Questions For Church Planters

[anica74]

I have four questions for anyone who has started a church or religious group (such as a bible study or book club) that did not evolve out of a group they were already participating in. I would like to network with people that might be interested in Progressive Christianity, and so far I only know about two other than my husband and I. I guess I am just curious about what it takes to start from scratch. Here are my queries:

 

How did you advertise or find the interested people for your first meeting?

 

What did you do at the first meeting?

 

What structure did your meetings follow and how did you decide on that structure?

 

How did you come up with a name?

 

I have more questions, but these are the ones that are tickling my thoughts at the moment.

 

Thanks in advance for any help.

Anna

[Rev. Smith]

Our Church is still growing, so here is what we do (did):

 

How did you advertise or find the interested people for your first meeting?

 

In the local papers, with press releases and ads (the smaller the town the more likely you'll get your releases run - hard to get in the New York Times, the Tucson papers are pretty good about religious announcements. Also the Pennysaver (local classified rag), and on every local internet board we could find. When it's in season we advertise in the College papers and post around town.

 

What did you do at the first meeting?

 

We meet in houses, on holidays we rent a local wedding Chapel.

 

What structure did your meetings follow and how did you decide on that structure?

 

Little help for you there, we are part of the Old Catholic movement - so our worship is the Mass, we follow it with a meeting for social and theological discussion.

 

How did you come up with a name?

 

The EAC was named by our Synod of Bishops, I named my parish St. Fechin's because he is my favorite celtic saint.