Currently, we meet on the first Friday of every month because we are not big enough yet to implement our plan for when there are multiple small groups. But eventually, we will have two types of meetings that are designed to work together:
But since we only have one group so far...
Our Small Groups that meet in people's homes are much like what are often called "home churches", but ours has some specific structure to them. Once there are enough of these "home churches", on the first Sunday of every month, we will come together as one Large Group in a facility that we lease. On that Sunday, we will have an extended meeting time that includes a meal together and an opportunity for building broader relationships. The purposes of these two types of meetings are described below.
While each Small Group adheres to our core beliefs, Small Groups can also form around what we consider to be "non-core" beliefs. For example, Small Groups can form who take different stands on baptism, or who take no stand at all on baptism. Small Groups can form who believe in taking communion every Sunday, while others might not have a position on that. This aspects of our organization is what we call "Formalized Granularity in Beliefs." By that, we mean that instead of simply claiming the motto, "In the essentials unity, in the non-essentials liberty, and in all things charity", we instead place it formally into our organizational structure.
By establishing the granularity in a formal way, through the way we are organized, we are able to draw clear distinctions and know where certain boundaries are. Furthermore, it enables us to focus with diligence on the core areas about which we never disagree. The Small Group's independent beliefs on non-essential matters are a vital part of our church.
For multiple reasons, we encourage people to feel comfortable migrating to different Small Groups on occasion and on an as-needed basis. One reason is to solve a problem that exists in the independent "home church" model, that problem being a consequence of their rather small size, e.g., 3-4 families. In an independent home church, if one family has illness in the house and another is on travel, the plans for that Sunday can fall apart. This aspect of home churching can be discouraging for those new to it. By establishing a network of Small Groups, and encouraging their cross-pollination, we create a built-in safety net for those weeks when things do not work out for a particular Small Group.
Another problem with independent home churching is that, while 3-4 families meeting together for three years can be wonderful, it can also become a bit stale. Even a group of, say, twelve dedicated adults and their children can fall into a rut in the way they approach Scripture after several years. It is healthy to encourage a mild degree of migration between groups to keep other opinions circulating. While stopping short of encouraging debate on non-essential topics, because debate for its own sake is unhealthy, it is also good to share opinions from time to time on those non-essentials. In fact, exploring areas of disgreements in a loving and respectful way is viewed as a very positive outcome of our model. More information is available to learn more about how disagreeing in church can be a positive experience.
Another problem with independent home churching is managing growth. People's living rooms cannot often accommodate more than about 15 people. As a home church grows, they can experience a crisis with what to do about growth. When we build into our system an expectation that people can and should migrate from group to group occasionally, we safegaurd against the notion of "splitting up" and ease that process. The Large Group meeting, described below, also helps with that.
One last problem with independent home churching is due to conflict. We know, even from the New Testament times, that conflict among people in church is an unfortunate consequence of our sinful nature. We believe conflicts between sincerely dedicated Christians will always eventually work out. By providing multiple Small Groups where migration or even semi-permanent switching is considered normal, we build in a relief device for those experiencing conflict. Without raising any eyebrows, two parties who are working out their conflict can, for a time, go their separate ways with respect to the Small Groups but still not leave the church.
A typical Small Group meeting consists of prayer, corporate worship, and study. The style of study is the choice of the Small Group. It can be guided by an individual, or completely open, e.g., the group reads a chapter in the Bible and then simply discusses it. The style of worship is the choice of the group, as is the mannar of prayer. How the group is led, in particular, the role of women in leadership is a choice of each Small Group. More information is available here about our position on that topic, in general. Light snacks and drinks can be helpful before and after the Small Group activities. Meeting times are, in general, respected.
The Large Group meeting focuses on the essential core beliefs of the church, however, we do not place a firm set of rules on the person who is teaching that week. We encourage the speaker to allow for a time of questions and answers after the lecture/presentation. We encourage the use of visual aides, e.g., PowerPoint for the presentation as well. The pursuit of dialouge in the Large Group meeting is valuable because every person's opinion matters and we never want to create an environment where people cannot speak up. If desired, the speaker can enlist the help of a moderator to help keep track of the time and guide the Q&A session.
The Large Group meeting is organized and predictable but also informal. Parents with children are encouraged to do whatever is necessary to help their children sit through it quietly, for example rearranging some chairs and putting a blanket on the floor. Quiet toys are welcome. However, we do emphasize order as a sign of respect for others in attendance. Click here to learn more about the expections of our church regarding how children are accommodated.
The speakers for the Large Group as well as the worship leader(s) are selected informally. We have formalized granularity in beliefs with respect to the role of women in leadership in the church. Click here to learn more about that. In the Large Group meeting we choose the more conservative belief; women refrain from leadership positions in it. Meanwhile, in the Small Group meetings, freedom on that point can be exercised.
Thus, any man who wants to fulfill the tasks of teaching, leading worship, leading prayer, administering communion, etc. in the Large Group is welcome to do so, and if there is a multitude of those who want to serve in that way, we simply rotate the task. It is the responsibility of the spiritual leaders in the church to assist in the teaching. Also, it is their responsibility to help guard against errant teaching. This vital and sacred responsibility is one of the most serious matters in our church, and like other aspects, we handle that in a new way. Click here to learn more about Spirit-led leadership in our church.