How to Start a Church

Opening a Word Church

Starting a Word church can get you on the path to a spiritually rewarding future but it's important to plan out the startup process in detail before you start. This article contains nuts-and-bolts information to improve your startup process.

We share several valuable recommendations on what it takes to start a Word church.

Requirements for Starting a Word Church

"Word" churches aren't a denomination, but a way of describing non-denominational, congregational churches that place a heavy emphasis on the Bible. As an aspiring Word church pastor, you'll need to be extremely knowledgeable about Scripture and possess the teaching skills to clearly communicate biblical truths to a broad cross section of believers.

Since nearly all Word churches are self-governing, ordinations are conferred by the congregation's governing board or through an outside ministerial association. If you aren't already ordained, you will need to begin the ordination process immediately to give your new church credibility. Ordination will also entitle you to perform legal marriages and take advantage of clergy tax benefits.

Creating a Legal Identity for a Word Church

The process of launching a Word church is more involved than simply finding a space, opening the doors and holding religious services. A Word church plant often represents the formation of a new legal entity, requiring specific processes and procedures to comply with federal and state guidelines for religious organizations.

Although churches qualify for exemptions in some areas, creating a legal identity for a Word church is similar to launching a nonprofit. Starting with the creation of a mission statement, you will need to follow a carefully defined process to establish governance protocols and legal standing.

If navigating the legal issues involved with planting an independent Word church sounds overwhelming to you, we suggest consulting an attorney for assistance. Many attorneys specialize in offering sound legal counsel to nonprofits and religious organizations.

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