First phase: Prepare

Step 1: Map your starting point (Chapter 1)

• Gauge the congregation’s commitment level.

• Build trust as a foundation to action.

• Seek God’s will with an eye toward where God is already moving.

Step 2: Make the case to parent (Chapter 2)

• Discover the biblical, demographic, strategic, and pragmatic reasons to parent.

• Develop a case and prepare a winsome presentation.

Second phase: Engage

Step 1: Build a lead team and engage the congregation (Chapter 3)

• Define the purpose of the team.

• Recruit a lead team of qualified people.

• Develop team trust.

• Orient the team to the parenting process.

• Engage the congregation in the vision for parenting.

• Engage the conference director of new church development for partnership resources.

Step 2: Navigate hidden forces (Chapter 4)

• Address the parenting congregation’s fears.

• Identify the congregation’s existing values and develop parenting values.

• Address resistance to change.

• Develop prayer energy and strategy.

• Use “force field analysis” to gain perspective.

 Step 3: Build a sustainable funding plan (Chapter 5)

• Develop a preliminary funding plan that will bring the plant to sustainability in three to four years.

• Develop a preliminary budget and define revenue sources.

• Discern your approach to risk management.

• Set the planter up for funding success.

Third phase: Establish

Step 1: Discern planting opportunity (Chapter 6)

• Determine general need in your community.

• Discern your congregation’s capacity for “cultural reach.”

• Leverage tools to discern best potential target group.

• Make room for planter input and Spirit leading.

Step 2: Select a parenting model (Chapter 7)

• Consider a range of parenting options.

• Select a model based on integrating principles.

• Seek confirmation of parenting model through prayer.

Step 3: Call a lead planter (Chapter 8)

• Build a planter profile based on potential target group.

• Determine potential candidates’ accountability to Minnesota Annual Conference, basic pastoral skills, environmental risk, and financial and marital health.

• Check references.

• Arrange for an expert assessment of the chosen candidate, and employ other assessment tools.

• Confirm vision alignment of planter and parenting church.

Fourth phase: Release

Step 1: Release the planting team (Chapter 9)

• Release the planter for full-time planting work.

• Release members from the congregation to the plant through the selection process.

• Release a wide range of resources to the plant.

Step 2: Support the planter (Chapter 9)

• Understand and participate in the governing team.

• Provide for planter coaching.

• Develop planter/parent covenant.

Step 3: Allow the parent church to recover (Chapter 9)

• Accelerate the parenting church’s health with Natural Church Development checkup (available through the Office of Congregational Development).

• Address leadership development with mentoring.

• Take time for recovery of attendance, finances, and emotions.

• Celebrate successes and understand setbacks.

• Capture learning from parenting experience for next plant.

Information taken from Multiplication Moves: A Field Guide for Churches Planting Churches by Ben Ingebretson (Faith Alive, 2013).