Cedar Park Church
16300 112th Ave NE
Bothell, WA 98011

p: 425.488.3600
e: info@cedarpark.org

Service Times:
Sundays:
9am, 10:45am, 6pm

Radio Show Times
7:00am KLFE 1590AM
7:30am KGNW 820AM
9:30am KCIS 630AM
10am KKOL 1300AM

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Opening a New Branch Campus Considerations Used by Cedar Park

Here we give a brief analysis of the conditions under which a branch church can be established or a ministry could come under the Cedar Park umbrella. First we address how an existing congregation can become part of Cedar Park. There are also ministries (para-church organizations) that might want to become part of Cedar Park.

When an existing church is present

Cedar Park’s goal is to establish or facilitate ministries all through our region. At times, we will create a branch campus by partnering with an existing congregation. In that case, the existing congregation will want to join with Cedar Park as a means of seeing their original vision fulfilled. Cedar Park, in turn, will join with the previously existing congregation as a means of seeing Cedar Park’s ministry vision more successfully accomplished. By joining together both parties believe they can do more by combining than by staying separate.

There are several considerations for Cedar Park in making the decision to partner with an existing congregation. Those considerations are delineated as follows:

First, having prayed, we believe joining together is the will of God.

Second, the existing congregation is willing to adapt its leadership and legal structure to fit within Cedar Park’s leadership and legal structure.

Third, the existing congregation is willing to be full participants in the Assemblies of God mission and ministry. This would ultimately include the Assemblies of God leadership and governance structure.

Fourth, the pastor of the existing congregation would fit with Cedar Park and would be the type of person that Cedar Park would welcome to its ministry staff even if there were no branch church. They must be spiritually sound. They must be emotionally balanced and healthy. They must be people of integrity. They must be self-starters. They must exhibit institutional loyalty. They must be the type of person who can build a church.

Fifth, the branch must have a reasonable prospect of being financially self-supporting. This is not to say that it would not need an infusion of cash from time to time or that it would not need help on buying land or obtaining “startup” equipment. There would need to be the right mix of employee costs, office and worship space rental, and operating expense along with offering income to make the whole thing work.

Sixth, Cedar Park would need to have the capacity, or be able to create the capacity, to serve the branch with accounting functions.

Seventh, Cedar Park would need to have the capacity to provide administrative oversight of the branch.

Eighth, consideration would be given to geography and proximity to Cedar Park’s Bothell campus. Part of the Cathedral Church concept is that the parish church is able to directly benefit by the Cathedral Church and its ministries. Among the factors that might mitigate longer distances would be PBX telephone connection, computer networking, and other links that might be available. Anything geographically close is an obvious fit for purposes of sharing ministry. We have particular interest in the our perimeter areas such as Issaquah, Duval, Monroe and the Highway 2 corridor, Snohomish, Lake Stevens, Everett, and places between here and there. We also have interest in the more urban areas of Kirkland, Bellevue, North Seattle, and the North end. An indicator question is whether or not any current Cedar Park members come from, or have moved to, the area in question.

When an existing ministry is present, but it is not part of Cedar Park

We use the term “ministry” here to distinguish it from “church” as we used it in the above section. I do not want to truly draw a line between ministry and church because I want each ministry to see itself as the church and I want the people of the church to understand that each ministry is the church. What I am referring to here is the existence of a school, counseling ministry, program, group, shop, or collection of people doing a particular function that has the potential to fit as a segment of the Cathedral Church. At the moment they are not connected to our church, or any other church, but they are doing some aspect of ministry that is compatible with our vision.

Such a ministry might become part of Cedar Park. There are several considerations for Cedar Park in making the decision to make such a ministry a part of Cedar Park. Those considerations are delineated as follows:

First, having prayed, we believe doing so is the will of God.

Second, the ministry entity and the people connected to it would need to be willing to adapt their leadership and legal structure to fit within Cedar Park’s leadership and legal structure.

