Benchmarks are mutually agreed upon goals for the new church start. They represent a negotiation between the Bishop, Cabinet, New Church Pastor, and the New Church. Each new church start will develop a set of benchmarks unique to its demographic setting and type of start.
Benchmarks benefit all parties involved:
Sets goals for the pastor and new church to reach for.
Provides a vehicle for holding the pastor and new church accountable and challenging them to excel.
Helps determine when to move into the next stage of development; be that of beginning public worship, chartering, or building.
Provides a reasoning for "pulling the plug in the event of a dead-end start. Helps us to answer the question: "When do we give up?
New Mexico Conference Benchmarks
While each new church start will negotiate a mutual set of benchmarks, this list represents the "conventional wisdom gathered from 29 Annual Conferences and our own New Mexico Conference perspective. Other Conference Benchmarks in Appendix Three: Part Two
Core Group established by 1st Year.
Within the first year the starting pastor should have gathered 12 to 15 people in a small-group discipleship format who will be the core of people working to start the new church.
Charter by end of 2nd Year
The intention is to be financially viable before chartering because full responsibility for apportionments starts at the beginning of the year following the first full year after constitution as a church (chartering). Generally a church needs 100 adults in average Sunday worship attendance to be financially viable.
The First-Unit Grant is pinned to the Chartering Benchmark to make sure the church is financially viable before taking on any debt for a building campaign. No property will be given to an un-chartered church or a church that is not yet ready to build.
Begin public worship when critical mass is reached.
The goal is to begin public worship already over the growth barrier of 150. This means that the church from the beginning will think of itself as a "medium sized church rather than a small "family group oriented church. This places the target for the first public worship event at 250-300 because only half that number will keep coming. Beginning public worship too soon is a documented cause of under performing starts and failure.
Minimum of 100 Average Attendance in Worship by end of 3rd Year.
Discipleship System in place by end of 3rd Year.
A system of small groups designed to disciple attendees into members. These groups may consist of bible studies, dinner groups, support groups, softball teams, Sunday School classes, Youth Groups, etc.
Q: Are these goals realistic?
These goals are consistent with other new church starts in areas similar to New Mexico in cultural attitudes, economic base, and conference size. There is a very narrow window during which the New Church must grow large enough to be financially viable. Failure to rise above the 100 Average Attendance mark by the end of the third year is setting the New Church up for a very difficult if not impossible road ahead.
