Where To Start

• Application
• Sending Pastor Recommendation
• Sending Pastor Attachment + Assessment Fee
• Sending Pastor Reference Form
• Potential Planter Reference Form
• Pre-Interview Questionnaire (this must be completed 2 weeks prior to the pastoral assessment)

• There is a $500 assessment fee that is generally paid by the sending church. Once this payment is received, the assessment will be scheduled.
• Once a date for the psychological assessment has been scheduled, contact the RCPC to be assigned a pastoral assessor for the pastoral assessment.
• After the assessment is complete, there will be a debriefing between the potential planter, the psychological assessor and the pastoral assessor.

• The RCPC will connect you with the pastoral assessor that is chosen to complete your assessment. The RCPC will help you set up a time to complete the assessment.
• The assessment generally takes about 4 hours and takes place near the pastoral assessor.
• The Pre-Interview Questionnaire must be completed 2 weeks prior to the pastoral assessment.
• The goal of the assessment is to help you and your sending pastor determine your call and readiness for church planting. We will give specific suggestions for further preparation and make recommendations on how to proceed.

• The potential planter will receive a copy of the pastoral assessment write-up from the RCPC within two weeks of the assessment. A copy of the assessment will also be sent to the sending pastor and coach.
• The potential planter should then contact the assessor to schedule a telephone review of the assessment. Your sending pastor and coach should also be on the phone call. The review will allow the potential planter to ask questions and give the assessor a chance to explain his/her conclusions. If you need help with this, please contact the RCPC.
• If the assessment indicates that you are ready to plant, the write-up will be designed to help you and your coach proceed with the church plant. If you are not quite ready, but you are clearly called to be a church planter, the write-up will include specific suggestions to help you and your pastor as you prepare. If we feel that church planting may not be the right fit for you, the write-up will suggest mentoring assignments to help you understand what is in your hear and possible next steps.

• After the pastoral assessment is scheduled, the RCPC will connect you with our coaching coordinator, Ryan Bauers.
• Set up a time with Ryan to discuss the coaching process and possible coaches for you throughout the first two years of your plant.
• When a coach has been chosen, contact the RCPC letting them know who your coach will be.

• Begin working on assignments and suggestions that were discussed during the review phone call and explained in the write-up.

• The RCPC will send you the Church Planting Release Form and supplementary forms. Sign return this form to the RCPC.
• Fill out the four supplementary forms and send them to the national office (the address is at the bottom of the forms).
• Begin developing a Two Year Plan for the church plant.
  • This is completed with the assistance of the coach and the sending pastor.
  • A copy of the completed Two Year Plan should be sent to the RCPC’s office.
  • A Two Year Plan must be completed before the plant is launched.