What is Church Planting?

Within the Anglican Church in North America, church planting is being done in a number of different and exciting ways. Clergy are following the Lord’s leading to new areas to begin new works - often leaving comfortable positions to be obedient to their call. Networks and dioceses are banding together to train, equip, and release planters. Apostolic leaders are training, overseeing, and sending out teams of leaders into neighborhoods, apartment complexes, and anywhere else the good news is needed. Bishops are setting up residential ministry houses for young adults where they can live in community while being shaped and doing ministry. Churches are thinking creatively about equip leaders and plant new congregations in their communities.

Here’s the bottom line: Church planting used to be for the elite superstars of the clerical ranks. Today, we thank God for those who He has immensely equipped for this work while recognizing that a superstar strategy is not sustainable. Church planting is a work of the Body of Christ and involves those sending, those equipping, those resourcing, and those going.

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