believe that:

The Great Commission is fulfilled through evangelism resulting in the establishment of local churches (Acts 14:23) wherein baptism is applied to new believers and the saints are taught to observe all that Christ has commanded.
Local churches are to obey the Great Commission by sending out gifted and qualified men to preach the word of God and to labor for the establishment of local churches (Luke 10:2). The great missionaries, Paul and Barnabus, were sent out by the church in Antioch (Acts 13:1-3), and to Antioch they returned (Acts 14:24-28). They are an example to us. If the Great Commission is to be fulfilled, some must be sent, and others must do the sending (Romans 10:13-15). We believe that local churches are to send and oversee church planting efforts.
The Great Commission also requires the preservation of existing churches. Consider how Paul the Apostle remembered the needs of existing churches as he labored to establish new congregations. He collected funds to relieve suffering in the church in Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 16:1-4). He, and other Apostles, wrote many letters to strengthen existing churches. Now that the Apostles have passed, local churches, being built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone, carry the responsibility to labor for the preservation of other local churches.
Given the magnitude of this work, and given that an individual church may not have the resources to plant a church or adequately help another church with its needs, churches in formal association ought to work together in these endeavors by sharing their gifts, graces, and resources, which include, but are not limited to prayers, encouragement, advice, pulpit supply, gifted persons, and finances.

We, the churches of the SCARBC, intend to cooperate in the planting and preservation of churches, first locally, then regionally, nationally, and internationally, as the Lord directs and provides.

Our Initiative

How do we intend to accomplish these objectives?

We will pray. The churches of the SCARBC will regularly pray for “the good and prosperity of all the churches of Christ” (Second London Confession (2LCF), 26.14) and for opportunities to plant new churches, locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally, even amongst the unreached people groups of the world.
We will endorse. Local congregations may submit church planting and preservation proposals to the association for endorsement. We hope that SCARBC endorsement will, one, encourage those involved in these efforts, two, help validate these efforts in the eyes of others, and three, better enable those engaged in the work to secure backing from local congregations, other associations, and foundations.
We will seek to edify. So far as we are able, the SCARBC churches will encourage and support the church planting and preservation efforts we endorsed by sharing our gifts, graces, and resources.
We will help to fund, according to our ability. At this time, the SCARBC will not establish a centralized fund. Instead, we will ask the local churches in our association to consider directly supporting the church planting and preservation efforts we endorse through yearly pledges. As stated above, we hope that SCARBC endorsement will help those engaged in planting or preservation efforts to seek funding from other sources as well (individuals, churches, associations, or foundations).

Requirements For Endorsement

A SCARBC Sponsoring Church. If the church planting or preservation initiative is being proposed by a non-SCARBC church, we require that a SCARBC sponsoring church first be secured and that the proposal be summited to the association through them. If the proposal is being initiated by a SCARBC church, we would recommend that another SCARBC church be asked to co-sponsor the proposal.
Full Subscription To The Second London Confession Of Faith. Full subscription to the 2LCF is one of the requirements for membership in our association. While we pray for and rejoice in the planting and prosperity of all true churches of Jesus Christ (2LCF 26.14), we intend to cooperate in the planting and preservation of churches fully subscribed to the 2LCF. Therefore, church planters seeking SCARBC endorsement must fully subscribe to the 2LCF personally and have as their goal the establishment of a full subscription church. Churches seeking preservation assistance will ordinarily be required to fully subscribe to the 2LCF. If a church is requesting assistance with preservation, it is understood that leading the congregation to fully subscribe to the confession may take time.
Associational Aspirations. It is assumed that church plants endorsed by the SCARBC within the region of Southern California intend to apply for membership in the SCARBC once constituted. Likewise, if a non-SCARBC church in the Southern California region is requesting preservation assistance, it is assumed that the church intends to apply for membership if and when possible. If the church or church plant is located outside of Southern California, the aim of the congregation should be to join or establish a full subscription association if and when possible (2LCF 26.15).
A Polity That Agrees With Our Ecclesiology. Chapter 26 of the 2LCF states our congregational ecclesiology. The SCARBC will ask to review the proposed constitutions of church plants and the existing constitutions of non-SCARBC churches requesting preservation assistance. This is to ensure that church plants and church preservation efforts endorsed by the SCARBC have, or are working towards, the adoption of a church polity that agrees with the congregational ecclesiology stated within our confession.
A Viable Plan Of Action. The church plant or church preservation initiative must be reasonably viable. Good stewardship requires that the messengers of SCARBC only endorse proposals with a viable plan of action. We are aware that church planting and preservation initiatives involve risk, require faith, and rarely go according to plan. Nevertheless, wisdom requires us to begin these initiatives with a reasonable plan of action (Proverbs 24:27).
Geographical Sensitivity. Though the population of Southern California is very dense, and though it is unlikely we will ever have too many churches in this region that fully subscribe to the 2LCF, we must apply the principle stated by the Apostle Paul, “And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation…” (Romans 15:20, NKJV).
A Commitment To Report Regularly To The Association. Church planting and preservation initiatives endorsed by SCARBC will be required to submit quarterly updates to the association ahead of every regularly scheduled SCARBC messengers’ meeting.

