Welcome to the process of considering Church Planting in EFCA-Southeast!

We are presently praying for you and your wife as you work through the process of determining where the Lord would want you to serve. We hope you will find our time of getting to know each other and our communication based in integrity and relevant to what you are personally processing. We would encourage you to ask questions and please do NOT assume anything.

The steps we will follow through the process will begin with phone calls and using email to get to know each other. Our style in the SED focuses on a relational style and cultivating a healthy interdependence between pastors and churches in establishing healthy disciple making ministries.


After we have received a resume these steps are followed by the SED Church Planting Team:

Step 1: Begin to communicate and to understand where the potential planting couple is coming through, their vision, past experiences and simply to begin a relationship.

Three issues are critical as we proceed through "Step 1”.

• Are you called to a church plant as a couple?


• Is your ministry partner (wife) on the same page?


• Are there people that may want be a part of your team, to follow your vision and move here to begin a new church?

(Later when a candidate completes a final interview the candidate will need to still affirm that God is calling him to a specific target area.)

Step 2: Several Things need to come to the SED Church Planting Office

1. Receive a list of references from the candidate and permission to call the references. We are sensitive and aware of the need for possible clarification and instructions that will may need to be communicated before anyone is called.


2. Receive 2 sermons tapes or videos.


3. Receive the Personal Assessment Inventory completed and emailed back to the SED before we proceed with the form signed to be able to share the assessment with our team and the future coach.

Step 3: A Behavioral Assessment will be completed by a SED Assessment Team. The team will provide all candidates with a written review of the assessment interview with suggestions for possible next steps. With the assessment will be specific recommendations for next steps toward seeing the candidates visions realized. For instance, the assessment may only encourage planting a church as a team, others will be encouraged to do a pioneer church plant. A pre-assessment questionnaire will need to be filled out before a face to face assessment takes place with a SED Assessment Team.
A permission form will need to be signed so the final written assessment can shared with others.

Step 4: A final interview will be completed with the SED Church Planting Team, the SED Superintendent (if available) or the Director of Church Planting. During the time the candidate is in the SED for the final interview there will be set aside to explore, confirm and affirm the potential community being targeted for a new church. Remember being called to a specific community is critical for a church planter and his family.

Step 5: After final acceptance and a completed written assessment the candidate will receive a letter of call to begin a church plant project under the oversight of the SED Church Planting Team. At this time it would be important to send a letter out to friends, family and previous people you may have served to begin to bring together a prayer team of 100 people. This an excellent opportunity to begin to cast vision for what the Lord may be doing in the candidate's life.

Step 6: The candidate can go ahead and download the credentialing files necessary to follow through with the licensing process.  We ask each candidtae to agree to pursue the process at some point in their ministry.  The preparing of a doctrinal paper for the licensing council must be completed before anyone begins there ministry.  The 3 year license leading to ordination is suggested and encouraged for each candidate.  The licensing council will NOT be scheduled until the SED Ministerial Team leader has received all the papers and referrals necessary to call a council. Follow the guidelines sent to you with the file. If a candidate had not attended Trinity Seminary for his education than 5 books will be required to be read before the licensing council takes place.  The credentialing files can be downloaded from our district web site at www.sed-efca.org . 

Step 7: The church planting missionary will be encouraged to attend the next Boot Camp and begin communicating with his assigned coach. The goal is for a healthy transition for the entire family.