General Assembly Resolutions and Vision Statement Regarding Church Planting: Denominational Church Planting Resolution: (1992): General Assembly:
WHEREAS the local church has been commissioned by God as the primary agency for communicating the gospel and establishing communities of the Kingdom; and
WHEREAS the urgent need of today’s troubled cities cries out for the transforming influence of local congregations in every neighborhood; and
WHEREAS the Church of God in this 64th General Assembly has endorsed visionary and far-reaching plans for evangelistic expansion; and
WHEREAS the Church of God has demonstrated a commitment to the aggressive establishment of new congregations through- out its history, and our periods of greatest numerical growth have coincided with concentrated efforts in church planting;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Church of God dedicate its efforts in prayer to the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into the harvest (Matthew 9:38), concentrate its attention upon the identification of fertile fields (Acts 18:9-11), and commit itself to a determined plan of establishing churches (Matthew 28:19, 20); and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we seek creative ways of celebrating successes and breakthroughs in church planting (64th A.,1992, pp. 78, 79).
The following is the 2004 General Assembly Commitment to the Vision of Church planting:
CHURCH PLANTING We commit ourselves to identifying, training and resourcing God-called church planters and to intentionally planting new life-giving churches. This commitment will be demonstrated by:
Focusing designated resources of the local church, state/regional offices, and the international offices for planting new churches.
Starting the number of church plants equal to a minimum of 3% of the total number of churches in a state/region/nation annually.
Developing a certified training program in our Evangelism and Home Missions Department and educational institutions for church planters and home missions.
Emphasizing the health and viability of new church plants as well as the number of churches planted.
Affirming the different models of church planting for different situations.
Recognizing church planting as an apostolic ministry for our day.
(Mat. 16:18; John 4:35; Acts 2:47; 14:23; Eph. 5:25-28)
