DESCRIPTION:

What is the alternative to the impersonal, success-oriented, edifice-centered, and clergy-dominated model of Christian community that pervades the Church today? For increasing numbers of persons, the answer lies in the small group. In a world where "natural networks" of community like marriage, family, and the neighborhood are experiencing crisis and dissolution, the need is great for the New Testament reality of Christian koinonia. This course focuses on the birth, care, and feeding of Christian small groups particularly as they can function in the life of a local congregation. A variety of types of groups will be studied, including neighborhood Bible studies, personal support and sharing groups, spiritual direction groups, task/action groups including committees, and accountability groups. Philosophies of small group ministry will be explored, along with strategies for beginning groups and maintaining them in a church, training leaders, and dynamics of small group interaction. A review of resources for group leaders and members is included. Participants will also become aware of their own leadership and participative styles in groups with individualized help in improving those styles. This is a course in skill and insight transformation.

Existentially, learners will become persons who recognize, rejoice in, and foster community in their ministry among the people of God. This means they will leave the course knowing the biblical basis of community and being aware of what fosters the development of such; strongly committed to experiencing community in committees, groups, and gatherings of Christians; actively involved in communicating and living out the concept and principles of community wherever two or three are gathered in the name of Christ.

The class will meet twice weekly for ninety-minute sessions with lectures, discussion, and small group involvement in class. Small group involvement requires an additional time commitment.

Bilezikian, Gilbert. Community 101. Zondervan, 1997.

Crabb, Larry. The Safest Place on Earth. Word, 1999. (Available in CFD office.)

Cladis, George. Leading the Team-Based Church. Jossey-Bass, 1999.

Frazee, Randy. The Connecting Church. Zondervan, 2001.

Gorman, Julie. Community That Is Christian. 2nd ed. Baker, 2002.

Olsen, Charles. Transforming Church Boards. Alban Institute, 1995.

Donahue, Bill and Russ Robinson. Walking the Small Group Tightrope. Zondervan, 2003.

McBride, Neal. How to Build a Small Groups Ministry. NavPress, 1995.

Wuthnow, Robert. Sharing the Journey: Support Groups and America's New Quest for Community. Maxwell Macmillan, 1994.

Assignments will provide class members with the following tools and experiences: development of a theology of Christian community, preparation of a seminar to train small group leaders, actual experience in leading and evaluating self and others in putting into practice principles in a small group setting, and presentation of a particular type of group to the class. Additional reading will be assigned from the class reading list.

Meets M.Div. core requirement in Christian Formation and Discipleship (MIN 4).