The Endorsement Process

If not a part of the SCARBC, secure a SCARBC-sponsoring church.
Draft a church planting or preservation proposal to be presented to the SCARBC messengers. Below you will find a list of questions we hope will help you to draft your proposal.
Submit your proposal to the SCARBC messengers no less than one month before a regularly scheduled SCARBC messengers’ meeting. Non-SCARBC churches will submit their proposal through their sponsoring church.
Attend the SCARBC messengers’ meeting to be interviewed.
If approved, the SCARBC will provide a letter of endorsement. The church planting or preservation proposal and the SCARBC endorsement may then be shared with SCARBC churches (through their eldership), other local congregations, other associations, and foundations to raise support.
Church planting and preservation initiatives must submit reports every quarter to the association ahead of each regularly scheduled SCARBC messengers’ meeting.
Endorsements will be reviewed on a yearly basis. The association may withdraw their endorsement at any time and give notice to any parties concerned that their endorsement has been withdrawn.

Questions

Please use this list of questions to help draft your proposal. The purpose of this list is to give you insight into what the messengers of the SCARBC would like to know. We do not intend to suggest you draft your proposal by answering these questions one after the next, but you are certainly free to do so. Some questions may not apply to your situation.

Personal Background

In general, please tell us about the leadership of the church planting or preservation initiative (background, family, education, employment, etc).

Objectives

In general, what are your objectives?
Who will be involved in this work?
Where do you hope to plant or where is the church in need of preservation located?
When do you hope to begin this work?
Why do you believe you are called to engage in this work?

Doctrinal

Do you personally fully subscribe to the 2LCF?
Does all the leadership of the church plant or church needing assistance with preservation fully subscribe to the 2LCF?
Does the core group or existing congregation agree with the 2LFC? Are they desiring that the church fully subscribe to the 2LCF once constituted or revitalized?

Ecclesiastical

Who is your sending church?
If your sending church is not a part of the SCARBC, why do you wish to have SCARBC endorsement?
Is your sending church in support of you receiving SCARBC endorsement?
Does your sending church fully subscribe to the 2LCF?
If not, is your sending church in support of you planting a church fully subscribed to the 2LCF or revitalizing your church by leading it in the direction of full subscription to the 2LCF?

Constitutional

Does the proposed constitution of the church plant or the existing constitution of the church needing preservation agree with the congregational ecclesiology expressed in 2LCF 26? Most importantly, are the elders of the church given the freedom to exercise the ministerial authority given to them by Christ, and are the members of the church given the freedom to exercise the liberty Christ has given them to choose their officers and give their consent to the elders in the reception and removal of members?
If the current constitution of the church requesting preservation assistance does not agree with 2LCF 26, are the officers and members of the congregation willing to receive advice and consider amending the church’s constitution?

