NCPN Gathering November 2024

Thank you to all those who attended this most recent gathering of the National Church Planting Network. To those who couldn’t attend – you were missed and we hope this summary provides a useful insight to all that was discussed. 

Dot Tyler (24-7 prayer) led us in times of prayer after each session, to help us bring all that we learned to God and listen to His voice. 

Session 1 – Research and Mapping 

Peter Brierley (formerly MARC Europe and Christian Research) and Ruth Powell (NCLS Research) offered contributions on how research and mapping can inform church planting: 

• If we want to join in with what God is doing, we need to see what he is doing
• Peter Brierley outlined past trends in research on church data in the UK. Work since 1979 demonstrates that: radical change is needed for the institutional churches; growth elsewhere is continuing; not all evangelical churches are growing; and  not all growing churches are evangelical.
• Ruth Powell summarised the past three decades on church health and public attitudes toward Christianity in Australia. It reveals: a) that society is increasingly untrusting of churches and the church is in decline overall; b) in response, some churches are withdrawing and others are trying to find new approaches; and c) current needs of church communities. 

Next steps: There is scope to do similar research in the UK. Caroline Millar is proposing to undertake pilot research in a few trial areas. Half the room suggested such research would inform their planting strategy.

Session 2 – Micro-Church Planting and Disciple Making Movements 

Peter Dunn (of BigLife), Jeff Lothamer (of the Micro-church Network) and John McGinley (of Myriad) presented on Micro Church Planting and Disciple Making Movements (DMMs):

• Micro-churches/ DMM are a vibrant emerging movement in church planting of small, organic, mission-driven communities of believers who are committed to making disciples. 
• They have the following key characteristics: Disciple-Making and Multiplication; Authentic Community; Decentralisation; Multiplicity of Leadership; Dispersion rather than attraction; Simple, Reproducible Structures; and Prayer and Obedience-Based Discipleship.
• They work on three levels. On the Personal Level, leaders need to ask how they are living out these characteristics in their own lives. On the Local Level, through relationship, prayer and persistence these communities are established and nurtured. On the Regional Level, these communities can be integrated into and gradually change existing regional church structures. 

Next Steps: Join for an Exploration Day: “Disciple-Making Movements / Micro-Church Planting” on March 4th, 10 AM – 3 PM at The Old Deanery (London).

• Delve into the details of these movements with insights from John McGinley and Peter Dunn.
• Develop strategies to foster these forms of church as part of a broader renewal and church planting framework.
• Gain practical tools and approaches to implement these models at various levels.
• Engage in meaningful dialogue with peers and leaders in church planting.
• For further information or to sign up (with dietary requirements), email Abby Harris

Session 3

We had four concurrent workshops on lessons we’re learning about church planting from different contexts:

• Integrating DMM/Micro-churches into a church planting strategy for historic denominations – Peter Dunn (BigLife and Baptist Union) & John McGinley (Church of England) 
• Developing a national ecumenical church planting strategy – Dave Richards (Scottish Church Planting Network)
• Moving a network of churches to becoming a movement for church planting – Alex Harris (Baptist Union) 
• Aiming high – joining in with an international planting vision and working it out across the denomination in this country – Adam Islip (Assemblies of God)

Next Steps: Join a Seminar: “Exploring a Network Church Planting Strategy” on Tuesday, February 4th, 10 AM – 4 PM at The Old Deanery, London EC4V 5AA

• Learn from Ric Thorpe (Church of England), Misheck Manhanha (Assemblies of God), and Alex Harris (Baptist Union) through case studies of successful strategies.
• Explore key considerations, including culture, systems, finances, and training, to build momentum for church planting.
• Leave with enhanced or newly developed strategies that have proven success in creating church planting growth across networks.
• Engage in meaningful conversations with national and network leaders in a focused, smaller group setting.
• For further information on this workshop or to sign up, email Benita Thambipillai

Actions

• Put 2025 NCPN dates in your diary (see email)
• For future NCPN Full Group meetings invite an apprentice who is different to you

If you have any thoughts about what NCPN should be doing in the next three years, please email your suggestions Benita Thambipillai

Slides