Terminological Definitions

Over the next few blogs I will attempt to define a number of words and phrases associated with a new generation of missionaries and church planters in the ABA. Because of the great amount of confusion and controversy that has arisen over these new terms we will attempt to bridge the gaps that now appear to exist. If I do not accurately define the following terms or don't list all of them please feel free to correct me.

Sending Church: A church that sends out a missionary or church planter. Sending implies more than just authorizing someone to go start a new work. It implies commitment and accountability by the sending church and to the missionary/church planter being sent. Sponsoring a new work has come to mean sending money or giving permission to go. In most other Baptist fellowships 'sponsor' means 'support'. Biblically, in Acts 13 we see where the church sent them out. Hence; 'sending church'.

Mother Church: A Church that has birthed (started) a new church/mission from within its own body or takes responsibility for the formation of a new work. The Mother church, if necessary, may hold property in its name until the baby church is constituted/organized.

Daughter Church/Baby Church: A new work that is given the status of being called a 'church' although it is still dependent upon its Mother Church to some degree. This daughter church may have been started without having had a churchplanter/missionary to start it. It may actually raise up it's own spiritual leadership from within after it has been started. This daughter church is taught from the beginning how to be indigenous; conducting its own affairs. In many cases, baby churches are started and will not consititute until they are able of themselves to support themselves. This is exclusive of land and buildings. In other words, they can be a church from the 'git go' and without land and buildings of their own.

The term 'mission' is often understood by most of us as the 'beginnings of what may become a church'. It remains totally under the authority and control of a sponsoring church until it is 'financially, numerically and doctrinally' mature. This is to mean that the 'mission' cannot organize into a church until it has its own church building with a enough people to carry on the expense of building payments, maintenance and a fulltime pastor.

The term 'mission' has its earliest roots in Roman Catholicism. Then it surfaced in Baptist ranks among the Southern Baptists and bled over into our own fellowship the ABA. Even though the term 'mission' is not a biblical term it was convenient to establish protective measures over securing property and buildings and maintaining control and accountability. This human effort has lead to many difficulties. The greatest difficulty is that fewer and fewer missions are being established into indigenous churches.

This is the first installment of blogs on the subject of Church Planting terminologies.
David