The Dublin Church Planters Forum
The Church Planters Forum is the central gathering of the Dublin Collective, bringing together church planters and church leaders from across Dublin to encourage one another and strengthen the work of the gospel in the city.
Why?
Church planting is critical to reaching the many different people and communities across Dublin. There are still many geographic areas and demographic networks that are not actively being reached by an evangelical church.
Healthy church planting also strengthens and resources the existing body of Christ within the city.
But church planting is not easy.
For this reason, the Dublin Collective exists to support, encourage, and train church planters and leaders, so that more healthy churches might be planted across the city.
Our vision is not to plant churches together, but to together plant churches.
The distinction is subtle but important.
Each church and denomination continues to plant within its own structures, while we walk together relationally as we serve the city.
“The likelihood of survivability increases by 135 percent when the church planter meets at least monthly with a group of church planting peers.”
-
For anyone involved in church multiplication in Dublin, including the following stages of church planting
Planning for a future church plant (whether as a ‘sending leader’ or the ‘sent leader’)
Preparing to church plant
In the process of church planting
In the early years of a church plant
Have a desire to explore church multiplication
-
The first Thursday of each month (September to May)
9.30am - 1pm
There is an option to go to lunch together afterwards, 1-2pm
-
Irish Church Missions (Bachelors Walk, by O’Connell Bridge)
What We Do
Each month the Dublin Collective gathers church planters and church leaders from across Dublin for conversation, encouragement, and learning together. Our time typically centres around two things.
First, we create space for the formation and support of the leader. Each month someone from the group has the opportunity to share something from their ministry, either a case study of something that has been encouraging, or a challenge where they would value the wisdom and perspective of the wider group. This has proved to be one of the most valuable aspects of the Collective, as leaders from different denominations and traditions come alongside one another to listen, advise, and pray. Over time this has fostered deep relationships and a sense that no one is planting alone.
Second, we engage theologically with ministry in the city of Dublin. Each year we work through selected papers, articles, or book chapters related to urban mission, church planting, and gospel ministry. Participants read the material beforehand, and during our gathering we discuss, wrestle with, and apply the ideas together as practitioners. The goal is not simply knowledge, but thoughtful contextualisation and practical application for ministry in our city.
The schedule below outlines the themes and resources we are working through this year.
2005/2006 Training Topics
| Date | Content | Facilitator |
|---|---|---|
| 4th Sept | Kingdom centred prayer | Steve Vaughan |
| 2nd Oct | Contextualisation | Josh McCance |
| 6th Nov | Planting a church in a city | Kieron Lynch |
| 4th Dec | The sin of racism | Kenny Dubnick |
| 8th Jan | How to reach the west again | Cormac Walsh |
| 5th Feb | Evangelism as a culture | Simon O'Donoghue |
| 5th Mar | Preaching in a secular age | Steve Vaughan |
Learning Archive
Since 2020 the Dublin Collective has gathered monthly to reflect together on urban mission, church planting, and gospel renewal in Dublin. Below is a record of the sessions and topics we have explored together in previous years.
Tip: On smaller screens, rotate your phone for the clearest view.
Join the Collective
If you are involved in church planting in Dublin and would like to explore joining the Dublin Collective, we would be glad to hear from you. We usually welcome new participants each September and ask for a commitment to attend most of the monthly sessions so that the group can grow together consistently.