The Rise of Predatory Church Plants: A Call for Ethical Partnerships and Sustainable Congregations
In an era of shifting religious landscapes, many established congregations face dwindling membership, financial constraints, and an uncertain future. These churches, built for a time of expansion and abundance, now find themselves struggling to sustain ministry in a rapidly changing world. Enter the concept of “church planting”—a strategy that, at its best, seeks to cultivate new expressions of faith and community. But at its worst, it has given rise to a troubling phenomenon: predatory church plants.
What Is a Predatory Church Plant?
Predatory church plants are congregations that embed themselves within struggling churches under the guise of partnership, only to later maneuver a takeover of the host church’s assets—often through coercive spiritual language. The process usually unfolds in stages:
- The Invitation: A new church plant offers to share space with an aging, declining congregation, presenting itself as a mission partner that will “bring new life” into the church.
- The Dependency Phase: The church plant slowly becomes integrated into the host church’s life, often gaining leadership positions or influence over decision-making.
- The Spiritual Justification: Once entrenched, church planters use spiritualized rhetoric to suggest that God is calling the host church to gift their building to the new congregation.
- The Transition: The original congregation—whether through exhaustion, guilt, or a sense of inevitability—cedes control, effectively dissolving itself in favor of the new plant.
These tactics not only harm existing congregations but also foster distrust within the broader faith community. Instead of being spaces of shared mission, church buildings become sites of spiritual gentrification, where established communities are displaced under the banner of renewal.
Why This Matters
For many older congregations, their buildings are more than just structures; they are sacred places filled with decades—sometimes centuries—of spiritual, emotional, and relational history. The land and resources tied to these churches were given in faith by past generations, intended to serve future ministry, not simply be handed over to a church plant eager for space.
While church plants and established congregations can work together in meaningful ways, these partnerships must be built on mutuality, transparency, and respect—not opportunism masked as divine calling.
A Different Path: The Church Sustainability Initiative
Recognizing the challenges many congregations face, CBF North Carolina (CBFNC) has launched the Church Sustainability Initiative (CSI) to help churches navigate their next steps with integrity, faithfulness, and strategic clarity.
Instead of allowing churches to fall prey to predatory planting strategies, CSI provides resources to help congregations discern their own futures—on their own terms. Whether that means:
- Resetting ministry with a specific and focused mission,
- Exploring revenue-based space partnerships that honor both parties,
- Becoming a legacy church that intentionally celebrates its impact and transitions with dignity,
- Or engaging in new approaches to ministry without the pressure to conform to unsustainable models—
CBFNC’s initiative ensures that churches are equipped to make informed, faithful choices rather than being pressured into decisions that benefit others at their expense.
Questions for Reflection
If your congregation is approached by a church plant proposing a space-sharing agreement, consider:
- Who truly benefits from this partnership? Is it a mutual arrangement, or is one party in a position of power?
- Are there clear expectations and boundaries? Does the agreement allow the host church to remain autonomous, or does it create a path for eventual takeover?
- Is there transparency about long-term goals? Does the church plant’s leadership openly share their intentions for the future of the space?
- Does this partnership align with our congregation’s mission and identity? Or does it feel like a last resort driven by fear or pressure?
Moving Forward with Faith and Wisdom
The path to sustainability is not about giving up but about making intentional, informed choices that honor the past while embracing the future. CBFNC’s Church Sustainability Initiative exists to help churches explore these options without falling victim to coercion or manipulation.
If your congregation is facing uncertainty and is searching for ways to remain faithful in this changing landscape, you are not alone. The Church Sustainability Initiative offers resources, coaching, and learning cohorts to help churches navigate their next chapter with confidence and integrity.
Do you want to see if the Church Sustainability Initiative is right for your congregation? Take the Church Sustainability Pathway Discovery Guide for better insight here.
To learn more about how CBFNC can support your congregation, visit cbfnc.org/churchsustainability.
– By Andy Hale
CBFNC associate executive coordinator
This is one article in a seven-article series on church sustainability. Access the other six below:
Read Church Sustainability Series: Reimagining Sacred Spaces here.
Read Church Sustainability Series: Avoiding Pitfalls and the Mythological Comeback Kid here.
Read Church Sustainability Series: Finding Hope in a Changing Church here.
Read Church Sustainability Series: Redefining Success, Maintaining & Failure here.
Read Church Sustainability Series: Sustaining Care here.
Read Church Sustainability Series: Rethinking Ministry Roles here.
