Last week at the Exponential Conference I was excited to unveil a new online Church Planter Candidate Assessment tool that can be used to help identity measurable characteristics found in successful church planters. Over eleven denominations and networks sponsored the Lifeway Research study that helped produce a tool that will be a great help to those considering church planting.
LifeWay Research used a research driven process to develop the CPCA. Thirty assessment experts were interviewed to identify key characteristics in church planters. Questions were developed and reviewed by additional experts in church planting. Then three rounds of quantitative tests among over 500 church planters and pastors were used to identify the best questions.
The CPCA contains more than 20 scales, each proven to be statistically reliable and measuring a specific church planter characteristic. The series of scales provides indications of strengths and weaknesses that are helpful to organizations in the church planter assessment process. Some organizations will use these indications to decide whether or not to move forward with further assessment of a candidate or in guiding the assessment steps that follow.
Lifeway has a good article on the CPCA. Here’s an excerpt:
“There are numerous other instruments available for evangelical church planting organizations to use,” said Ed Stetzer. “However, a statistically validated assessment instrument has been missing from this field.”
As a result, Stetzer and his team at LifeWay Research developed a tool called the “Church Planter Candidate Assessment” (CPCA) to aid churches and other church planting sponsors in evaluating strengths and weaknesses of candidates who desire to establish new churches.
“The Evangelical Free Church partnered on this because we love planters,” said George Klippenes, church planting director of the Evangelical Free Church. “This tool helps us to help them discern their call as they consider church planting.”
This cooperative spirit was echoed by Dr. Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board. “NAMB has gladly partnered with LifeWay Research to help study church planters and develop the CPCA. We believe that a better self-understanding a planter has, the better engaged that planter and church can be with the Great Commission work of the church.”
Head over and read it, and then come back here to discuss.
