LCMS Church Planting

Church planting is an exciting way to share the Gospel in a community that needs an LCMS church. Church planting is commonly perceived as a complex and challenging task that requires a pastor who is specially trained in church planting; however, it is actually something that can be initiated by a church planting team made up of laypeople.

What is Church Planting?

Establishing a new gathering of believers around Word and Sacrament with the intent of forming a sustainable congregation.

Why plant a new church?

Especially because so many LCMS congregations are in decline, it is vital to carry out the work Christ called us to do: to gather and shepherd His scattered sheep. In the past few decades, the United States has seen a massive population shift of people who have moved into communities without LCMS churches. Planting churches also helps us replace congregations that have closed, as well as have an LCMS presence where currently there is none.

What does LCMS Church Planting have to offer?

Church planting is done at the local level. LCMS Church Planting comes alongside districts and their new church plants to support them in three important ways:

• Resources — LCMS Church Planting offers demographic analysis reports and customization of data to meet specific contexts in addition to templates and case studies for various church plant contexts.

• Training — Church planting is not easy, and there is much for groups to learn about mission, ministry and the church planting process itself. LCMS Church Planting works to offer training to church planting teams and also seeks to connect teams with one another through classes, trainings and forum discussions.

• Tools — The church planting process is a team-based approach that starts with local laypeople. Laypeople conduct the first three phases of the process: concept, feasibility, and planning. Once these three phases are complete, a pastor is added to the team. The pastor serves as the shepherd and spiritual overseer of the new church rather than as an “entrepreneur” or “visionary leader.”

The next three phases of the church planting process (start-up, formation and expansion) will enable the church plant to begin and expand public Word and Sacrament ministry, which includes initiating public worship services, developing a sustainable faith community and formalizing church governance.

It is also important to note that this process is flexible and can easily be adapted to specific contexts.

• Grants — Partnership grants up to $100,000 are available for any eligible plant. To be eligible, the church plant must establish a new gathering of believers around Word and Sacrament with the intent of forming a sustainable LCMS congregation and must agree to use LCMS Church Planting’s process throughout the church planting endeavor.