Third, we would want to assess whether the ministry would move to one of our existing campuses or whether it would remain in its current location. If it remains elsewhere, are there ministries that we might move to that location which would make that location stronger. Does it have the potential of becoming a full-orbed center for ministry? That is, could we put several other of our signature ministries there and make it a more complete center for ministry?

Fourth, are the people involved compatible with the people who are already a part of Cedar Park?

Fifth, the ministry must have a reasonable prospect of being financially self-supporting. This is not to say that it would not need an infusion of cash from time to time or that it would not need help on buying land or obtaining “startup” equipment. There would need to be the right mix of employee costs, office and worship space rental, and operating expense along with fee-for service or donation income to make the whole thing work. We would also give consideration to the idea that by blending it with some of our current ministries we could make the whole thing work financially. This is the idea of economies of scale.

Sixth, Cedar Park would need to have the capacity, or be able to create the capacity, to serve the ministry with accounting functions.

Seventh, Cedar Park would need to have the capacity to provide administrative oversight of the ministry.

Eighth, consideration would be given to geography and proximity to Cedar Park’s Bothell campus. Just like a branch church, we would consider the factors that might mitigate longer distances such as the PBX telephone connection, computer networking, and other links that might be available.

We have defined the Cathedral Church as being as wide as the body of Christ and the Christian faith itself. We do not recognize the concept of para-church. There is only the church expressing itself in its many facets. So, if God is inspiring people to do something, and they possess the spiritual gifts to make it happen, it is acceptable within the bounds of the Cathedral Church. All that remains is for the appropriate structure to be developed to facilitate its success.

Developing a branch where no church or ministry is currently existing

Starting a branch or ministry must originate in the heart of God. He is the one who has set forth the Gospel requirements in Scripture that lay the groundwork for starting a ministry or branch. His call to take the Gospel everywhere, and to everyone, sets the stage. He is the one who calls people and equips them with spiritual gifts to accomplish the work. We can pray to be obedient, but it is his Word that we obey. We can pray that God will call workers into the harvest, but we cannot issue the call. Cedar Park’s task is to understand how to obey the call in our area and to recognize when others have been called. Once we recognize the call in others, we must work to find the right timing, resources, and other people of similar call, to make the thing happen.

Within the Bothell campus, we have a general process for starting new ministries. A couple of times a year we hold a meeting for people to express ministry desires that are on their heart. As they step forward, we make assessments of their call and ability. We look for other people with a similar call. We assess timing and resources. When all those things come together, we launch the ministry using a team approach. This would apply to the ministries usually associated with traditional church ministry.

A branch church requires even higher levels of detail and preparation. There are several considerations in starting a branch church where nothing presently exists.

First, having prayed, we believe it is both the general and specific will of God to develop a branch church in a particular place or with a particular style, culture, or ethnic group.

Second, a specific opportunity should exist to develop a branch church that would provide the motivation to bring together any missing elements needed for ultimate success.

Third, a pastor or leader needs to emerge who would fit with Cedar Park and would be the type of person that Cedar Park would welcome to its ministry staff even if there were no branch church. He or she[29] must be spiritually sound. He must be emotionally balanced and healthy. He must be a person of integrity. He must be a self-starter. He must exhibit institutional loyalty. He must be the type of person who can build a church. Such a person might come to us with a vision for the area already in place or they might be informed of an opportunity about which they would pray. It would be a big advantage if they already had some kind of network in the area upon which they could draw for support and participation.

Fourth, we would want to have a financial prospectus in place. We would want to know how much cash would be required to get the church to self-supporting status.

Fifth, we would want a list of “startup” equipment and supplies.

Sixth, we would want a clear idea of how the branch would reach a different group of people than what we are already reaching.

Seventh, Cedar Park would need to have the capacity, or be able to create the capacity, to serve the branch with accounting functions and administrative oversight.

Eighth, consideration would be given to geography and proximity to Cedar Park’s Bothell campus. Is there a part of the community or region that is presently underserved? Is there an area to which current Cedar Park members are moving but are finding it difficult to make the commute back to Bothell on a regular basis?

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