Six critical areas have been determined and established by District and National movement leaders as key areas for church planting success. These six fundamentals include:

1. Spiritual Awareness
2. Personal Assessment
3. Training and Networking
4. Coaching
5. Project Standards & Models
6. Financial Support

The following Standards for Church Planters and New Churches have been adopted by Converge MidAtlantic in an effort to facilitate effectiveness in our church planting movement:

Standards for Church Planters

1. Approval by an approved Assessment Center or Assessment process
2. Job description in writing provided by the District and agreed to by the church planter
3. Basic training in Church Planting or equivalent training or expertise
4. Relationship with a Church Planting Coach beginning with deployment on the field and for a minimum of 2 years after public launch
5. Annual job performance review by the District Coach or Church Planting Director
6. Connection with and intention to affiliate with a BGC District
7. Completion of an Expectations Interview
8. Approved Church Planting Plan/Proposal with a clearly developed Model for Church Planting.

Standards for New Churches

1. Clearly developed vision, mission, values, and strategy statements (as a part of church planting plan/ proposal)
2. Monthly and annual updates submitted to District office beginning with preparatory worship, until self supporting status has been achieved.
3. Personal financial support to be at a minimum of 75% before preparatory worship begins (75% of whatever support is needed to be developed). Preparatory worship being any group meeting beyond launch team meetings).
4. 20 adults minimum in launch team before preparatory worship will begin.
5. 30 adults minimum in preparatory worship or in a launch team before public services are launched.
6. Financial support of Converge MidAtlantic to begin within 3 months of public launch (Minimum of 10% of offering income to be directed to Mideast Conference missions)
7. Constitution and bylaws which demonstrate commitment to minimum requirements for BGC member churches:
1. Commitment to BGC Affirmation of Faith
2. Commitment to believer's baptism by immersion
3. Local church membership comprised of individuals who profess faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and public testimony through baptism
4. Governance which includes both spiritual leadership and congregational involvement
5. Active participation in the mission of Converge MidAtlantic and BGC
8. Initial Membership established before public launch. Initial leadership team established, constitution and bylaws adopted, and recognition process completed within 12 months of launch.
9. Significant involvement in parenting or helping plant a new BGC church within 5 years of launch
10. Commitment to birthing before significant involvement in building development
11. Self supporting status within 4 years of deployment, and development towards self support status according to agreed upon model.
12. Yearly ministry plan including plan to meet congregational and community outcomes.

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