Monday, December 24, 2007
Are Small Groups Important to this church?
Here's what I am wondering right now as we end 2007 and begin 2008: Are small groups part of the DNA of The River? One of my goals for this church is to think of ourselves as a "church of small groups." Many are connected with each other in small groups but my sense is that we don't see those groups necessarily as places where we provide the care for each other that we used to look to elders and/or pastors to provide. Will we ever get there or is The River's history one that makes it hard if not impossible to get there? Just recently again it seemed that folks were pulling and tugging at elders or pastors to do what small groups ought to be doing. Will that change? That's what I am wondering.
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3 comments:
Will, can you provide some examples of what you mean when you say, "...folks were pulling and tugging at elders or pastors to do what small groups ought to be doing"?
What kind of things should we be doing in small groups that some people are looking to elders and staff to do?
I think there are some small groups that serve each other in that way, but I think we coukd be doing a lot better. I wish I had a wise solution to this problem...you pose a good question.
Will, In many ways because of our heritage we still function like a small church ie church wide bridal and baby showers, pastoral visitation, these are great things but in a larger church these things happen within the small group context. I think training is essential for small group leaders, elders, deacons etc so that we aren't looking to someone in leadership to do everything. Its a matter of granting/delegating authority to meet needs in the small group context and the small group leaders/mentors feeling adequately equipped to pray with, encourage, share scripture, act...
We've come a long way since the parsonage and single pastor church but there is a hurdle to be cleared in training and equipping.
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