Definitions
A preaching point is a regular service or meeting place distinct from the mother church as to location or language designed to reach people who are currently unchurched, not including services in institutional settings such as prisons, nursing homes or college campuses.
A daughter work is a congregation that has met at least three months, holds a least one service per week, and is under the general oversight of the pastor of the mother church. It is the result of the concerted efforts of an established mother church to plant a new congregation.
A self-governing church is an autonomous congregation lead by a licensed UPCI pastor.
Your Responsibilities
The leadership of the district is excited to hear from those who have a burden to plant a church, but you must have the consent of the District Board. (A change of status from preaching point or daughter work to a self-governing church must also be approved by the board.) Please review the New Work Policy in the District Board Policies document available here (ask you pastor or a district board member for the password).
Next Steps
If you are planning to start a preaching point, daughter work or self-governing church, request a letter of recommendation from your pastor and fill out the NAM Application found on the documents page here (you will need the password from your pastor) and send it to the NAM Director and District Secretary. Also, fill out a Next Town commitment form here for helpful resources.
Any UPCI pastors of churches that are within the city or town of your target location will be notified about the application and invited to submit any input in writing to the District Board. You may be asked to meet with the District Board and the NAM Director.
If you are applying for a self-governing church, once you have received approval from the District Board and are listed with the UPCI as a self-governing church, you will be granted NAM status. With NAM status you may be eligible for training, Christmas for Christ (CFC) funding, and other support for church planting. The church must be incorporated under provincial jurisdiction, registered as charity by the Charities Directorate of the Canada Revenue Agency, and be affiliated with the UPCI. For more information on CFC see the page on FAQs. Please contact your NAM Director for further information and guidance.