Church Parenting Models (Models Series 2 of 5)

In this article, we now shift our focus from the planter models and the sending models to the parenting models. Here we examine common ways that the established or sponsored churches can help plant or parent new churches. Similar to the church planter model options of being a solo planter or team planter, in the same way, the parenting models can either be solo parenting or team parenting.

Solo parenting is when a single church plants a church. Team parenting is when more than one church partner to start a church. Just like in church planter team planting, the team approach is normally the most effective for most churches. The solo parenting model is normally limited to larger churches. They make up less than 10% of a global church.

Once you have decided if you're going to use the solo or team parenting model, then you normally choose between four basic models of parenting a new church from an existing church. The first model is called the branching model. Here the church is planting a church in their same area or city, neighborhood or region. The new church may even target the same ministry focus group as a sponsoring church, or a dissimilar ministry focus group.

The next model is called the colonizing model. This is planting a church in another area outside of the parenting church, outside of their city, neighborhood or region. The new church may focus on the same ministry focus group as a sponsoring church or a dissimilar ministry focus group. A distinguishing mark here is that ministry focus group is in another area.

A third parenting model is called the satellite or multi-site model. This is when one church plants new ministry congregations but does not view those new congregations as separate churches, but as satellite or sites of the same church. The new sites may focus on the same ministry focus group as the sponsoring church, or dissimilar ministry focus group.

A fourth parenting model is called the segregation model. This involves planting a church within the church, often using the same church facilities but at different times. The purpose is normally to serve a dissimilar ministry focus group. An example would be a Hispanic church starting an Anglo church within the church using the same church facilities so they might serve that part of their community that their Hispanic church is not being effective reaching.

Oftentimes church planters are being sent out not from a church or a group of churches, but from a sending agency or organization. In such cases, it is still very important for church planters to understand which parenting model they will be adopting in their ministry focus group; to plant grow and multiply gospel centered churches.