Procedures and Protocols
Church Planting Priority Team
Purpose and Function: The Church Planting Priority Team will cultivate a decentralized church planting movement within the Tulsa region where a growing number of network churches are involved in the creation of new churches.
· The Church Planting Priority Team endeavors to assist both prospective church planters and associational churches with training, resources, or funding at any stage of the church planting process.
· Church planters are expected to raise their own “primary” funding. The Church Planting Priority Team is available to assist church planters with preparing to raise support, including networking with associational churches who might be interested in supporting a new church.
· Network churches are encouraged to generously and directly fund, support, mentor, and pray for all church plants that demonstrate capable leadership and a clear vision. It is recommended that churches considering funding a new church look for a church planter with all of the following: a history of proven leadership, a strong sense of calling to church planting, a practical plan and strategy for the new church, a favorable church planting assessment from either the BGCO or other qualified assessor, and a completion certificate from a church planting training course or seminar. The Church Planting Priority Team is available to assist any associational church in this ongoing relationship.
· The Church Planting Priority Team provides supplemental funding (depending on available funds) to new churches by matching dollars given directly to a new church by individual donors and network churches. This match is not to exceed $12,000 in any one year and is not to exceed $36,000 over 3 years (funding will not be considered beyond the third year without extenuating circumstances and must never exceed the $36,000 limit regardless of circumstance). Church planters requesting funding from the association must provide documentation showing actual dollars given by individual donors or network churches before funds will be released. At least one TMBN church must be a financial partner and be present at the very first funding request with a signed covenant between the two churches showing their commitments to each other. Funding requests must not occur more frequently than quarterly.
· Funding requests to the Church Planting Priority Team must be presented in person by the prospective church planter and be accompanied by a written plan and strategy for the new church (or appropriate update/report for existing new churches who are requesting additional funding). Prospective church planters must complete an approved church planting training experience and receive a favorable church planting assessment from either the BGCO or other qualified assessor before requesting funds.
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Procedures and Protocols
Church Strengthening Team
The Church Strengthening Team will give leadership to a unified strategy for strengthening existing congregations that are members of this association. They will develop and maintain procedures and protocols to strengthen churches and make the most of possible redeployment opportunities.
Any Member of a TMABC church may participate in meetings of this team with the team’s published protocols serving as the basis for decision making. They are expected to remain well informed on local needs, growth trends, and best practices.
The Annual Financial Plan of the Network will allocate funds for Church Strengthening. This team is fully authorized to use these funds to resource the vision of affiliated churches.
- All requests for funds require a realistic strategy demonstrating how this project will assist the church in moving forward with their vision in a format understandable by the team.
- The funding the Church Strengthening Team grants to a church will be based on the need determined by the strategy, budget for the project and available funds.
- The local congregation requesting support must be a financial partner for TMBN to grant funding for their work.
- Normally, funding provided through the Church Strengthening Team will not exceed the funding commitment made to the project by the church requesting assistance.
- Under certain circumstances, as determined by the team, Covenant Agreements must be in place and signed by all partners before any funds are dispersed. A monthly report must then be received by the TMBN staff before any additional recurring funds are dispersed. These reports will be available to the Church Strengthening Team at their regular meetings for reviewing the ongoing request.
- Funds on deposit for the express purpose of supporting church strengthening in the Tulsa Metro area shall not be available to any congregation. Interest on these funds may be used by the Church Strengthening Priority Team to resource a church strategy.
- The Church Strengthening Team shall submit a proposed budget to the Network each year. Once the budget is approved, the Church Strengthening Team has the authority to disperse the funds as they deem necessary
- Meetings of the Church Strengthening Team shall be held bi-monthly or as needed. Currently, the normal meeting is the last Thursday of the month.
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Procedures and Protocol
Leader Care & Development Team
The Leader Care & Development Team will give leadership to a unified strategy for developing individual leaders and leadership teams in the association and in churches within the association. They will develop and maintain procedures and protocols to identify equip and train, both staff and laity to produce leaders, focusing on people of influence within each church.
Any Member of a TMBN church may participate in meetings of this team with the team’s published protocols serving as the basis for decision making. They are expected to remain well informed on local needs, growth trends, and best practices.
The Annual Financial Plan of the Association will allocate funds for Leader Care & Development. This team is fully authorized to use these funds to resource the vision of affiliated churches.
- Requests for funds should be specific and made in writing to the Leader Care & Development Team.
- Churches must demonstrate how this training or activity will assist them in moving forward with their God given vision.
- The local congregation asking for help must be a financial partner of TMBN for funding to be granted.
- The funding the Leader Care & Development Team grants to a church will be based on the need determined by the strategy, budget for the project and available funds.
- Funding of scholarships will not exceed the matching funds of the requesting church.
- The Leader Care & Development Team shall submit a proposed budget to the Network each year. Once the budget is approved, the Leader Care & Development Team has the authority to disperse the funds as they deem necessary
- Meetings of the Leader Care & Development Team shall be held monthly or as needed. Currently, the normal meeting is the last Thursday of the month.
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