New Churches in 2026
Here’s something we Presbyterians don’t talk about much… NEW congregations… apparently they are taking root across Canada. And Dr. James Watson has been on a mission to figure out what it takes to help them grow?
James is a research fellow with the Canadian Institute for Empirical Church Research (CIECR) at Wycliffe College(and also Internship Program Coordinator and Lecturer in Practical Theology at Tyndale University). He interviewed leaders from 25 denominational organizations across the country. Networks, districts, fellowships, associations… some as small as eight congregations, some over a thousand. He asked them a deceptively simple question:
How do you create the kind of environment where new churches can begin?
His report, Shaping the Future, reads their answers through an organizational change lens, gathering what he heard into three movements: vision, structure, and process.
Vision — Leaders who can name the possibility… who can tell the story of where God might be leading… who help others see the biblical heartbeat of mission. James notes that even those of us outside the planting circles have a role here: we can pray for our leaders to carry and communicate that vision faithfully.
Structure — Over and over, one word surfaced: relationships. Visionary, entrepreneurial leaders flourish when they know they belong to a family… when they have peers to call, encouragers in their corner, and people praying for them by name. His gentle challenge: do you know who's planting in your own denomination right now? Reach out. Offer to pray. Sounds a little like: “You Are Not Alone!”
Process — The practical scaffolding: training, coaching, assessment, leadership development, help finding meeting space, and financial grants for those fragile early days. James describes visiting churches in the Waterloo region that had quietly become incubators… established congregations sharing their buildings so a new community could find its feet.
Perhaps the most hopeful note in the whole report is this: almost anyone can contribute. Through prayer. Through relationship. Through finances. Through space. The work of starting new churches isn't reserved for the experts — it belongs to the whole family of God.
You can watch James’ short video summary here:
He also warmly welcomes your comments and questions. Reach out to him via email… tell him Ministry Forum recommended you do so: jwatson@tyndale.ca
If this stirs something, you may be wondering where the work of starting and renewing congregations is happening within our own tradition. The Presbyterian Church in Canada continues to nurture church planting and revitalization through its Congregational and Community Ministries department.
The Rev. now Dr. Glen Soderholm (being awarded an honourary DD from Knox College last year) who planted Two Rivers Church in my neighbourhood of Guelph, and now gives part-time leadership to the PCC's Missional Networkwould gladly have a conversation with anyone dreaming about new worshiping communities. You can reach him by email here: gsoderholm@presbyterian.ca (and don’t forget to say - Ministry Forum sent you!)
And if you missed it, Glen was our guest earlier this year on the Ministry Forum Podcast. Have a listen here.
However small the gathering… however unlikely the place… no one plants alone. And neither do you.