Handout from the 08-14|15-2013 Regional Cohort Gatherings for church planters on the East Coast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church.

1. Regional Cohort Gatherings
Wed Aug 14, 11:00am - 2:30pm | NY/NJ Cohort
Thu Aug 15, 11:00am - 2:30pm | New England Cohort
Tue-Wed, Aug 27-28 - Various | Mid-Atlantic Cohort
Contact & Quick Info
links are clickable in the blog post and downloadable pdf at www.jasoncondon.com
Contact & Quick Info
links are clickable in the blog post and downloadable pdf at www.jasoncondon.com
Jason R. Condon
Associate Superintendent & Director of Church Planting,
East Coast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church
• jasonrcondon@gmail.com
• (860) 479-2020
• www.jasoncondon.com
(Cohort handouts and resources posted here)
• facebook.com/jasoncondon
• eastcoastconf.org
• covchurch.org
Quick-Start Guide to ECConf Church Planting
• "Understanding Church Planting on the East Coast
Conference" (or www.jasoncondon.com/2012/04/
handout-understanding-church-planting.html) -
seminar handout introducing concepts & strategy
• "What Are We Looking For in A Church Planter?"
(or bit.ly/Qfbiue ) - an overview of what we value in a
church planter and his or her ministry
• "Church Planter Identification Process"
(or bit.ly/TfnyKr) - an overview of how we assess
church planters and pursue church planting within the
East Coast Conference and the Covenant
Main Topics | Checking-In/Catching Up & Discipleship Series Warm-Up
Welcome!
Purpose:
“
encourage, equip, and multiply church planters
for a sustaining church planting movement”
• Open in Prayer
• Super-Quick Intros:
• your name
• ministry setting
• why you’re here today
• Lunch: we’ll grab lunch whenever it’s ready or convenient
Regional Cohort Gatherings | NY/NJ • Greater Boston/New England • Mid-Atlantic
Aug 2013 | page 1 of 6

2. Checking-In/Catching Up | The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly :)
Ministry Highlights | Lessons Learned and Shared
• biggest ministry challenge over the summer
• most encouraging story from over the summer
From Monthly Report | “Self-Care and Relationships”
• Self: How are you doing Personally?
• Areas: Physically, Spiritually, Emotionally
• Scale: Empty - 1/4 - 1/2 - 3/4 - Full
• Family: How is your relationship with your Spouse & Kids? (if applicable)
• Areas: Spouse, Kids
• Scale: Poor - Fair - Good - Great
• Staff: How is your relationship with your Staff? (if applicable)
• Areas: Pastoral Staff, Support Staff
• Scale: Poor - Fair - Good - Great
Prayer Requests | Lifting One Another Up in Prayer
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Regional Cohort Gatherings | NY/NJ • Greater Boston/New England • Mid-Atlantic
Aug 2013 | page 2 of 6

3. Discipleship Series Warm-Up
Framing the Conversation | Discipling Disciples who Disciple Disciples
Definitions & Expectations
• Define “Discipleship”:
• Describe a “Disciple”:
SWOT Analysis | Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats
In the area of Discipleship for your church, list your...
• Strengths:
• Weaknesses:
• Opportunities:
• Threats:
Reference | “Normal & Natural Pathways” Worksheet
• “In your church, what are Normal and Natural Pathways to Make Disciples?”
• full document for Normal & Natural Pathways at: www.bit.ly/normalnaturalpathways
Looking Ahead | What do you want to tackle throughout this discipleship “series”?
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Regional Cohort Gatherings | NY/NJ • Greater Boston/New England • Mid-Atlantic
Aug 2013 | page 3 of 6

4. Looking Ahead
Discipleship Series | Discipleship Strategies for Church Plants
Learning Cohort
• Will run in parallel with participants from all three Regional Cohorts
• Those involved will the help inform, guide, and lead the related Discipleship Series for our next quarter
Sentralized Conference, www.sentralizedconference.com
Sept 26 – Sep 28 (Thu-Sat), Kansas City
Description:
• “Why another conference? Two reasons. First, we believe there is a need to continue to bring clarity to the
missional conversation … While it may sound like hyperbole; the move towards missional involves no less
than a complete and thorough recalibration of the form and function of the church of Jesus. By bringing
together some of today’s best missional thinkers; we desire to assist God’s people in thinking deeply about
God’s mission in the world.
• “Second, we want to ensure the missional conversation moves beyond theory. We want to inspire and
propel the church to engage in God’s mission in life changing ways. That is why a significant feature of the
conference will focus on practical engagement; through the stories and personal examples of some of the
best missional practitioners around.”
Attending
• Jason Condon, Eli Hernandez, Don M. Schiewer, Ryan Yi, Stephen Sharkey
• any others interested and able?
City Collective Gathering, citycollective.org/blog/2013/6/20/annualgathering
October 7-8 (Mon-Tue), Trinity Grace Church, Manhattan
Description
• “We invite you to join us this October in New York City for a special gathering of church planters from
around the globe. We will spend a few days with likeminded leaders who share our passion to see the fame
and deeds of God made known in our day in the unique context of our cities.”
Attending
• Hope Church NYC Team: Drew Hyun, Craig Okpala, Kristian Hernandez, Dan & Amanda Sadlier
• Sanctuary Church Team: Andrew Mook, et. al.
• Jason Condon
• any others interested and able?
Regional Cohort Gatherings | NY/NJ • Greater Boston/New England • Mid-Atlantic
Aug 2013 | page 4 of 6

