Plant a Church

EXPLORE THE THREE PATHS TO PLANTING A CHURCH.

Daughter Work.

A “daughter work” is an extension of a mother church that forms a new assembly with the intent of becoming an autonomous NAM work. The daughter work remains under the general oversight of the mother church until they apply for and receive church status.

Missionary Plant.

A “missionary plant” is defined as a church plant initiated by an individual who feels called of God to start a church in a particular community or city within the Wisconsin District.  

Metro Missions.

The “Metro Missions” path is for the minister who feels called to start a church in a metro area. To qualify for a “Metro Area” the population of that city must be equal to or greater than 1,000,000.

 

Become Affiliated with the UPCI

How to Legally Form a Church

 

Daughter Work.

  • The pastor of the mother church is to notify the WI NAM Director and the Presbyter of their intention to launch a daughter work. 

  • The WI NAM Director will discuss the vision of the work, review district policy and ensure that the mother church pastor understands the process and has the appropriate application.  

  • The mother church pastor will submit a WI District UPCI Application for Daughter Work to the WI NAM Director for review. Once the review is complete, the WI NAM Director will forward the application to the Presbyter of the section in which the daughter work will be located.

  • The Presbyter will be responsible for ensuring that all neighboring pastors are contacted prior to forwarding the application to the WI District UPCI Board.  

  • The WI District UPCI Board will review the application and if necessary, meet with the mother church pastor for final approval.

  • Once the daughter work has successfully operated for a six (6) month period, the mother church may request church status for the daughter work. 

    • The pastor of the mother church is to notify the WI NAM Director and the Presbyter of their intention to apply for church status. 

    • The WI NAM Director will ensure that the mother church pastor has the proper application and understands the process.  

    • The daughter work pastor must complete and submit the WI District UPCI Application for Church Status to the WI NAM Director for review. Once the review is complete, the WI NAM Director will forward the application to the Presbyter of the section in which the work is located. The application must be signed by the mother church pastor and include a copy of the proposed church by-laws, articles of incorporation, financial records of the daughter work and (if desired by the applicant) an Application for Church Affiliation.

    • Approval for church status will only be granted after the daughter work pastor interviews with the DistrictBoard.

  • Once church status is granted by the WI District UPCI Board, the WI NAM Board shall be notified regarding the newly approved NAM work.  The five (5) year NAM status shall begin once the work has been approved by the District Board and is duly recorded with Church Administration, UPCI World Headquarters.

  • The WI NAM Board shall personally meet with all newly approved NAM pastors for orientation regarding policies, training opportunities, resources, and grants available to them.Daughter Work Application

Daughter Work Application

Church Status Application

Daughter Work Sample Policy

Missionary Plant.

  • A missionary plant is defined as a church plant initiated by an individual who feels called of God to start a church in a particular community or city within the Wisconsin District.  While this may not always be the easiest method of planting a church, the Wisconsin District acknowledges the fact that God may call an individual from outside the state of Wisconsin to plant a church and that the daughter work method may not be possible in every situation.  

  • Any individual desiring to start a NAM work in the Wisconsin District must be a minister in good standing with the UPCI, loyal to the organization, conforming to its Fundamental Doctrine and pledged to operate at the highest level of ministerial ethics.  

  • The procedure for securing approval for a missionary plant is as follows: 

    • The applicant should contact the WI District Superintendent and the WI NAM Director regarding their desire to start a NAM work.  

    • The WI NAM Director will inform the prospective missionary of the WI NAM policy regarding missionary plants and provide them with the documents and applications relevant to the process. 

    • The applicant must fill out and submit the WI District UPCI Application for Missionary Plant to the Presbyter of the section in which they intend to start the work. 

    • The applicant must secure written recommendation from their pastor, along with character references from at least two other ministers.  If the prospective missionary is transferring from a different district, they will also be required to have the recommendation of their current District Superintendent. 

    • The WI NAM Executive Committee will check all references and notify all neighboring pastors of the prospective missionary’s intention to start a new work in that area.  Additional references may be requested.

    • The WI NAM Executive Committee will then make a recommendation to the WI District UPCI Board.  

    • The prospective missionary will be required to meet in person with the WI District UPCI Board for final approval.  

  • The WI NAM Board shall meet with the newly approved missionary for orientation regarding the startup process, policies, training opportunities, resources, and grants available to them.

  • Once approved to start the new NAM work, the missionary will have six (6) months to submit the Application for Church Status to the WI District UPCI Board, along with the Articles of Incorporation, church bylaws and either proof of their 501c3 status or church affiliation with the United Pentecostal Church International. 

Missionary Plant Application

Church Status Application

Metro Missions.

  • Any metro area in the Wisconsin District, meeting the qualifications outlined in the General Constitution of the UPCI will be eligible for a Metro Missions church plant. 

  • A Metro Missions church plant will follow the procedures for approval outlined in the General Constitution of the UPCI and in accordance with the policies of the North American Missions division of the UPCI.  

  • A Metro Missions work must also be recommended by the WI NAM Board and approved by the WI District UPCI Board. 

  • If recommended by the WI NAM Board, notification shall be given to all neighboring pastors prior to approval by the WI District UPCI Board.  

  • For more information regarding qualifications, support, tenure and procedures of Metro Missions, please see the North American Missions Policy in the General Constitution of the UPCI.

  • Click below to visit the General North American Missions Website.