Regional Multiplication Pathway
The mission of the Crossway Network of Churches is to plant and support healthy, reproducing churches and regional networks of churches throughout the world for the glory of God.
By God’s grace as churches multiply, we believe that the best way to accomplish our mission is to organize churches in the closest geographical proximity into relationally connected Regional Networks. Our hope is that we will see the most rapid multiplication by empowering these distinct Regional Networks to do more together than apart. As more churches are planted, the existing Regions will be continually mindful of timing and resources for multiplying new ones.
Below is a general pathway toward Regional Multiplication and is not intended to mandate the timing of them. The specific timing for creating new Regions will be managed by the Regional Leadership Team.[1]
Where there is more than one church in close enough geographic proximity, the churches are encouraged to cultivate church to church relationships through things like:
- Gathering together for a variety of ministry events
- Connecting as leaders.
- Praying for one another.
- Sharing resources.
– The hope is that building these local church relationships will:
- Foster interdependence among churches.
- Encourage the ability to share ministry resources, gifts and people.
- Create opportunities for pastors and leaders to support and pray for one another.
- Cultivate vision, prayer and strategy for future church planting together.
- Pave the way for new Regions to form out of longer term and stronger relationships.
Once there are 3 to 4 churches in closer geographical proximity,[2] the Sending Region will consider officially multiplying a new one together.
The Sending Region will carefully and prayerfully evaluate buy-in and readiness of the pastors and churches that will form the new Region. This will be based on:
- Affirmation by the lead pastor of each church in the existing Region and the one to be multiplied.
- Communication to the pastor teams of each church.
- Identification of a potential Director for the new Region.
The Regional Leadership Team will propose a choice for their Regional Director in accordance with the parameters set up in “Crossway At a Glance”.
Once the direction toward a new Region is affirmed, the leaders of the new Region will propose a plan for new meeting rhythms and a timeline for the official start of the Region. See the downloadable proposal template below.
The Sending Region will consider an initial funding gift for the new Region. The entire Regional Leadership Team, including those who will multiply “out,” will be involved in this decision.
Celebrate the launch of the new Region via web, social media, Realm, and at the annual Crossway Network Huddle following the date the new Region began to function.
The new Region will function in their own authority, creativity, and direction in the leadership and management but will continue to hold to the existing Crossway Network parameters for pooled funding:
Every Crossway church will set aside 10% of all general giving for church planting – 5% (can include other missions efforts outside of Crossway Church Planting) and 5% specifically to Crossway regional church planting. The second 5% listed will be sent monthly to a collective regional account. The regional lead pastors decide in plurality (including those adopted in) how this collaborative fund is spent for Crossway’s mission according to guidelines each region sets up independently. While this value and practice is recommended from the time contributions to the church begin, a new church plant is expected to commit to it beginning at the start of their second official fiscal year.
The new Region will determine exactly how the above 5% pooled church planting funds are spent. For example, some regions have used these general guidelines:
- 65% Direct to Church Planting
- 20% Church Planting Residencies
- 10% Special Projects Related to Church Planting
- 5% Administration
Administrative Considerations
- Accounting and financial management – Regional Director oversees.
- Bank and admin localized with Regional Director (generally speaking). Region decides.
- Identity the name of new region and open a Crossway DBA under Crossway’s 501c3
- Open Bank accounts with the DBA (i.e. Crossway Network “doing business as” Rocky Mountain Region, or Mountain Pacific Region, or…etc.).
Collaborative Efforts
- Retreats – Men, Women, Youth
- Regional Network celebrations
- Combined Regional leadership training (Pastor’s Institute , etc.).
- Larger worship gatherings.
- Other creative gatherings that will foster Regional relationships and vision.
A Regional Multiplication Proposal Template is included in the downloadable resources below. The template is intended to serve the multiplication process and may not cover all areas a Region desires to consider. Other items should be added as needed.
[1] This is made up of the Regional Directors and all the Lead Pastors from each church in the Region
[2] “Closer proximity” simply means closer than the scope of a current Region. Our desire is to see multiplying Regions covering increasingly smaller geographical areas.