EM026-712 - Church Planting

  • 2,853 Standard Tuition Fee
  • 12
    Credit Points
  • 0.125 EFT 
  • 7
    AQF level
  • Category developing unit
    B
  • Evangelism & Missiology Unit Discipline

Corequisites

96cps of study, including 36 cps at AQF level 6

Exclusions

EM056

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will

A. Know and understand

Demonstrate Functional knowledge and understanding of church planting.

B. Be able to

1. Critically Analyse the principles and practices of church planting

2. Evaluate models of, and the Foundational steps in, church planting

3. Present Critical evidence-based perspectives on church planting

C. Be in a position to

1. Applying perspectives and skills from ‘Church Planting’ to ministry practice as a reflective practitioner

Content

Section A: Principles

  1. Biblical perspectives on Church Planting:
    1. Church planting and the teaching and example of Christ;
    2. Theology of church;
    3. New Testament approaches to church planting.
  2. Personnel issues in church planting:
    1. Personal factors: spiritual life, personality, call, aptitude, leadership styles, relational skills and philosophies of ministry;
    2. Selection and preparation of teams for church planting.
  3. Alternative models of church planting (eg sodality, modality, migration): strengths and dangers; suitability for particular situations (urban, rural, tribal peoples etc).
  4. Strategies for church planting at regional level: multiplying local churches or developing a central church; church planting movements.

Section B: Practice

  1. Feasibility studies: gathering and interpreting relevant data; defining a people group, measuring receptivity; issues in location for ministry, transport, psycho-socio-cultural factors.
  2. Stages in Church Planting:
    1. Initial contacts; initial evangelism; name; home meetings; first services;
    2. Embryonic stage: charter statement; building issues; structures, government, leadership;
    3. Maturity: becoming autonomous; church reproduction; second-generation believers.
  3. Case studies in various church planting models used in different cultural settings.

Further Information

Prior to 2020, this unit content was delivered under the unit code EM426.

Set Readings

This unit's indicative bibliography is currently being revised. Students should contact their home college for further details at the time of taking this unit.


Prescribed:

Conn, H. M., Planting and Growing Urban Churches: From Dream to Reality (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1997).

Gibbs, E. and I. Coffey, Church Next: Quantum Changes in Christian Ministry (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2001).

Hesselgrave, D. J., Planting Churches Cross-Culturally: North America and Beyond (2nd ed.; Grand Rapids: Baker, 2000).

Hiebert, P. and E. H. Meneses, Incarnational Ministry: Planting Churches in Band, Tribal, Peasant, and Urban Societies (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1995).

Moore, R., Starting a New Church: The Church Planter's Guide to Success (Ventura, CA: Regal, 2002).

Stetzer, E., Planting Churches in a Postmodern Age (Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2003).

Stuart, M., Church Planting: Laying Foundations (Carlisle: Paternoster,1998).

Timmis, S. (ed.), Multiplying Churches: Reaching Today's Communities Through Church Planting (Fearn, Ross-shire: Christian Focus, 2000).

Towns, E. L. and D. Porter, Churches that Multiply: A Bible Study on Church Planting (Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill, 2003).

 

Recommended:

Garrison, D., Church Planting Movements: How God is Redeeming a Lost World (Midlothian, VA: WIGTake Resources, 2004).

Nevius, J. L., Planting and Developing Missionary Churches (Manchester, NH: Monadnock, 2003).

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