How do we get started?

The call may be as clear as it was to Paul and Barnabas in the Book of Acts: this is what God wants. You have a firm conviction! There is no doubt about the direction. God wants you to start a church.

More likely, however, the call begins with a mere inkling. “A new church might not be a bad idea”, is a thought floating through your mind. You are in a Bible study and the idea surfaces, “What if we were to start a church?” Or if you are already in an existing Covenant congregation, you wonder about parenting another.

The inkling, the thought, the idea hangs with you. You can’t seem to shake it. This may be the beginning of a call. You might be a leader in your church, a member of a small group Bible study, a layperson, a student, or a pastor. The vision for starting a church usually begins with one person who refuses to give up on what seems like the impossible dream.

When God is in it, the seed germinates. There is positive acceptance by a few. The quest begins, “How do we do it?” You can begin by talking to your pastor, conference superintendent at (402) 334-3020 or by calling the ECC’s Department of Church Growth & Evangelism at (773) 784-3000. They can point you to resources and people who can help shape a dream into a possible step-by-step plan. What’s next?

Focus On Our Covenant Family Character

Develop a sharply focused picture of who we are as Covenanters, and why Covenant churches are so closely linked together. Former Covenant president Paul Larsen summarized these two aspects as they have been from our beginning in 1885:

Rather than writing a confession that would wall out many true believers, they felt that the Bible itself was to be its only confession. The Covenant would affirm the Bible as “the Word of God, the only rule for faith, doctrine and conduct.” It needed nothing more than did the early church armed only with the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God. Beyond that, it dared to let the winds of freedom blow…

…As it sought to organize itself, the Covenant recognized the divine principle of structure and order. The New Testament gives no example of a believer who is not in covenant with and under the discipline of the Christian community. The apostolic church was more than an aggregate of independent congregations. As the believer is united in covenant with Christ and the local church, so the local churches are united to common mission and covenant with Christ. Only congregations bound together in union and covenant can fulfill the Great Commission.

For more information, ask your pastor, superintendent or department worker for other helpful documents such as Covenant Affirmations, Covenant Distinctives, So What’s A Covenant Church?, and The Covenant Church At A Glance. Some of these may be downloaded from CovChurch.org.

Vision and Name

Along with others interested in starting a new church be thoughtful and prayerful about developing a vision for it. Key to this vision is that it be a church for all and not just for you! By the Holy Spirit’s power, what do you sense God is calling you to be and do? The naming of a new church also merits creative thinking. Obviously, a new church bears its family name, “Covenant.” Before a new church can receive tax deductible contributions it must become a nonprofit corporation complete with name. This is a simple procedure in most states and provinces.

Mission

A Covenant church is a mission church. Churches are started to reach unchurched people, so mission is reflected in all the church does. From the beginning, a new church does well to focus on the wider mission of the church. It does this by emphasizing its own outreach as a mission station on its mission field, and also by designating a portion of its local income to God’s larger work.

Identity

Establishing a community identity always helps a new church. Distribute our Covenant family magazine, The Companion, or our devotional guide The Home Altar; use our widely acclaimed song book, Hymnal: A Worshipbook, or our smaller The Song Goes On. Freely distribute the brochures mentioned in the Focus section above. All are tools that assist in saying, “This is who we are. We belong to a family called Covenant.”

Facilities

A new church most often begins by renting space by the hour for special programming as well as Sunday morning worship. This usually happens for its first two to three years. A wide variety of places have been used for beginning Covenant churches. Such places have included schools, other churches, movie theaters, community centers, convention centers, etc. Often, within three years, the church feels a need for programming space seven days a week. Consequently, space in an office complex or shopping center could be leased. It is usually five or more years before a group is able to buy land and begin to plan for a building. A new fellowship needs to avoid becoming involved too quickly in real estate. Church is people, programs and worship and not wood or brick. “Looking for property” prematurely can easily take the focus off ministry.

Pastor

The calling and the care of a pastor is a key step in the beginning of a church. There are times when the group may be served by a lay pastor or bivocational pastor. For example, the Apostle Paul was a tentmaker. Whether a part-time or full-time pastor, a new congregation cares for their leader. This includes paying a fair salary as well as commitment to the Covenant Pastors Pension Fund and a responsible insurance plan. The denomination has a credentialing and ordination process for pastors, and an assessment process for potential church planting pastors, that help a young church in selecting the right person.

Constitution

A nonprofit corporation needs eventually to have a constitution. This should not be done early in the process, or without good coaching from another Covenant leader. As an Evangelical Covenant Church we have a distinctive character of congregational polity that is reflected in our legal documents; thus, a new church is to adapt and adopt one of several model constitutions. This may seem unnecessary to some, but we do it for the following reasons. When an infant congregation begins to write its own constitution, one of two things often happens. The church either has a document that has legal ambiguities, or it inadequately gives expression to Covenant distinctives. A constitution is a legal document. It is not to take the place of a church’s mission statement, philosophy of ministry or policy guidelines. When a congregation writes its own constitution it often inadvertently begins to incorporate all of these things into a single document. Again, good coaching by a Covenant leader will be critical here.

Assistance

New Covenant churches usually benefit tremendously from the resources, support and encouragement of nearby Covenant churches. The conference and the national body in Chicago have programs and counsel to help. Also, there may be financial assistance available. The new church is urged to show initiative in communicating with neighboring Covenant churches, the conference, and the denomination. We believe that churches do best when they function as in a family rather than as isolated bodies.

A Concluding Word

So, you want to start a Covenant church but are unsure. Is God in it? Assume the desire is from God. Begin to move ahead. God will solidly close doors if it is not his plan. He will swing them wide open if it is. Every new church requires several miracles. Only God can start a new church. But to do it, He needs you. Be available!

There may come a time in the process when, like the Apostle Paul, you will be positive God is in it. Begin by responding to that inkling. Paul received his Macedonian call to plant churches by acting on what he understood to be God’s direction. He walked through open doors when the Holy Spirit said “yes” and stopped when the Holy Spirit said “no” (see Acts 16:6-10). God can direct you in the same way. Act! The clarity will come!