CHURCH EXTENSION COMMITTEE

About the Program:

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At the General Assembly in 2013, the advisory committee that met with CHMCE asked them to consider whether revitalization of struggling churches might fall under the umbrella of their labors. Since then, several other advisory committees and many presbyters have asked similar questions of CHMCE. They have now spent several years studying the issue and have adopted a proposal for revitalization that attempts to recognize the place of denominational committees as a supporting agency for local congregations and pastors.

 

Their proposal can be summarized in this way:

 

1. CHMCE will identify experienced pastors and elders who could serve as mentors for struggling congregations and their sessions and will also provide training in the mentoring process.

 

2. Establish a budget line item to provide financial support for mentoring relationships – relationships that would continue for 12-24 months with periodic (at most, quarterly) visits to the congregation.

 

3. Sessions interested in such a mentoring relationship will make a request to CHMCE through their presbytery home missions (CHEX) committee – following the same process by which presbyteries make requests for church plant support.

 

4. Support from CHMCE would be available for up to 50% of the cost for honorarium and expenses, at request of the presbytery and approval of CHMCE.

 

5. Requests from presbyteries would include two items: a completed stewardship plan (what we also require for new mission work requests); and a commitment of at least 50% of the financial support (from the congregation and/or presbytery).

 

6. The presbytery with the Committee would evaluate the readiness of the congregation to engage in a mentoring process – which requires commitment and work.

 

7. Should the request be approved, CHMCE staff (with the local session) would help to match congregations with a mentor from the list developed by the Committee.

 

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