By Shannon Caughey

A question I've heard many times already in "plan for growth" conversations is this: "What is multi-site and how does it differ from church planting?"  Many of us are familiar with the concept of planting a new church.  The idea of a multi-site church, however, may be completely new.  Here are some quick thoughts that may help our understanding of the multi-site model and how it differs from planting a new church:

• A multi-site church is one church that meets in multiple locations.  These sites have a common vision, function under the same leadership board, operate under one overall budget, and can share many staff members.  A church plant is autonomous from its sending church.  It has its own vision, its own staff and leadership board, its own budget, etc.  It may be resourced by the sending church for a period of time, but the goal is to become autonomous.
• In a church plant, the staff of the church plant do all the preaching, leadership, etc., because it is its own church.  In the multi-site model TCBC is considering, a team of preachers will rotate between the two sites.  Also, there will be other ways that particular staff members will oversee the leadership of their ministry areas at both sites.
• Some equate multi-site with video teaching/preaching.  While many multi-site churches use this model, being multi-site is not synonymous with having the preaching done via video rather than live.  The plan we're examining at TCBC would have live preachers at both sites, not video.
• A second site is not just a place to have another worship service.  The second site would have a full spectrum of ministries (similar to a church plant).

Pursuing a multi-site strategy also has the potential of leading to church planting.  Down the road, a second site could eventually become its own autonomous church (if God leads and the site is thriving).  In fact, many churches use a multi-site strategy in conjunction with a church planting strategy.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on multi-site and church planting.  What would you add to my brief summary?  What still feels confusing to you as you consider multi-site and how it differs from church planting?  What appeals to you about multi-site or about church planting?