Associational

If your church plant or non-SCARBC church in need of preservation is in Southern California, do you intend to apply for membership in SCARBC once the plant is constituted or the preservation effort is complete?
If your church plant or church in need of preservation is outside of Southern California, do you intend to join or establish a formal association of churches fully subscribed to the 2LCF if the Lord provides the opportunity (2LCF 26:15)?

Action Plan

How do you plan to achieve your church planting or preservation goals in the first three years (James 4:13-15)? Please see the examples of 3-year action plans below.
How do you hope to fund this initiative for the first five years? Please see the example of a 5-year financial plan below.
Are all parties involved willing to regularly reevaluate these plans and prepared to adjust them knowing that things rarely go according to plan (Proverbs 19:21)?
Given our doctrine of the church and the sacraments (2LCF 26 & 28), we advise that, ordinarily, church plants should not administer the Lord’s Supper or discipline until the church is formally constituted and a minister is installed (see 2LCF 26.2, 5-8). Ordinarily, we advise the core group of the church plant to remain or become members of the sending church, or some other true church, to receive the Lord’s Supper and be subject to the discipline of that church until the plant is constituted. However, the SCARBC foresees situations where this approach, if insisted upon, would cut God’s people off from the Lord’s Supper and orderly discipline for a prolonged period, which must be avoided. Therefore, in certain cases, such as a church being planted at a distance from the sending church (or another true church willing to receive those in the core group as temporary members), the SCARBC will consider endorsing a church plant wherein the members of the core group remain or become members of the sending church, being subject to their discipline, and the church planter is sent as an elder from the sending church with the authority to administer the Lord’s Supper to these members of the sending church meeting at a distance until the fledgling church is constituted. How does the sending church plan to handle the issue of church membership, the administration of the Lord’s Supper, and the orderly discipline of the members of the core group?

Potential Pitfalls

If married, does the church planter or pastor have unity of mind with their wife concerning the church plant or church preservation project?
If the church planter or pastor has children in the home, are they enthusiastic about the church plant or church preservation project?
Does the church planter or pastor believe he has received adequate theological training, possesses the gifts necessary to accomplish this work, and has the energy to see the work through to completion?
Are there any health concerns with the church planter or pastor that the SCARBC should be aware of?

Sample 3-Year Church Planting Action Plan

Below you will find an example of a three-year church planting action plan based on the following hypothetical situation: The eldership of a local church (GRBC) desires to plant a new congregation in a community 45 miles away. Three families in that community are not members of GRBC and wish to see a 2LCF church established there. Additionally, three families who are members of GRBC live at the halfway point between GRBC and this community and are open to participating in a church plant. One of the elders of GRBC (Pastor T) senses a call to oversee this church plant and to serve as its pastor once the church is constituted.

Every church plant is unique. We hope this sample will help you think through some of the issues faced by church plants as you draft an action plan of your own.

Year Zero

Pastor T will lead the elders of GRBC in a church planting proposal including a 3-year action plan, a preliminary budget, and a 5-year financial plan.
The elders of GRBC will gather the potential core group to present a preliminary church planting proposal and assess their level of commitment.
The elders of GRBC will present the church planting proposal to the members of GRBC to obtain their consent.
Messengers from GRBC will present the church planting proposal to the SCARBC to receive an endorsement from the association.
The elders of GRBC will return to the core group to present them with the fully developed church planting proposal, including the 3-year church planting plan, and the 5-year financial plan, along with news of SCARBC endorsement.
Once the plan of action and financial plan are communicated, the GRBC elders will request commitments from the core group to be a part of the plant and to financially support it in accordance with the 5-year financial plan.
The elders of GRBC, with Pastor T in the lead, will begin to secure funding commitments from outside sources (SCARBC churches, other local congregations, associations, and foundations).
Initially, GRBC will receive and distribute church plant funds from its bank account.