5. Discipleship-Related Resources
Alex Absalom: alexabsalom.com
especially relevant categories:
• alexabsalom.com/category/discipleship-2
• alexabsalom.com/category/missional-communities
Mike Breen & 3DM: weare3dm.com
Books:
• Building a Discipling Culture
• Multiplying Missional Leaders
• Launching Missional Communities (out of print, being updated)
• Leading Kingdom Movements
Other Related Books:
• T4T: A Discipleship Re-Revolution by Steve Smith with Ying Kai
• The Permanent Revolution: Apostolic Imagination and Practice for the 21st Century Church,
Alan Hirsch and Tim Catchim (anything by Alan Hirsch is excellent)
• Creating a Missional Culture: Equipping the Church for the Sake of the World, JR Woodward
Exponential Ebooks: www.exponential.org/ebooks
House-Keeping
Church Plant “Leadership Team” Contacts
• ECConf Office needs contact info for 2-3 additional leaders at church plant (must include some lay-people)
• for higher-level communication of reporting policies, annual review, etc.
Monthly Church Planter Reports
• Review & Updates
• SAMPLE (actual Report Database is private and confidential)
• Report Form: bit.ly/1a29aD5
• Database Created (Google Spreadsheet): bit.ly/1a2dgLr
Video Stream Cohort Gatherings?
• need sites with decent bandwidth
• could test idea starting in Sept
• likely use Google Hangouts
ECConf Church Planter Retreat?
• June 2014 in Virginia?
• other dates and locations?
Regional Cohort Gatherings | NY/NJ • Greater Boston/New England • Mid-Atlantic
Aug 2013 | page 5 of 6

6. Mark Your Calendar
Coming Events | subscribe now at eastcoastconf.org/calendar
SEPT
Sept 1 Deadline: Fall COMS Paperwork
• Contact Alicia: office@eastcoastconf.org
• (See Oct “COMS Interviews” for more details)
Church Planter Cohort Gatherings:
• NY/NJ Metro Cohort
Wed Sep 11, 11:00am-2:30pm (Location TBD)
• Greater Boston/New England Cohort
Thu Sep 12, 11:00am-2:30pm (Location TBD
• Mid-Atlantic: Video Conference or TBD
OCT
NO Cohort Gatherings
COMS Interviews
• Tue Oct 16 – Wed Oct 17, 2 hours in Berlin CT
• Committee on Ministerial Standing (COMS) is
necessary for entering credentialing process, 3 year
check-ins, final-prep for ordination
Fall Ministerial Retreat (Ashram)
• All Church Planters expected to attend
• Sun Oct 27 (Evening) – Wed Oct 30 (Morning)
• Pilgrim Pines, Swanzey NH
NOV
Church Planter Cohort Gatherings:
• NY/NJ Metro Cohort
Wed Nov 20, 11:00am-2:30pm (Location TBD)
• Greater Boston/New England Cohort
Thu Nov 21, 11:00am-2:30pm (Location TBD
• Mid-Atlantic: Video Conference or TBD
DEC
NO Cohort Gatherings
Coaches Training
• Tue Dec 3 – Thu Dec 5
• Dallas TX
Full Calendar for East Coast Conference
• Visit www.eastcoastconf.org/calendar,
subscribe through Google Cal, iCal, or other app
• Entries labeled“Church Planting” are specifically for
church planters, rest for Covenant pastors in general
JAN
NO Cohort Gatherings
Covenant Midwinter
• Chicago, Jan 27-31, Mon-Fri
• covchurch.org/midwinter
Church Planter Training Intensive
• Tue Jan 14, 6pm – Sun Jan 19, 12pm, New Orleans
• for new Covenant Church Planters pre-Launch
FEB
Church Planter Cohort Gatherings:
• NY/NJ Metro Cohort
Wed Feb 19, 11:00am-2:30pm (Location TBD)
• Greater Boston/New England Cohort
Thu Feb 20, 11:00am-2:30pm (Location TBD
• Mid-Atlantic: Video Conference or TBD
MARCH
March 1 Deadline: Spring COMS Paperwork
• Contact Alicia: office@eastcoastconf.org
• (See Oct “COMS Interviews” for more details)
Assessment Center (Location TBD)
• Wed March 12, 7:30pm - Sat March 15, 12pm
• Invitation Only: for church planter candidates
sufficiently advancing in assessment process
Church Planter Cohort Gatherings:
• NY/NJ Metro Cohort
Wed Mar 26, 11:00am-2:30pm (Location TBD)
• Greater Boston/New England Cohort
Thu Mar 27, 11:00am-2:30pm (Location TBD
• Mid-Atlantic: Video Conference or TBD
APRIL
No Regular Gathering, Special...
ECConf Annual Meeting
• Wed April 30: All-Cohorts Gathering
Pre-Annual Mtg, at Jason’s in Columbia CT)
• Thu-Sat, May 1-3: ECConf Annual Mtg Trinity
Covenant Church, Manchester CT
• All Church Planters expected to attend
Regional Cohort Gatherings | NY/NJ • Greater Boston/New England • Mid-Atlantic
Aug 2013 | page 6 of 6