Church Development Plan
A key step in the Revitalizing Process of every church is creating a Church Development Plan. Annually, pastors and church boards are asked “to conduct at least once a year…a planning session for the purpose of updating a clear written understanding” of the future development of the church (Manual, par 122, 129.4). At MultiplyNaz, we have standardized the Church Development Plan process by encouraging pastors and church boards to answer the following four questions in their plan and to pay attention to three key components under each question.
A. Who Will the Church Reach?
1. Prayer & God’s Call - have confirmed and articulated their call; have identified potential prayer team members who agree to pray for the church regularly
2. Fueling Passion - have thought through and are developing the personal habits needed for self-renewal, fueling spiritual desire
3. Community Exegesis - following the pattern of Paul (Acts 16:12-14), we learn about the community geographically (how large), demographically (who lives here), culturally (people characteristics) and spiritually (religious backgrounds).
B. What Kind of Church Will It Be?
4. Mission & Model - have established the church’s mission and model of ministry the church plans to fully develop over time
5. Vision Description - have written a beginning description of the future of the church
6. Nazarene Essentials - have articulated the 7 essential health characteristics and behaviors they believe will be practiced in the lives of the congregation when it achieves a solid measure of church health
C. Who Will the Church Work With?
7. Board & Church Structure - have thought through the church’s organizational structure, including board development
8. Leadership Community - have created a scheduled gathering of church leaders for communication, encouragement and training that includes using a leader development path
9. Mentoring & Community Relationships - the pastor/planter and church leaders have identified the community leaders they will build win-win relationships with, along with the church development mentors / coaches they will need
D. How and When Will this Plan Happen?
10. Disciple-Making “Next Steps” - have developed the implementation of “the journey of grace” and disciple-making “next steps” flow chart to assimilate new people into the church, helping them become Christ-like disciple-makers
11. Timeline & Critical Milestones - have identified a timeline & beginning list of critical milestones for implementing the church development plan
12. Stewardship & Budget - have completed a beginning stewardship plan to teach financial freedom, money management and giving; have competed a church budget
In Book Four of the MULTIPLYNAZ series, we will address the details of how pastors and church boards can answer each of the questions above and create a Church Development Plan that fits the culture and context of their community. We encourage local churches and Partner Districts to celebrate the creation of these Church Development Plans by reporting their completion and submitting them to the District Superintendent so he/she can celebrate the progress of the church (Manual 122). MultiplyNaz provides checklists and development tools to Partner Districts to aid local churches in the creation and improvement of their Church Development Plan.
Our goal is EVERY Nazarene church will have the resources in following the Nazarene Manual’s advice to build their own contextualized Church Development Plan. Church development is a Nazarene essential. We cannot ask a pastor or leader to do something without also training them with the tools needed to do it. Church development plans are especially important for the long-term effectiveness of revitalizing churches. We are committed to help you develop your contextualized Church Development Plan, designed to fit the community and context where God has called you to serve. You have GREAT days ahead!