Small Group Ministry

"Small group ministry" --  What is it?  As our congregations grow in size, many of us lose the sense of intimacy and inclusion that came with being in a small fellowship group where we were known.  Others of us who joined large and diverse congregations are working to build ways that newcomers can build meaningful relationships with other UUs.  It has led us to think about how we can intentionally build that intimacy again through organzing small groups of people coming together to share viewpoints, events, and feelings in support of one another.  We hope that many such small groups can give the entire church community a feeling of belonging.

Many UU communities are trying this "small group ministry," and as in everything we do, there is a wide variety among church communities as to how we do this.  Several congregations have organized "covenant groups," 8-12 people who meet regularly to form a deeper on-going relationship through personal sharing, theological reflection, and service to the church and the wider community.  Often covenant groups have lay leadership, nurtured by the minister(s) in their own covenant group.  Sometimes covenant groups have a format of "caring listening," where members each have a protected time in which to speak without interruption.  Sometimes groups have a curriculum of reading and reflection.

Other groups are focused more clearly on affinities.  Groups meet regularly to focus on "Spirituality in Everyday Life," "Challenged Lives," "Men's Growth, " "Women's Spirituality," "Race Relations," "Living Simply," etc.  Still other groups gather to practice together a particular format for spiritual expression, such as drumming, journaling, ritual, or meditation.

Some groups grow out of an adult ed curriculum, such as the popular "Simple Living" circles, the groups formed around "Evensong," and the groups continuing to meet regularly after completing the Study Circle for Race Relations.   Some newcomer groups continue to meet regularly after the "New UU" series is over.

Resources:  Congregations of Geneva, DuPage,