IPOD Lists
Use the IPOD acrostic to label ministry items and illustrate where each one falls on the new campus priority list. IPOD is shorthand for the following:
- I = Initial | Priority from the start
- P = Preferred | After the first 6 months, but within the first year
- O = Optional | After the first year or after significant growth occurs
- D = Discouraged | Something we will never do
Command and Context
Some churches employ a high command vs. high context grid to clarify the unavoidable tension arising inherent in most multisite strategies. Conflict occurs because global vision, replication standards, ministry plans, leadership and general administration sometimes conflicts with context-driven decisions at the campus level. This tension is inherent in the multisite model, and that’s the reason for baseline clarity. Some command-context grids summarize the overall ministry plan:
Global decisions (control) set the vision, scope and tone for campus operations, and this usually results in a better end-user experience for members, attenders and guests. At the same time, contextual decision making at the campus level gives flexibility, uniqueness, personality and responsiveness to each multisite location. Command and context can be best of both worlds.
Replication Documents
Replication documents give focus and clarity to new campuses. These documents define the church’s identity and outline what will be reproduced on new campuses.
Evaluate ministry areas in 3 broad categories:
- Platform – Facilities, equipment, etc.
- Process – Ministry program, organization, vision-aligned process, etc.
- People – Personnel, teams, leaders, paid or volunteer, full-time or part-time, etc.
Replication documents describe the “must do,” “should do” and “don’t do” items across a full range of ministry areas:
- Must Do
- What will we replicate?
- What’s our essential DNA?
- Should Do
- What should we replicate?
- What does preferred ministry look like?
- Don’t Do
- What won’t we replicate?
- What won’t we do?
Consider these replication examples:
Ministry Champions
Ministry champions serve as DNA gatekeeper, mentor, coach and self-development resource for a ministry area or department. They usually have input on annual reviews for staff serving in their specialization without regard to campus assignment.
Champion and supervisor relationships are illustrated here: