How can new organizational, mission, and funding models be used to improve the effectiveness

and reach of congregations and pastoral leaders committed to planting new congregations and

establishing new communities of faith, particularly among un-churched and/or de-churched

populations? This question arises from the formation of Bare Bulb Coffee, a new church development of the PC(USA) in which the organizational model, rather than the pastor, is bi-vocational in nature.

The research project will investigate the strengths and weaknesses of such a bi-vocational ministry and benchmark its progress against both traditional and non-traditional new church developments. Results will offer a picture of newly emerging models of Christian community and offer insight into strategies for funding, organization, and missional engagement in the world.