Do all new churches have to be affiliated?
Eventually, yes. The SBTC expects all of its funded new churches to be affiliated and giving through the Cooperative Program within about 90 days from beginning. New “units” – Bible studies, cultivation small groups, ministries, etc – that are started as part of a multi-housing or house church strategy are NOT expected to affiliate unless and until their intention is to be known as a church and intend to move to autonomy and self-sufficiency. Often, these “simple” churches are units of one larger church that is affiliated (for example, ABC Church may be a multi-housing network – one church that meets in small groups in numerous places at numerous times).
