Larry Doornbos

Hi Ramon and Kris,

This is an interesting conversation. I think it is helpful to recognize that CRHM did plant churches in the 1980s and 90s, but we no longer directly plant churches. Churches are planted by local congregations and classes. CRHM's role is to help assess church planters, help provide coaching for the church planter, provide initiate training, and provide a part of the financial support for new churches. We also encourage local churches and classes to carry out this work through a network of regional leaders. This type of work is in keeping both with CRHM's mandate, which is

Home Missions shall give leadership to the CRC in its task of bringing the gospel to the people of Canada and the United States, drawing them into fellowship with Christ and his church. This mandate has these aspects:

• Encourage and assist churches, classes and regions in the work of developing and sustaining missional churches. 
• Initiate, support and guide church planting and development in cooperation with local churches, classes and regions. 
• Initiate, support and guide educational ministries in cooperation with local churches and classes.

And with Article 76  of the church order which speaks of Synod appointing a Home Missions Committee to carry on work that is beyond the scope and resources of local congregations.

It is true that CRHM does have some things we ask of new churches--including assessment for the planter to determine if he/she has gifts for planting, initial training for the planter, and having a coach. Experience has shown that these requirements greatly increase the likelihood of a plant going well.

Again, thanks for joining this conversation. We are thankful for all who are interested in church planting and reaching out to those who need Jesus.

Hi Larry,

Thanks for the questions.  Home Missions, as you know, has an emphasis on starting and stenghtening churches and campus ministries. Over the past few years we have started/planted an average of 18 churches a year.  Typcially new churches see that for every 8 members 1 person is brought to faith. In CRC's generally that number in somewhere in the neighhborhood of 100 members for every 1 person brought to faith (remember that around 600 CRCs had no converstion growth this past year). We find that about 70% of our church plants continue beyond 5 years. We are also discovering that while it used to take about 3 years for a church plant to gain traction in a community changes in the North American landscape in matters of faith and trust in institutions means that typcially it takes 5 years for a new church to get solid footing in a community. 

Hi Bill,

Thanks for joining the conversation. Our goal is always disciples. Part of discipleship is joining a local body of believers and contributing with one's time, talents, and financial gifts so that God's work goes forward both in that place and in the world. So we are not looking for dues paying member, but we are looking for fully involved and committed disciples who show that commitment with the fullness of all they have. I like to think of it in terms of Deuteronomy 6 and the Shema: "Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord alone.  Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all of your soul, and with all of your strength." One person has put this in modern terms by taking the Hebrews words and interpreting them, "Love the Lord your God with every thought that you think, every move that you make, and every penny in your wallet." 

Hi Jeff,

The denomination mainly uses what has come to be known as "the attractional model". You may know that this model designs programs etc. to attract people to the new church.

The structure of the denomination is such that it is more like an open system. Denomiational and regional faith goals are set, but those goals are met regionally, not with a top down mandate to plant so many churches. What can happen is that a faith stretching goal is set in collaboration with the regions that pushes all to go to a place that have not been before. The main work of the church planting team at the denominational level is to assess and train church planters.

Hi John,

I wondered if someoene was going to catch the "three marks" connection. Thanks for participating in the conversation. 

Hi Jeff,

You raise an interesting question that our Church Planting Team is taking quite of bit of time to learn about.

Funding streams in this particular denomination are based more regionally and locally, the money given at the denominational level is minimal, but it is at the denominational level that assessment, coaching and training is offered. In another recent interaction we had with another denominaiton planting at about the same pace more money came from the denominational level along with assessment, training and coaching.

What we are discovering is that

1. Funding has become, in almost all cases, a partnership between the planter, local, regional, and denominational entities.

2. Assessment (or at least the assessment process pathway/standards) is located out of the denominational office.

3. Coaching standards for new church planters are becoming increasingly common. These standards allow a broad range of people who can coach, but they have to meet the standards set by the denomination's church planting team.

4. There is an increasing desire to determine the level of risk that a planter has going in to a church plant. It is becoming possible to determine how difficult it will be for a given church planter to build a sustainable church in a given place.