Anglican Church Planting in California
Saint Paul's is planting Anglican Churches
Saint Paul’s Is Interested In Establishing And Supporting Anglican Worshipping Communities In Northern California – Especially In The Sacramento Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, San Joaquin Valley, And Central Coast Regions
So many people in California don’t know Jesus; many of them are people you know. Church planting is one of the most effective ways to reach people, so we’re focused on starting new churches. We’re planting these churches to introduce people to Jesus and raise them up as disciples.
Are you interested in planting a church?
Contact Rev. Steve Macias (steve@saintpauls.net) for information about church planting resources, grants, and training.
Why Plant Churches?
Christ’s promises were given to the world through the sacramental life of the church. From our adoption into God’s family through Baptism to the weekly proclamation of his life, death, and resurrection in the celebration of Holy Communion. Planting a church directs the missional identity of an Anglican community by placing evangelism as its primary focus. This is one reason why church plants have been more effective at reaching people who don’t know the Lord.
Saint Paul’s joins with denominational leaders in the Anglican Church in North America and the Reformed Episcopal Church to support church planting leaders and their efforts.
We believe our communities are in great need of the life and liberty promised by Christ. We expect Christ’s Kingdom to prosper in our neighborhoods, cities, college campuses, and homes. We believe the harvest is plentiful and we hope to be the laborers.
Bishop Sutton's Video Resources on Church Planting
Church Planting Guide
This Church Planting Guide will help explain the process of church planting.
Three Stages of Church Planting
There are three primary and distinct stages in the church planting process following the initial planning. In the Reformed Episcopal Church, we refer to these stages as Extension Work, Mission Parish, and Parish. Each phase has a distinct focus, and each requires different levels of administrative responsibility and ministry.
A Mission Parish builds upon the initial framework already in place during the Extension Work phase and formally organizes itself as a church under the continued direction and oversight of the Bishop of the Diocese. Once a core group of 12 adult individuals are willing to commit themselves to the extraordinary work of establishing a church with regular corporate worship, they will apply to the Bishop and Standing Committee of the Diocese for recognition as a Mission Parish. Each adult must be committed to the Reformed Episcopal Church and her values, to regular weekly attendance at divine worship, to the financial support of the local parish, and to any other sacrificial labors of time, treasure, and talent as needed.
A Parish (what we sometimes call a ‘full parish’) is when a Mission Parish has surpassed either 29 or 39 adult communicant members, as defined by the local Diocesan Constitution and Canons. At this point, the Mission Parish may apply to the Diocesan Bishop and Standing Committee for recognition as a Parish. If approved, the parish has the full rights as defined by the Constitution and Canons of the Reformed Episcopal Church and the Diocese. A parish will no longer function under the oversight an appointed Bishop’s council but will, instead, elect its own officers and vestrymen in accordance with its parish by-laws
