New Church Development pastor discernment event

The office of Church Growth will offer a potential New Church Development Pastor Discernment event October 9–11, 2008.  It will be held at Mackland Presbyterian Church in Powder Springs, Georgia.  Check back for details or contact Sherry Britton by email.

'The Spirit is willing but the process is weak!'

New Church Development Discernment, September 29 – October 2, St. Pete’s Beach, Florida

While we’ve taken liberty with a well-known saying, this summarizes the feelings of many presbyteries as they have tried to be about the work of starting new churches.  Over the past few years the Office of Church Growth, along with the New Church Development coaches and field staff, has developed a discernment process to assist presbyteries and churches in the development of new churches.  At the recent General Assembly, we released a new guide called Beginning New Churches: A Discernment Process 1.0.  The process consists of 16 gatherings designed to take you from zero to calling a pastor. Our first training with this new resource will be held from September 29 through October 2 at the Tradewinds Resort in St. Pete’s Beach Florida.  Over the course of those days, we will overview the process for starting a new church as well as work through the specifics of creating a theological foundation for the church and what it looks like to develop a vision for the new church and a plan for presbytery-wide work in the area of new church development.  Bring your team and join us as we launch this new resource. [Read more]

The Gathering at Windsor
“Gathering those not yet gathered”

By Kelly Shepherd, Attendee of The Gathering

"Thus says the Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, I will gather others to them besides those already gathered."
(Isaiah 56:8)

The Gathering at Windsor in Windsor, Colorado, is a new church development on a mission. Its purpose is clearly defined by Isaiah 56:8. It exists to gather those not yet gathered. Organizing Pastor, David Barton, says, “While many people think in terms of ‘going to church,’ The Gathering is a church that thinks in terms of ‘going into the world.’” The congregation is challenged to cultivate relationships within their spheres of influence. Suddenly church isn’t just something you go to on Sunday mornings anymore. You are charged to think of yourself as a disciple of Christ 24/7 in the world: at work, in your neighborhood, at the coffee shop, at the park play group, anywhere you have unchurched friends. [Read more.]

New Church Development coaches program

What you need is effective coaching! You need both insight and advice, delivered at the moment when it is needed the most during initial days of your church start.

Our vision is also that every organizing pastor will have available a trained and qualified coach. [Read more]