Growth Plans for the Future
A look at multi-congregational church growth and renovation strategies

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For a new Q & A about Grace's future plans, visit our blogsite.

The Multi-Congregation Model

An alternative approach to address growth and local needs. This approach differs from the traditional model.

• Instead of only a centralized location, unlimited size and a growing complex of buildings, it emphasizes extending the church by branching out through smaller-sized congregations in various locations that share resources and philosophy of ministry. A strong central congregation will continue to bring leadership and resources to the whole church.

• Instead of launching only new, independent churches, this model maintains a close connection, association and partnerships with new congregations;

• Instead of multiplying separate senior pastors and multiplying a CEO style of leadership, this model has shared leadership among a community of pastors/preachers that are mentored and led by the founding pastors.

One church means that our congregations and sites share:

• One set of values, philosophy and mission;

• One leadership structure consisting of a community of elders and a team of pastors/preachers led by the founding pastors;

• One membership role;

• Many common resources:  staff, equipment, funding, budget, offices, etc. Though distance makes a difference here, whatever can be shared will be;

• One shared legal status;

In our approach, this association is voluntary and a congregation would be free to become an independent church. Our hope, however, is to maintain a meaningful connection by making sure that relationships are strong and that the united church as a whole brings a level of help and leadership that makes a strong local contribution to the congregations and sites.

Definitions

Our 'One Church with Multiple Congregations / Sites' model (OCMC) is one church made up of congregations and sites. The term church refers to the whole body of all congregations and sites under the elders of Grace.

For us a congregation will have a local preacher/pastor and a local leadership team but will share the session, some staff and a budget with Grace.

A site will use video or simulcast for preaching and may have a part-time local pastor who will welcome, organize and lead the worship service though he will not have preaching responsibilities.

Multiple Congregations:

• Grace Community Church is no longer identified as one centralized location in Mills River but with all the various congregations in the region.  These congregations would develop their own sense of local identity, community and expression;

• Each congregation may have its own worship site(s) and style, a pastor/preacher who is associated primarily but not exclusively with it, and certain elders and staff who attend its services;

• Each congregation would have a sub-budget set in accordance with its anticipated local funding.

Multiple Sites Means:

• A new worship site is normally the first step and a site may eventually develop into another congregation;

• Congregations would seek to limit their size and extend through multiple worship locations as opportunity provides

The Plan – 2008

Grace plans to start 10-12 new congregations or sites over the next 6 years beginning in the fall of 2008. Our target is to plant a new congregation each fall and a new site each spring. Grace may also expand the Mills River site by building, though the outlines for this plan are rough. Currently our sanctuary seats about 700. The hope would be to provide additional education space, offices and seating. A possible target for attendance at the Grace Center would be 2500 to 3000 on a Sunday. Presently attendance is around 1500.