The Southwest Church Planting Network Processes and Member Responsibilities In 1998 the Southwest Church Planting Network (SWCPN or Network) was formed to make expanding the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, through the planting of Presbyterian Churches (PCA) a high priority in the Southwest region—covering the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma and the northwest corner of Louisiana In addition, the Southwest Church Planting Network strongly embraces the strategic, national campus ministry of the PCA, Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) and the synergistic relationship that can exist between church planting and campus ministry Therefore, in conjunction with our church planting focus, it is our mission to financially assist in starting new RUF chapters on the universities in our region First Steps for Prospective Church Planters in the SW Church Planting Network New Church Plant Decisions are made at the MNA Committee level first at the Presbyteries of the Southwest A prospective new Church Planting Pastor should contact the MNA Chairman of the Presbytery he is seeking a call from first If it is a more general interest he can contact either the MNA Chairs or the Executive Director who can explain the process for selecting and approving new Church Planters and new works Contact information for each of the MNA Chairman and the Executive Director is below including contact information for each member of the Executive Committee Prospective Church Planting Pastors in the SW Church Planting Network should submit a Ministerial Data Form (MDF) and Network Application for review by their Mission to North America (MNA) Committee as well as the Network Executive Committee (9 Elected Regional Pastors including the MNA Chairman) for consideration and review Each prospective Church Planter must be assessed by the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) MNA Assessment Center A Prospective Church Planter should also prepare a Church Vision Overview of their work as well as a three year budget for review of the MNA and Executive Committees 1|Page Each prospective Church Planter must be interviewed by and approved by the MNA Committee of the Presbytery where their church will be located They also need to be interviewed and approved by the Network Executive Committee prior to being accepted as a Network Supported Church Planting Pastor Once approved as a SWCPN Church Planter, at least 45 days in advance of a Stated Presbytery meeting, a Ministry Call Letter will be drafted by the MNA Chairman, the Pastor of a mother church (if applicable) and the Network Executive Director and approved by the corresponding Session, MNA Committee and the Presbytery prior to being examined by the Presbytery for either ordination or transfer Financial Obligations of Network Church Plants and Member Churches A new church plant is obligated to give 1.25% of its average monthly tithes and offerings to the Network starting the month after it has started regular weekly worship In year 2, a new church plant, which has been having regular weekly worship for a year, is obligated to give 2.00% of its prior year’s tithes and offerings to the Network (payable in monthly increments) In year three the amount increases to 2.75% of the prior year’s tithes and offerings to the Network (payable in monthly increments) From year three going forward the amount stays level at 2.75% of the prior year’s tithes and offerings in monthly giving to the Network and 0.75% of the annual tithes and offerings to the Presbytery (payable in monthly increments) Member churches that are particularized also commit to giving 2.75% of their prior years tithes and offerings to the Network as well as 0.75% of their prior years tithes and offerings to their Presbytery (payable in monthly increments) It is through these funds that new church plants, new RUF works and additional Presbytery work is extended Reporting and Attendance Each Church Planting Pastor from all Network Church Plants should attend the annual February meeting of the Network unless providentially hindered Once particularized, each Organizing Pastor of each Network Church should also attend at least one annual meeting of the Network (preferably the February meeting) Each Church Planter should also attend the September training meeting of the Network for at least the first five years of their church plant’s existence Each Church Planter must have a paid, experienced Church Planting Coach: 2|Page • • • • Each Church Planter should budget at least $3,000 annually for coaching Coaches should be pre-approved prior to starting by the Executive Committee Each coach should submit a written report each quarter regarding their work with each Church Planter Each church planter should submit monthly reports on their work with prayer needs along with attendance and giving reports to the Network Executive Director and their MNA Chairman Contact Information for the Executive Director and Members of the Executive Committee Bill Thomas, SWCPN Executive Director, bill@plantchurch.org (Ex Officio Member of Executive Committee, RE Park Cities Presbyterian Church, Dallas, TX) Ricky Jones, SWCPN Chairman, revrickydean@gmail.com (Sr Pastor RiverOaks Presbyterian, Tulsa, OK) David Clelland, Chairman of North Texas (& OK) Presbytery MNA Committee, david.clelland@sbcglobal.net (Retired, former Sr Pastor of Town North Presbyterian, Richardson, TX) Dave Muntsinger, Chairman of Houston Metro Presbytery MNA Committee, dave@springcypresschurch.com (Sr Pastor Spring Cypress Presbyterian, Spring, TX) Clay Holland, At Large Member, clay.holland@christtheking.com (Sr Pastor Christ the King, Houston, TX) Whitney Anderson, Chairman of South Texas Presbytery MNA Committee, whitney.anderson@cpcgeorgetown.org (Sr Pastor of Christ Presbyterian Georgetown, TX) Tom Gibbs, At Large Member, tom@redeemersa.org (Sr Pastor Redeemer Presbyterian, San Antonio, TX) John Pickett, SWCPN Vice Chairman, Chairman of Southwest Presbytery MNA Committee, joncpick@gmail.com (Former Sr Pastor of University Presbyterian, Las Cruces, NM) Josh Hahne, At Large Member, josh.kkchurch@gmail.com (Sr Pastor King of Kings Church, Goodyear, AZ) Jamie Peterson, Former At Large Member, (former Sr Pastor of Christ Community Church, Frisco, TX) Participation in the Network requires the pledged financial support of its member churches (see financial responsibilities above) The Network functions as a Joint Subcommittee of four Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) Presbyteries – North Texas, South Texas, Houston Metro, and Southwest 3|Page