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.

This course helps participants see the place small group community building has in ministry and equips with skills for developing such within a Christian community.

Four hours of class once a week with lectures, discussion, and small group involvement in class. Small group involvement requires an additional time commitment.

Bilezikian, Gilbert. Community 101. Zondervan, 1997.

Gorman, Julie. A Training Manual for Small Group Leaders. Victor, 1991.

__________. Community That Is Christian. Victor, 1993.

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

Syllabus: Building Christian Community Through Small Groups.

Dougherty, Rose May. Group Spiritual Direction. Paulist Press, 1995.

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

Vanier, Jean. Community and Growth, rev. ed. Paulist Press, 1989.

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. Additional reading will be assigned from the class reading list.

None for credit students. No audits.

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

None.