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Home // Resources for Study // Church Growth Resources
Church Growth Resources
We have listed below a number of online resources for Church Planting & Church Growth.
Bear in mind that, just as with church planting/church growth research, the vast majority of resources currently available favor a "outside-in" approach to creating and growing Christian community (conversional evangelism, individually confessional membership, community based on broad/low-level doctrinal uniformity). These often result in fast growth, but tend to be more conservative in their theology, congregationalist in their ecclesiology, less tolerance of theological diversity, and less conflict resiliant.
There are few resources available at this time which favor the "inside-out" approach to creating and growing Christian community which we have been developing at St. Nick's (conversational evangelism, communitarian creedal membership, community based on Christ's love and a kerygmatic focus on doctrine). This approach results in deep growth (albiet a tad slower), and tend to more broad in theology, more committed to communion with the larger church, more tolerant of theological diversity, and much more conflict resiliant.
While many of the practical aspects of church planting and growth are the same in both approaches, the difference is in the nature of the community each is trying to produce, and the few - but critical - changes in strategy required to produce them.
For a description of the key differences between Outside-In (Fast Growth) and Inside-Out (Deep Growth) approaches to church planting and growth, click on the link belows:
Church Planting Resources
- Strengths: Ecclectic, practical, one of the more comprehensive resources available, especially regarding the church planting leadership team and community.
- Weakness: Predominantly "outside-in" in approach. Insufficient focus on diocesan capacity-building.
Plant My Church Conference - 2008 (Episcopal Church USA)
- Strengths: Brings together Episcopal church planter from around the country for networking, resource-sharing, and practical workshops.
- Weaknesses: Predominantly "outside-in" in approach (though you will find a few "inside-out" types lurking about and eager to network).
Church Development Start-Up Kit (United Church of Christ)
- Strengths: Broader ecclesial theology. Greater focus on denominational-level resource development. While not the same ecclesial structure as the Episcopal Church, it gives a clear idea of the kind of clarity of funding and resource development commitment needed.
- Weaknesses: Different demominational structure. Predominantly "outside-in" in approach.
Church Planting Resource Library (Southern Baptist Convention)
- Strengths: Comprehensive online library of resources for church planting, church growth, and church turn-arounds.
- Weaknesses: Different demominational structure. Predominantly "outside-in" in approach.
Church Growth/Congregational Vitality Resources
- Strengths: A good step by step guide for stimulating growth by creating multiple worship/gathering options which can be targeted to different needs or different groups. While it was developed for use in smaller congregations it can be used for any size congregation that needs to add or diversify its worship offerings, and can be particularly helpful in making the transition from Pastoral Size to Program Size.
- Weaknesses: Perhaps a little more prescriptive than it needs to be, but can be very useful with careful adaptation.
- Strengths: Useful resources for assessing and improving congregational vitality, thereby increasing growth. Good example of the kind of web-based resources a diocese (or the national church) could provide.
- Weaknesses: Different denomination. Less liturgical.
Diocesan Planning & Funding Resources
Church Planting & Building: Entrepeneurial Fundraising Possibilities - by Ken Howard
Elements of a Sucessful Diocesan Mission Plan - by Ken Howard
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