Episode Details

Thanks for joining us for this special episode of the unSeminary podcast as we kick off All About Multisite month. In this conversation, we’re joined by Rick Langston and Daniel Simmons from The Summit Church in North Carolina. Rick serves as the Executive Pastor of Strategic Initiatives, and Daniel is the Executive Pastor of Campuses and Central Discipleship.

Are you thinking about expanding your church through multi-site? Wondering how to do it effectively while maintaining mission and vision alignment? Tune in to learn powerful insights on how to grow a multi-site church that stays united, impactful, and rooted in mission.

• One church with many locations. // The Summit Church began in 1961 and experienced a pivotal shift in the 2000s under the leadership of J.D. Greear. Embracing a church planting mindset, they transitioned into a multi-site model that now includes a dozen campuses throughout the Raleigh-Durham (RDU) area. Initially driven by necessity—after selling their building and meeting in a high school—they soon recognized multisite as a strategic advantage for reaching their city.
• Identity and mission clarity. // It’s important for campuses to identify primarily as The Summit Church, not just their local location. While each campus has freedom to contextualize ministry to its community, all locations remain unified under shared mission, values, and vision. This alignment allows flexibility in how they bless their neighborhoods while preserving alignment in purpose.
• Who is the decision maker? // In a multisite environment, there is often a tension between campus teams and central teams around decision-making. To reduce confusion and clarify responsibilities, The Summit has developed two frameworks: CORE, for central teams, and PACE, for campus teams. These dual frameworks operate as two different sides of the same coin, functioning together to achieve the vision.
• CORE and PACE. // CORE is an acronym which represents: Collaborate across ministries, Own the vision and set common strategy, Resource campus teams through coaching and training and Evaluate ministry effectiveness and strategic goals. Similarly, PACE stands for: Pastor and shepherd the congregation, Advance the church’s mission and vision locally, Collaborate with central teams and peers and Execute ministries with excellence and creativity.
• Build relationships and culture. // Strong relationships between teams are essential. As their staff has grown, The Summit intentionally prioritizes relational health. They host monthly all-staff meetings with worship and learning, and biannual retreats for rest and bonding. These regular touchpoints help reinforce culture and foster trust, which is vital for collaborative success across campuses.
• Create a leadership development pipeline. // The Summit’s leadership pipeline has been instrumental in its growth. The church benefits from proximity to a seminary and has a robust internal development track through The Summit Institute, an apprenticeship and residency program for individuals pursuing full-time ministry. Participants raise support to work at the church and they receive hands-on training, spiritual development, and real leadership opportunities, which can lead to permanent staff roles. The church benefits from getting to know potential hires and identifying those who align with the church’s vision.
• Both multisite and church planting. // While The Summit Church is deeply committed to church planting nationally and globally, its multisite strategy remains regional—li