The Church Revitalization Podcast – Episode 308– church community partnerships
Managing church community partnerships effectively can transform your outreach efforts, but without a clear strategy, these relationships often lead to resource drain and mission drift. The key is categorizing partnerships into three distinct levels: Primary, Secondary, and Good Neighbor partnerships.
Church leaders frequently struggle with saying “yes” to every community partnership request, leading to scattered resources and confused messaging. Whether it’s a mothers-day-out asking to use your fellowship hall, a food bank seeking volunteers, or Trail Life USA wanting to start a troop, each partnership opportunity requires strategic evaluation.
The solution lies in developing a systematic approach to church community partnerships that aligns with your mission while maximizing your impact in the community.
The Three-Tiered Partnership Framework
Primary Ministry Partnerships: Your Core Outreach Focus
Primary ministry partnerships deserve your highest level of investment because they directly advance your church’s Great Commission calling. These partnerships should have strong alignment with both evangelism and discipleship, making them essential to your church’s mission.
Characteristics of Primary Partnerships:
- Direct connection to evangelism or discipleship
- Church-wide participation expected
- High visibility in communications
- Significant budget allocation
- Leadership oversight and involvement
Example in Action: A church implements “Service Sunday” on the fifth Sunday of each month, where the entire congregation serves at various community outreach locations. While members might distribute among eight different partner organizations (food banks, homeless shelters, community gardens), the church-wide participation makes this a primary ministry initiative.
Implementation Strategy:
- Feature prominently in preaching and teaching
- Include in new member orientation
- Allocate substantial budget resources
- Create clear pathways for involvement
- Measure and celebrate impact regularly
Secondary Ministry Partnerships: Specialized Engagement Opportunities
Secondary partnerships provide valuable church ministry partnerships that serve specific segments of your congregation or offer deeper engagement opportunities beyond your primary focus. These aren’t for everyone, but they’re strategically important for your overall discipleship pathway.
Key Features:
- Ongoing relationship beyond single events
- Specific demographic focus (age, life stage, interests)
- Moderate promotion and support
- Clear connection to discipleship growth
- Optional but encouraged participation
Practical Examples:
- Community Bible Study (CBS) – Offers deeper Bible study for those ready for advanced learning
- Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) – Serves young mothers specifically
- Food bank volunteering – Monthly (or more often) commitment for those passionate about hunger relief
These partnerships often function as part of your “outreach step” in a four-step discipleship pathway, helping people move from basic attendance and internal connection to deeper community involvement.
Communication Approach:
- Regular announcements but not weekly promotion
- Featured in newsletters and small group settings
- Moderate budget allocation
- Staff oversight but not primary staff time
- Clear expectations for participant commitment
Good Neighbor Partnerships: Community Goodwill Relationships
Good neighbor partnerships represent your church’s desire to be a positive community presence without requiring significant promotional energy or resources. These relationships maintain community goodwill while preserving focus on your primary mission.
Defining Characteristics:
- Minimal church promotion or advertising
- Basic facility or resource sharing
- Low/No staff time commitment
- Limited/No budget impact
- Community service orientation
Common Examples:
- Local Scout troops using meeting space
- Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in fellowship hall
- Community associations borrowing tables and chairs
- Polling location during elections
- Parking lot shared for community events
Management Guidelines: The key principle for managing church partnerships at this level is keeping them simple and low-maintenance. Put these relationships on your calendar so people know what’s happening, but avoid featuring them prominently in communications.
Boundary Setting:
- Limit promotion to basic calendar listing
- Avoid regular announcements or social media features
- Keep financial support minimal or zero
- Ensure theological alignment with basic church values
- Prevent competition with primary ministry resources
Avoiding Mission Creep Through Clear Communication Plans
Churches often struggle with church partnership strategy because they lack systematic decision-making processes. When someone approaches you about promoting their favorite ministry, you need predetermined criteria for response.
Develop Written Partnership Policies:
- Create clear categories for evaluating new opportunities
- Establish annual review processes for existing partnerships
- Assign specific staff oversight for each partnership level
- Document decision-making criteria for consistency
Sample Communication Framework:
- Primary partnerships – Weekly announcements, sermon illustrations, website homepage features
- Secondary partnerships – Monthly newsletter mentions, small group promotions, dedicated webpage
- Good neighbor partnerships – Calendar listing only, no active promotion
This framework becomes your “scapegoat” when declining to promote certain initiatives. Instead of appearing to reject good work, you’re simply following established policy.
Implementing Your Partnership Strategy
Start With Mission Alignment Assessment
Before categorizing existing partnerships, clarify your church’s specific vision for your community. Ask critical questions:
- Who has God called us to reach in our immediate area?
- What unique role do we play in our community’s spiritual landscape?
- Which partnerships directly advance evangelism and discipleship?
- Where are we neglecting our primary calling to focus on secondary activities?
Conduct Partnership Audit
Review your current community outreach church relationships:
Assessment Questions:
- How much staff time does this partnership require?
- What percentage of our congregation participates?
- How many volunteers does the partner need?
- How often do we promote this relationship?
- What budget resources does it consume?
- How does it advance our mission and vision?
- Could this energy be better focused elsewhere?
Create Implementation Timeline
Month 1-2: Assessment and Planning
- Inventory current partnerships
- Categorize using three-tier framework
- Identify partnerships requiring status changes
- Draft communication policies
Month 3-4: Internal Alignment
- Train staff on new partnership categories
- Update website and promotional materials
- Communicate changes to key volunteers
- Adjust budget allocations as needed
Month 5-6: External Communication
- Notify partnership organizations of any changes
- Implement new communication protocols
- Begin annual review calendar
- Monitor impact and adjust as needed
Measuring Partnership Effectiveness
Primary Partnership Metrics:
- Participation rates from congregation
- New member connections through partnerships
- Evangelistic conversations and decisions
- Integration with overall discipleship pathway
- Community impact and recognition
Secondary Partnership Metrics:
- Specific demographic engagement
- Progression to deeper church involvement
- Volunteer leadership development
- Alignment with growth step objectives
Good Neighbor Partnership Metrics:
- Community goodwill and reputation
- Facility utilization efficiency
- Minimal resource drain confirmation
- Theological alignment maintenance
Conclusion: Strategic Partnerships for Kingdom Impact
Effective church community partnerships require intentional strategy rather than reactive responses to every opportunity. By implementing a three-tiered framework, your church can maximize community impact while maintaining clear mission focus.
The goal isn’t to minimize community involvement but to ensure every partnership serves your ultimate calling to make disciples. When you’re strategic about managing church partnerships, you create space for deep impact rather than shallow engagement across too many initiatives.
Key Takeaways:
- Categorize partnerships as Primary, Secondary, or Good Neighbor relationships
- Align promotion and resources with partnership categories
- Develop written policies to guide future decisions
- Focus energy on partnerships that advance your discipleship pathway
- Maintain community goodwill without sacrificing mission clarity
Your church exists to fulfill the Great Commission in your specific community context. Strategic church partnership strategy ensures every relationship serves that ultimate purpose while being a good neighbor to your community.
Remember: saying “no” to good opportunities often means saying “yes” to great ones. Choose your partnerships wisely, and watch your community impact multiply through focused, intentional relationships.
Additional Resources:
Building a Disciple-Centric Church: The Role of Primary and Secondary Ministries
The Importance of Strategic Planning
Watch this episode on YouTube!
Scott Ball is the Vice President and a Lead Guide with The Malphurs Group. He lives in East Tennessee with his wife and two children. (Email Scott).
