2061 SGM: Healing the World Ten at a Time
Southwest District

Speakers: Rev. Robert L. Hill & Thandeka

Small Group Ministries (SGM) are a process that is revolutionizing and revitalizing our congregations by extending our ministry, according to the Rev. Dr. Thandeka and the Rev. Robert Hill. With SGM the focus moves from the minister to the ministry by way of covenant groups.

Covenant groups are defined as small relational groups made up of six to twelve people (Hill suggests that eight to ten is an ideal number). These people meet regularly to establish and nurture themselves in their own beloved community. Covenant groups provide an opportunity for group members to build strong relationships with each other and with the larger organization of which the small group is a part.

Covenant groups encourage people to talk, learn, work and play together over time. Members may tell their life stories, offer support and engage in work to serve the larger community. They offer expanding opportunities for growth, caring and connection within a congregation. Covenant groups offer caring affiliate networks, mutual responsibility, leadership opportunities, and a way for people to build and strengthen their communities.

In a covenant group, people can experience a relational individuality that affirms the inherent worth and dignity of every person. People experience themselves, and each other, as a part of the interdependent web of existence of which we are all a part. Together, people establish communities that embody the values of justice, democracy and human dignity. Each person is treated equitably. Each has a voice and is heard. And each person is respected for his or her own intrinsic humanity. The defining purpose of a covenant group is to bring people into right relationship with each other and with the larger world.

Each member's primary affiliation is to the congregation as a whole. However, the small relational groups provide face-to-face connections over time with people whose covenant includes a commitment to generate new groups and to serve the congregation and the larger world.

According to Thandeka, each meeting of a covenant groups follows a similar format that should include the following elements:

• A welcoming and re-statement of the purpose of the group,
• A ritual, such as lighting a chalice, a reading or prayer or a song,
• A review of group covenants, particularly when new members are present,
• A check-in, as an invitation to each person to state his or her name and speak briefly about significant events that person would like to share from his/her life.
• The content of the Meeting, the body of the meeting during which the members perform that which they have come together to accomplish
• A check-out, during which members may make a brief concluding statement, and
• A closing, that may be a ritual activity to remind the members of their ties to the larger community.

Each covenant group must have a leader and a co-leader or two who help to facilitate the group's process. Thandeka and Hill both insist that, as these groups are in effect extensions of their congregation's ministry, the leaders should be selected by the minister. Then, perhaps even more importantly, these leaders will undergo significant training for their new roles as group facilitators.

Hill presented several models of activities around which covenant groups were formed. One of the more interesting was a group who purchased older, non-functioning cars, rebuilt them, then gave them to members of their congregation who were in need. This activity provided a common ground for the members and extended their group to benefit the larger community of which they are a part!

During the question and answer period that followed the presentation, members of the audience discussed some of the obstacles and solutions to the effective development of covenant groups within their organizations.

One of the keys seemed to be effective and thorough training for the facilitators and leaders of each group. It is critical that all members have a voice and the ability to be heard.

Another was reluctance to "spin-off" into a new group when an existing group exceeded the recommended number of members. This came across as one of the more difficult obstacles to overcome. The solution here is long term planning. Each group has to plan early in their formation for growing into more groups. If done correctly, one of the co-leaders will be able to assume the leadership position in the new group.

Benefits seemed to far outweigh any of the concerns. In fact, studies to date show that by growing these Small Group Ministries, or covenant groups, overall congregational membership increases and participation and involvement by congregants increases dramatically.

For more information, please visit the web site www.the-ccv.org.

-Portions of this article have been adapted from the Covenant Group Source Book, 2nd edition.

Reporter Phil Hoffman; Web Designer Anna Belle Leiserson

 

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