Of or relating to the church; ecclesiastical.

[probably Gr.,=divine], aggregation of Christian believers. The traditional belief has the church the community of believers, living and dead, headed by Jesus, who founded it in the apostles. This is the doctrine of the mystical body of Christ (Eph. 1.22–23).

Plant·ing
n.

1. The act or operation of setting in the ground for propagation, as seeds, trees, shrubs, etc.; the forming of plantations, as of trees; the carrying on of plantations, as of sugar, coffee, etc.

2. That which is planted; a plantation.

Trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord. Isa. lxi. 3.

3. (Arch.) The laying of the first courses of stone in a foundation. [Eng.]

Church Planting

Church planting is a process by which churches are begun in new areas.

Christian denominations such as Evangelicals view church planting as a necessary adjunct to the work of evangelism.

Church planting can occur in a number of different ways:

1. A pastor begins a church on his own, simply via advertising and social contacts.
2. An apostle or church planter plants a church using the methods employed by the apostle Paul.

Churches do not necessarily have to own their buildings, and many churches have been planted using school or community halls, and even people's houses. Over the last century there has been a great movement in the Christian faith to restore the New Testament model of church planting.