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Do you expect every person in your church to join a group?
By elaineb | August 25, 2008
Is Evergreen simply the collection of our small groups: is the “church” part of Evergreen really found in the small groups? OR, are the small groups just one of many ministry opportunities at Evergreen. Is Evergreen a church OF small groups or a church WITH small groups?
If Evergreen is OF small groups - if that is where the church is found - then we should expect everyone to be in a group. Otherwise, they will not experience true community and pastoral care. If Evergreen is church WITH small groups, then some people will naturally not be in small groups - they will find their community and pastoral care within other areas, like ministries, covenant groups, or leadership groups. There is no value judgment here: one way is not better than another way. But the question should be answered…
A final consideration here is the question of where the small groups are rooted. We have college students who attend Evergreen. Are they not a “part” of Evergreen if they are involved in campus ministry small groups? And at the Greenhouse there are students who attend who do not participate in Sunday worship. Are they “part” of Evergreen although they don’t worship with us on Sundays? How flexible is our definition of belonging? How important are small groups? Should we encourage everyone to find a small group, either at Evergreen or within their community? Or should we encourage everyone to participate in an Evergreen-specific ministry/small group? Finally, should we have a small group dedicated to the election of Bob Barr, the only truly appropriate candidate for President?
Topics: Uncategorized |
August 25th, 2008 at 9:34 am
We’re definitely a church with small groups. I think a more effective way to “do” church would be to be a church primarily “of” small groups. Those small groups could be journey groups or covenant groups or whatever. One hour on a Sunday morning is not sufficient to adequately address much of anything regarding a spiritual journey, except maybe the need to pursue one. But, to do that, we’d have to significantly change our focus of energy.
I don’t really care if ECC’ers are involved in an official Evergreen ministry. But, I think part of being in a church is actually being involved with that church community on some level.
I was all set to slam you on Bob Barr until I read his site and realized I agree with an awful lot of what he has to say. Darn it, I miss the simplicity of being a radical right wing Republican. Stupid gray areas and Jesus…
August 25th, 2008 at 10:36 am
I knew at least 1 person would agree about Bob Barr…
Just to push back a little: you say we should be a church OF small groups, then define small groups as journey groups, covenant groups, or whatever. So does that “whatever” include ministries? Does it include small groups outside of Evergreen, like InterVarsity at UNC? If we want to be a church OF groups, then we must define what a small group is.
So, define a small group.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:43 am
A group that is not large.
I think when I envision a “small group”, I am thinking of what many churches would call a discipleship group. Ministry groups can certainly fill some of the community needs…but they end up lacking.
Thinking through the Pathways:
Spiritual - Most of the pursuits in the Spiritual Pathway are solitary. Of course, a group can aid in accountability and there are some group disciplines, but, if you’re not spending some time alone with God, you’re missing a significant area of Christian growth. But, how do you learn about different forms, say, of prayer or meditation? Often, by learning from someone who practices them…and that implies some sort of Paul/Timothy relationship.
Physical - This has obvious benefits in a small group setting. This could be a ministry small group, though. Although, a ministry team probably isn’t going to be close or committed enough to challenge each other about issues like weight, health, budget, etc.
Intellectual - For me, this is a biggie. (Obviously, hello, have you met me?) The way we currently operate, the music team has no time or structure to help people learn to study their bibles. Ditto the greeters. Ditto the kids’ minsitry. Sunday morning, as we currently structure it, is wholly inadequate to introduce people to some of the deeper aspects of Scripture…and from hearing Ed talk about his vision for Sunday AM, that’s not the purpose. Can people study on their own? Of course. We want them to get to the point where they do that regularly. But, if I, as an elder, benefit from listening to sermons like those on Xenos, don’t I have an obligation to pass on what I’ve learned? The only place I can see where we will have the chance to do deep interpersonal building is in a group designated for exactly that purpose.
Relational - This is one area where the ministry teams can fill some of the needs and chances to learn to love others, warts and all.
Emotional - Again, due to the sensitive nature of some of this, some pursuits of the Emotional PW would have to take place in a smaller, committed group. Perhaps a covenant group?
What do you think?
August 25th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Also, I’m not sure I think ECC should be a church “of” small groups. It might not work for us…it just seems to me to be a more natural way to “do” church well. Ed’s vision-casting has always emphasized Sunday AM more than the smaller groups as far as time/energy/planning goes. Since he’s the pastor, and we fall under his authority, then his vision has to be what determines where our energies go. (Yes, the elders discuss, etc, but Ed is the primary vision caster.)