Qualifications:

• Christian with a deep sense of God's call to the ministry of church planting
• Actively serving in church ministry as a layperson, staff member or pastor of  Southern Baptist Church
• Ordained minister or will be ordained by a Southern Baptist Church within the first year of the new church plant
• College and seminary degree preferred

Initial Conference

• Meet with the New Church Planting Team representative of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (BSCNC)
• Meet with the New Church Start Strategist of the Cabarrus Baptist Association (CBA)

Church Planter Assessment

• Successfully complete the Church Planter Assessment given by the BSCNC New Church Planting Team
• Successfully complete background check administered by the BSCNC as part of the Church Planter Assessment

New Church Start Ministry Team of Cabarrus Baptist Association

• Present to the New Church Start Ministry Team of CBA a defined vision of the new church and a proposed ministry plan, including the following items:
       1. proposed budget
       2. relevant demographics of the proposed area of the new church plant
       3. timeline, including start date
       4. core families and ministry leaders
       5. ministry ideas
• Return to BSCNC to participate in Basic Training 1 for Church Planters after an approved recommendation from the New Church Start Ministry Team of CBA

Definition of a New Church Start

• Receives funding from the BSCNC and/or CBA
• Not yet constituted as a church and become a member of CBA
• Two to three years of age (in some cases the New Church Start Ministry Team of CBA will extend the New Church Start status beyond three years)
• Church splits are not considered New Church Starts and will not be funded by CBA

Church Sponsorship
CBA strongly recommends that New church Start have the sponsorship of one or more churches. The Sponsoring Church(es) may assist the new church in various ways until the new church becomes a constituted church:

• Prayer Suppport - for the mission and leadership
• Financial Assistance
    1. one-time gift for start-up costs, land, etc.
    2. assistance for a period of time (montly, yearly, etc.) deteremined by the Sponsoring  Church
    3. provide financial administrative assistance
    4. serve as the church of record of the New Church Start
• Commission and encourage volunteers to participate in ministry in the New Chruch Start
• New Church Start Ministry Team and the Church Strategist for CBA will assist in finding church sponsorship

Sponsoring Church Steering Committee
CBA recommends the Sponsoring Church appoint a Steering Committee to serve the first two years of the New Church Start.  It is suggested that the Steering Committee be comprised of the following:

• Two people from the Sponsoring Church
• Two people from the New Church Start
• One Person from the New Church Start Ministry Team of CBA
• The church planter and Sponsoring Church Pastor

Accountability
The following guidelines are intended to assist the New Church Planter and to enhance the health of the New Church Start.

• Read available books on Southern Baptist Life and Polity and church planting as recommended by the CBA Church Strategist and to be discussed with him
    1.  The Baptist Faith and Message
    2.  Baptist Polity
    3.  Suggested church planter books and articles
• Participate in at least one church planting training seminar or educational opportunity per year through CBA or other denominational channel.  CBA will scholarship one event per year.