Year One

The core group will attend worship on Sunday mornings at GRBC (sending church) to partake in the outward and ordinary means of grace (Baptist Catechism 93-105).
The core group will gather in Pastor T’s home on Sunday evenings to study 1 Timothy, pray, and read/discuss the 2LCF (one chapter per week).
As the core group begins to meet, Pastor T will work with the elders of GRBC to:

1. Finalize a proposed constitution and membership covenant for the future church.
2. Establish a liturgy for the future church.
3. Establish a membership process for the future church.
4. Develop a curriculum for new believers based upon the Baptist Catechism.
5. Develop a plan for outreach to be implemented once the church is constituted.

After the core group finishes working through the confession, Pastor T will teach through Benjamin Keach’s book, The Glory Of A True Church.
The proposed church constitution and membership covenant will be presented to the core group.
After the constitution and covenant have been considered, the core group will be asked to vote to constitute, sign the membership covenant, and install Pastor T as pastor of the new church. GRBC elders will be asked to participate in the installation service.
Secure a new meeting location suitable for public worship (work on this should begin before the church is constituted).
Begin to conduct worship services on Sunday mornings including the administration of the Lord’s Supper.
Begin a Sunday afternoon prayer service.
Apply for membership in the SCARBC.

Year Two

Register as a 501(c)(3) (though the finalization of this process will take place after the church is constituted, work on this should be started beforehand).
Open a bank account for the newly formed church and transfer the remaining funds from the GRBC church plant account into it.
Implement the plans previously made for outreach to the community.
Begin to offer Sunday School for adults and children before the worship service.
If needed, offer a new members class.

3-Year Church Preservation Action Plan Examples

Example One

Our pastor (a pastor of a SCRABC church) plans to retire in 3 years. Currently, we do not see any potential replacements for him in our congregation. We wish to hire an intern or co-elder to serve alongside our pastor for the next 3 years in hopes that the man will remain to serve as our new pastor. The church has some extra money in the yearly budget, but not enough to support an intern or co-elder full-time. We are committed to contributing $20,000 per year for the next three years to this initiative. We would need to receive $40,000 per year in outside support to make this plan work. Furthermore, we are requesting assistance from the SCARBC to find a man fitted and gifted for this position.

Example Two

Our pastor is bi-vocational. We would like to see him transition to full-time ministry. We would need to pay him an additional $25,000 per year to replace his current income, health insurance, and retirement benefits. Currently, the church can contribute $10,000 per year towards this goal. We are seeking outside support in the amount of $15,000 for the first year to move forward with this plan. Our hope is that the church will grow over the next three years so that our contribution steadily increases and the need for outside support decreases.

Goal: Additional $25,000 per year to support our pastor full-time.

	Church Contribution	Outside Support
Year 1	$10,000	$15,000
Year 2	$15,000	$10,000
Year 3	$20,000	$5,000
Year 4	Our church fully supports our pastor.

Example Three

Our SCARBC church is currently without a pastor. We have some money in reserve but those funds are slowly dwindling.

We request that the SCARBC would:

Provide us with pulpit supply for the next six months.
Help us financially for the next six months. We can afford to pay guest preachers a $100 honorarium. We would like to pay them $250. Would the association be willing to help us cover the shortfall ($3,600)?
Appoint a committee to advise our congregation concerning our ongoing existence. If the advice is to close the church, we would request further advice on how best to go about this. If the advice is to continue, we would request help formulating a 3-year preservation plan.

5-Year Church Planting Financial Plan Example

Annual Budget: $125,000	Sending Church Contribution	Outside Support	Giving From Members
Year 1	$25,000	$75,000	$25,000
Year 2	$20,000	$60,000	$45,000
Year 3	$15,000	$45,000	$65,000
Year 4	$10,000	$30,000	$85,000
Year 5	$5,000	$15,000	$105,000
Year 6	Church Plant Is Self-Sustaining