Multisite

Multisite Plan for Advent

The Multisite Model

Our Task Force evaluated three primary options for moving forward with our model of being two campuses:

    • Continue the direction we have been going (toward amicable separation).
    • Re-Launch as a new church plant.
    • Restructure (re-launch) with a strategic multisite model.

The task force believes the best opportunity to fulfill our mission and reach people with the good news lies in restructuring and re-launching with a strategic multisite model. 

We believe the best framework for this structure is:

One church led by one Session with one Lead Pastor and one Executive Director.

A campus pastor will shepherd the local campus:

    • walking alongside families as they journey in faith and life
    • providing biblical teaching, council and guidance
    • leading outreach & evangelism in the community
    • developing groups for growth and service
    • shepherding staff and volunteers to carry out core ministries on the campus

Ministries considered core to Advent will be developed and implemented through appropriate paid and volunteer staff. While not yet fully defined, we see this including:

    • Children’s ministry
    • Youth ministry
    • Sunday morning worship
    • Hospitality / greeting / assimilation
    • Groups / classes

To take advantage of the scale and efficiencies of a larger church, administrative functions would be centrally run with unified systems. This would include membership, database, financials, payroll, HR, communications, technology and facilities.

In order to bring the unity of a single church to both campuses, the sermon series and topics will be the same in each location. We can use the staggered worship hours (preacher driving back and forth between campuses), team teaching (campus pastor & associate pastors preaching) and video technology to accomplish this with efficiency and excellence. While we have not decided on the specific rhythms and modes of preaching, we intend to allow the campus pastor to focus the majority of their time on shepherding rather than preaching.

Q&A
Why Multisite?

We considered launching Arlington as a separate congregation (a church plant). However, using a multisite model (one church in two locations) offered us several benefits:

    • Together we have greater resources to use for our mission of making disciples. We will be able to put youth and children’s ministry in place immediately.
    • This provides the best of both worlds – a campus that is highly relational and locally focused while at the same time has the programs, technolorgy and support staff of a large congregation.
    • Multisite enables us to share staff & volunteers so that people can serve in their areas of gifting. This means our administrative office can handle spreadsheets, our pastors can minister to people and our musicians can lead music.
    • Multisite campuses are more sustainable and have a higher success rate because they have the security and resources of a larger organization.
    • Although we have not yet fully embraced the model, our church has already been multisite for 13 years. We have institutional familiarity and interdependence.
    • With over 5,000 successful multisite churches in our country (and several in our denomination) – this is a proven way for churches to grow & reach more people while continuing to do a good job of connecting with and pastoring each family in a local campus.
What is the Potential?

Arlington is a growing area with excellent schools, beautiful neighborhoods and a strong community feel. It is one of the most desirable towns in our whole region for young families. As a church we have a renewed sense of calling to reach these families. The multisite model positions us to join forces and establish Arlington focused ministries for families with the resources of the whole church. Our campus already has a strong pre-school and positive presence in Arlington. Re-structuring so that it has the ability to maintain programs for the whole family at a level of excellence expected by the community will open the door for us to thrive.