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The Birth of a Congregation Overview This article explores the first of ten stages of development in the life cycle and stages of congregational development: Birth. The ten stages are grouped into five phases. Phase One: Early Growth, involves the first five to seven years of the life of a congregation. It includes the stages of Birth and Infancy. To appropriately understand the Birth stage, it is necessary to look at the period of gestation, explore how the organizing principles of vision, relationships, programs, and management impact the Birth stage, review the characteristics of the Birth stage, and determine how a congregation makes the passage to the Infancy stage. Gestation Gestation is a period of a couple of months to a couple of years before the Birth of a congregation when the idea of a new congregation is being developed through prayer, planning, and preparation. Prayer involves seeking spiritual guidance about where and when new congregations ought to start to reach lost, unchurched, dechurched, or hurting people. Starting new congregations is a spiritual journey, not the franchising of a business. Therefore, to be successful it must embrace a God-led spiritual movement for the expansion and extension of His Kingdom through local New Testament faith communities. Planning addresses the development of strategies for the starting of new congregations. These strategies can be denominational, parachurch, congregational, or individual. Traditionally denominations have taken the lead in developing strategies for new congregations. Increasingly parachurch organizations, congregations, and individuals who feel called to church starting are developing strategies in the vacuum left by denominational inactivity. Preparation relates to specific steps to start a particular congregation. Usually a new congregation starts when a well-developed vision for a congregation emerges over a period. Seldom, except in the case of a split or separation group, does a congregation start without some preparation period. Preparation must consider several factors. First, what is the vision that God has for this new congregation? Second, what will be the core ideology of this congregation, including its mission, purpose, and tentative core values? Third, what target group of people will this new congregation be uniquely situated to reach? Fourth, what are the logistics of the actual birth of this congregation, timing, location, and Birth methodology? Fifth, what are the characteristics needed in the pastor of the congregation? Sixth, how will parenthood be handled as to sponsorship or mentoring by another congregation? Seventh, is this an intentional new congregation, or a split or separation group from another congregation? What is the Place of the Organizing Principles in the Birth Stage? Birth is that period when vision is dominant, but relationships, programs, and management are not. Congregations at Birth are living out the mission, purpose, core values, and vision that God has given them for a new congregation that ought to be present in a certain place or target group of people. Vision is the fuel or energy that drives a new congregation forward. Leadership is expressed through the vision, and assists in fueling the forward progress of the congregation. This leadership is God’s leadership that empowers congregational leaders to seize the day. The period of Birth only lasts about six months to two years. Vision should include a description of the audience to be reached, the methodology, the style of ministry, the outline of the belief system, and must be motivational. Vision must be sufficiently empowering to fuel a congregation forward for a generation. New congregations engage in relationships activities, but generally not out of an intentional plan. Necessary programs are established, but few congregations take a long-term look at their program plans. Management is accomplished informally, and is generally put together as the congregation goes along. What are the Characteristics of the Birth Stage? The Birth stage of a congregation tends to last six months to two years. It is characterized by a passion to fulfill the spiritual strategic vision of the congregation. During this time the congregation seeks to establish healthy patterns of worship, evangelism and growth, discipleship, and ministry and missions. These healthy patterns flow from the passion to fulfill the strategic spiritual vision, and do not yet represent the formal development of the relationships, programs, or management factors. While Birth begins once the congregation is launched, the status of the congregation in some denominational traditions may be that of mission rather than formal church. At some time the congregation may actually constitute or formally organize and incorporate as an entity separate from its parenthood. Usually this should not occur until the Infancy stage. During the Birth stage congregations must deal with various issues. First, is our vision generational? Is it intended to provide leadership and focus for us for the first twenty or more years of the congregation? Second, what evangelism and congregational growth philosophy are we following? What methods do we need to use to bring the people to whom God has called us into a faith journey and community? Third, how can we be missionary from the first day, while being the product of missions? How do we develop a servant mentality within the congregation while simultaneously being served by our sponsorship or parenthood? Fourth, what leadership and ministry styles are lay and pastoral leaders expressing? Will they be able to make the shift to different leadership styles as the congregation develops through the growing stages of the life cycle? Fifth, will the founding pastor have to leave to allow a pastor with a different set of gifts and skills to take us to the next stage? Will the congregation be stunted in its growth and development because the pastor does not adapt his gifts and skills, and does not move on in favor of a pastor who does have the necessary gifts and skills? Sixth, will the lay leadership make same or similar adjustments as the pastor, or will they also need to turnover? How will this leadership style crisis affect the congregation's ability to grow and develop in a healthy manner? How will it impact the congregation’s ability to successfully navigate the passage to the Infancy stage? How Does a Congregation Make the Passage to Infancy? The idea is for congregations that have been started to continue healthy development through the stages of the life cycle. The stage that follows Birth is Infancy. Dominant vision and relationships characterize this second stage, while programs and management have not been fully developed. The relationships factor is the new dominant factor that joins vision. To successfully navigate the passage from Birth to Infancy, a congregation needs to begin acting like a congregation in Infancy. When it can do so comfortably, then it has probably navigated the passage. | 
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