Trajectory Plan for Canton Church Plant

Notes:

This is not a “timeline plan.” Its progress is primarily determined by the numerical benchmarks.
The Trajectory Plan is marked by 4 “phases”, each with objectives and benchmarks. Transition Steps occur when objectives and benchmarks are met.

Phase 1: Gathering Phase
- Structure
  - Fr. Spencer and the CTK members committed to the church plant gather an initial group through monthly formal interest meetings and monthly gathering events, supplemented by organic growth, networking, informal interest meetings, etc.
  - Cell Groups are suspended during this time so that those planning on joining the launch team can focus on Gathering.
  - Everyone continues to participate fully as a CTK member. New people are either brought into membership at CTK, or continue at their current church. But all new members show their commitment to the church plant by attending the gathering events and interest meetings.
- Objectives
  - Gather list of possible contacts from each committed person.
  - Set collective goal of having 500 “gathering conversations” about the church plant with family, friends, neighbors, and strangers. Keep a tally!
  - Solidify relationships with other committed families.
  - Create a vision website, a brochure that answers questions about the church plant for members to use in gathering conversations, and a business card.
- Numerical Benchmark: Assemble a group of 20 families who’ve given verbal commitment to join a “Launch Team”.
- Transition Steps
  - Establish and commission a “Launch Team”, where each family commits to the plant for one year.
  - Create a Facebook page.
Phase 2: Launch Team
- Structure
  - In addition to the monthly gathering events and interest meetings, the entire Launch Team will meet once per month on a Sunday evening at a central location for…
    - Dinner (potluck)
    - Evening Prayer
    - Strategy Session
      - Vision Casting for the church plant’s identity, culture, and values.
      - Report on Gathering progress
      - Receive assignments about being more intentional in their life with others.
  - The members of the Launch Team that are current CTK members would continue to participate fully as members of CTK on Sundays for Liturgy and Catechesis. Those who were gathered after the initiation of Phase 1 may continue to attend other churches.
- Objectives
  - Culture Building
    - Establish the “Why” for the church plant.
    - Train each Launch Team member how to share their story in a way that connects with the church plant.
    - Have discussions and trainings to develop a particular mission and vision based on the CTK Core Values.
    - Perform vision casting exercises to flesh out some particulars on how the church plant will look and be like. (i.e. Church Name, Church logo, mission statement, etc.)
  - Gathering
    - The Launch Team will start a Gathering Ministry (i.e. Theology on Tap, etc.) and plan/execute one Gathering Event.
    - The Launch Team will plan and execute two Mercy Outreaches.
    - The Launch Team will set collective goal of hosting x# of unchurched, dechurched, or underchurched people/families in Launch Team member homes. (i.e. 40)
- Numerical Benchmark: Assemble a group of 24 families who attend meetings, are committed to the launch team regularly, and tithe to the church plant.
- Transition Steps
  - Pledge Drive with minimum goal of $120,000
  - Establish logo, mission, and vision statement. (The Core Values are inherited from CTK.)

Phase 3: Pre-Launch
- Structure
  - The whole Launch Team will meet twice per month for Launch Team Meetings on Sunday afternoons. On those days, the Launch Team would not attend CTK in the morning. Eventually, these Launch Team Meetings would include “practice services” as part of the meetings. Both LT meetings would focus on training, planning, culture building, and vision casting. On the other weeks, all Launch Team members will worship at CTK.
  - The Launch Team would continue to host a monthly Gathering Event and a monthly Interest Meeting.
  - During this Phase, the Launch Team would establish four new cell groups.
  - When ready, the Launch Team will host a “Preview Service” as one of its Gathering Events.
  - As the official Launch date approaches, and when they feel ready, the Launch Team will move to weekly Sunday worship, preferably on Sunday mornings, practicing the Liturgy and plans created during this phase. This step is often called a “soft launch”.
- Objectives
  - Host Gathering Events (i.e. 4th of July celebration, English Country Dance, Holy Smokes, etc.)
  - Populate Liturgy Guild Teams and hold Trainings
  - Train and rehearse Liturgy
  - Find venue, solidify lease
  - Acquire vestments and liturgical items
- Numerical Benchmark: Assemble a group of 28 families who are committed to the launch team meetings and events and who tithe to the church plant.
- Transition Steps
  - Invest in promo video (costs approximately $2k)
  - Set Launch date
  - Leading up to the launch, have a heavy publicity campaign utilizing the whole Launch Team. (i.e. handing out flyers, inviting friends to celebrate with them on the Launch, etc.)

Phase 4: Launch
- Structure
  - Public worship on Sunday mornings.
  - The Canton Church Plant would remain an extension work for a period of time, connected to CTK at a number of levels. Catechetical materials would be generally supplied by CTK. Liturgical, pastoral, leadership, and administrative support would continue for as long as was needed.
- Objectives
  - Establish new Cell Groups, Men’s/Ladies/Young Adult Fellowships, in stages as seems best.
  - Mature into a Mission!