LAUNCHABLE LEADERs
A PATHWAY TO MINISTRY CREDENTIALING
A Launchable Leader is someone who has accepted the call to be sent out.
They are our new circuit riders, moving into new territory in order to begin a new expression of church.
For questions contact the Directors of Launchable Leaders
Aaron Cloud, acloud@gracepointwesleyan.org
Phil Wiseman, phil@tablechurchdsm.org
what is it?
A Launchable Leader is a disciple of Jesus with proven leadership and disciplemaking gifts who is being sent out by their local church to start a new expression of church. This person need not have prior ministerial training or credentials, but should have a proven track record of effective ministry within a local church.
Launchable Leaders is a pathway to ministerial credentialing designed especially for people who are starting a new expression of church. While the Launchable Leaders material is free for anyone to use, the ministerial credential will be given to those who successfully complete the pathway and are commissioned by a local church to start a new expression of church.
These leaders will operate under the umbrella of another body (church, network, or district) that continues to provide support and guidance.
THE PROCESS
Each launchable leader will be paired with a mentor, preferably an ordained pastor at their local church. This mentor is responsible for ensuring that they successfully complete the outcome assessments and are growing spiritually throughout the process. When the leader completes a Capstone Assignment, it will be sent to district leadership for approval.
This method:
• should equip the pastor with necessary tools for ministry
• need not be entirely comprehensive
• is outcome based
• is mentor based
• is dependent upon the investment of the local church
• Is accessible and affordable.
Below is the sequence to be followed from start to finish:
1. Pastor identifies a launchable leader. (Mature believer, proven leader, competent disciple maker)
2. The Local Board of Administration or local church leader board completes the recommendation form.
CLICK HERE FOR THE RECOMMENDATION FORM.
3. Candidate is assigned to a Director of Launchable Leaders (DLL), who contacts both the candidate and the mentor for an initial meeting.
4. The mentor is responsible for reviewing all Outcome Assignments and offering feedback on all Capstone Assessments. However, Capstone Assessments are to be submitted to the DLL for final review. Launchable Leader meets with the Launchable Leader Assessment Team once a year until completion
5. Upon completing the final domain, the DLL will recommend the candidate to receive Commissioned Minister credentials at the following District Conference.
6. Each year, credentials are renewed at District Conference.
domains
This pathway is organized into 10 domains of ministerial practice and knowledge. Each domain has various outcome assignments which are designed to help prepare the leader to complete the capstone assessment, which is meant to evaluate their embodiment of the outcomes listed under the domain. Outcome assignments are meant to spur on dialogue and reflection with the mentor. However, they do not ultimately count toward the leader’s progress. Only the capstone assessments are sent to the Director of Launchable Leaders, who will (in conjunction with the Launchable Leader Committee) evaluate the work. As such, it is advisable that all capstone assessments are reviewed by the mentor before being submitted.
role of the MENTOR
This process hinges on intentional mentorship. This is an “apprentice” style of education, where the launchable leader is learning on simply through reading texts and writing papers, but by working out the various domains in collaboration with their mentor. There is an entire “unwritten curriculum” that exists simply within the relationships between the Launchable Leader and the mentor. So invite them into ministry! Give them opportunities to do real hands-on ministry work, always with the aim to coach them through it. While this process works best if mentors and LL’s are at the same local church, and therefore within close proximity, there may be times where they are not in the same context. If this is the case, then please maintain consistent contact through at least one “small” check in (email, text, etc.) and one “big” check in (zoom, facetime, phone, face-to-face) per month. Remember, the quality of the mentor relationship is just as important as the curriculum!
Here are some points of connection for the mentor and the Launchable Leader:
Content - Dialoguing about what the leader is learning in the modules, as well as adjusting
or adding assignments that the mentor deems necessary for the successful completion of the capstone assessment. One of the primary responsibilities of the mentor is to help the leader produce an acceptable capstone assessment.
Coaching - This is the play by play walkthrough of a tangible ministry or leadership skill that one is trying to get a grasp of. This could look like a variety of things: walkthrough of a hypothetical scenario, brainstorming ways to walk through a real life ministry situation, and discussing how the things the student is learning are relevant for ministry today.
Constructive Feedback - Offer feedback on content assignments that help the leader do their best work and achieve the desired outcomes.
Critical Reflection - Ask open ended questions that can help a leader think through how they are integrating the things they are learning into ministry practice.
Candor - At times there are honest but challenging things that need to be communicated to a Launchable Leader. Candor is a willingness to speak the honest truth in love for the redemptive outcome of helping the person be more self aware and capable as a leader and pastor.
Challenge - Challenge the person to think through and critically examine potential new ministry methods and solutions. The goal here is help them take ownership in their own development and in the development of their ministry area.
Celebration - what are they doing well that can be celebrated and encouraged. What gets celebrated gets replicated.
CREDENTIALING
For leaders who have successfully completed the curriculum, been sent out by the local church, and received the validation of the Launchable Leaders committee, they will receive the credential at district conference. Here are the important points about this credential:
It is available only to Launchable Leaders—i.e., those who are starting a new church.
It is renewed yearly, upon demonstration of continued ministry effectiveness.
It will allow the leader to perform weddings, funerals, and serve sacraments; but as a district license, it will not make them eligible to lead in an official capacity at the denominational level (i.e., delegate to General Conference).
If we’re going to send people out to lead new expressions of church, then we should help equip them and empower them for the task. This curriculum equips leaders by guiding them through 10 domains of ministerial knowledge and practice; and it empowers leaders by making them eligible for a District Commissioned Minister’s License.
