LEADERSHIP MATTERS by Roger Yancey, D.Min.
“I don’t know what to do, we have tried and tried but nothing seems to work anymore! We used to be a growing church but now the neighborhood has changed, the congregation is older, we can’t seem to reach young families, and we have funerals but no baptisms. We are afraid that if things keep going this way that we will end up just shutting our doors.”
This is a conversation we have with church leadership at least one or two times a year. While the population of the TEBA is growing each month it doesn’t equally impact each area of the Association. Often there is a shift in the makeup of the areas a church is located and a church can find itself not looking on the inside like the neighborhood around it.
In response to these changing needs, we have developed a strategic model utilizing resources from both the TEBA and from NAMB on how your church can be a Legacy Church creating a Living Legacy that will impact generations to come. How does your church create a living Legacy? It all starts with committing to prayerfully consider being part of the Legacy process. This requires the whole church to become part of a conversation that leads to a clear decision of moving forward in the process. There are a number of Legacy options for your church to consider.
Legacy Plant. A church determines to replant itself upon the legacy of ministry and missions that once existed. In order to do this they (1) Give up command and control to outside leadership team and (2) Receive an assessed and equipped Legacy Restart Planter. The Legacy Restart forms an outside leadership team. This team is made of the Restart Planter and 5-7 people from sending or sponsoring churches and the TEBA. This team makes all the decisions short of closing the church or selling the building. The legacy Restart Planter works to: 1. Love and care for the remaining members. 2. Live on mission in his community in order. 3. Serve the community with radical generosity.
Legacy Partnership. A church determines to conclude its current ministry and invite another TEBA member church or the Association to take ownership of the facilities/resources and ministry in the community. 1. By merging with a new church plant. 2. By sharing space with a new church plant with the option to merge at a later date.
Legacy Provision. The church agrees to conclude its ministry and provide its remaining resources to a TEBA member church or directly to the Association for church planting. 1. By becoming a campus of another church. 2. By providing a home for a new church plant. 3. By a provision of resources for ongoing planting efforts.
Each of these options: A Legacy Plant, A Legacy Partnership, or A Legacy Provision provides a valuable means by which your church can partner with the other member churches and the TEBA to build the Kingdom by reaching future generations with the Gospel.
Q & A
How do we know which choice is best for our Church?
This is a significant decision that requires prayerful consideration. The TEBA can help you assess if the Legacy option is viable response to your church’s present reality. This is a deliberate process that involves the members of church family and its leadership.
Is every Legacy option a viable choice for our Church?
While all churches can be candidates for the Legacy process not every option can be a viable choice. The assessment process will help a church determine whether they should move forward in the process and which of the Legacy models would be best for their congregation.
If we choose a Legacy option can we change our mind later?
During the decision process of becoming a Legacy church, there is a growing commitment on the part of the church body culminating in a binding congregational vote. Once the congregation has voted and the Legacy Covenant is entered into the decision becomes binding upon both the congregation and the partners.
So if you’re considering becoming a Legacy Church what are your next steps?
Step 1 – Begin to pray about becoming a Legacy Church.
Step 2 – Contact us for additional information.
Step 3 – Schedule a Legacy Church consultation.
Step 4 – Prayerfully consider the results of your Legacy Church consultation and if God is leading your church to become a Legacy Church.
In Kingdom service,
Executive Director / AMS
