The Five Capitals | These serve as the lenses by which we define relationships, make decisions, and steward the gifts of God. When we come to the Harvest Table, these are the resources that we share.
Spiritual
We assume the Gospel is the central theme of Scripture and it guides how we look at mission and ministry. This capital is a common understanding of the Bible as the Word of God, our Lutheran Confessions, and a desire to come together around the Spirit’s guiding. We study together, pray together, and pray for one another. Luke 10:2 provides a rhythm of praying each day at 10:02 that God will provide workers in His Harvest.
Relational
God is a God of community. We grow in discipleship and plant churches as a community. We live, work, and play together. Families support families, planters support planters, sending churches support sent churches. Beyond providing professional support, we invest in one another’s lives.
Intellectual
The partnership is a diverse learning community. We share information, books, podcasts, best practices, and ideas. We believe there is more than one way to plant a church. We are a diverse group that is welcoming to planters or supporting congregations who may approach mission differently than we do. As iron sharpens iron, our differences and shared resources make each one of us better. We believe the unique contributions of congregational leaders, DCEs, teachers, and pastors make us able to address the challenges associated with starting new churches.
Physical
This capital can include buildings, land, physical resources, and time. Planters and sent churches have access to the resources of the sending churches. Time is the most significant physical capital. We make time for one another for strategic and personal support.
Financial
This capital is purposely listed last. Although necessary in church planting, we understand that most church planters/sent churches need the other capitals first and foremost. But financial commitments are kept, resources are shared, and supporting networks (sub-tables of the Harvest Partnership) are founded to ensure that each church plant can focus on the other capitals and not be distracted from the mission due to the lack of financial capital.