The Big Idea:

In recent times we’ve come to realise that new congregations are getting harder to establish. This has led us to wonder about new approaches to emerging forms of church. From this thinking, the Board of Mission has recently challenged every Uniting Church congregation to start a new small group.

Of course, we want to avoid the scenario where a new small group is started and all that happens is that the faithful already over-committed people add an extra commitment to their schedule!

Every congregation with 50 members or less starts one small group, while larger congregations are invited to start two groups.

The group MUST include three people from beyond the congregation.

The groups can look like anything. It can be primarily Body, Mind or Spirit orientated. So long as it suits the three people from beyond the congregation…

“Eat together, go to a café or pub, exercise or play sport, read together, watch movies, just talk, knit, sing together, etc. Or study the Bible, do an Alpha or Living the Questions course. Visit hospitals, prisons or detention centres together. Plant trees, go on demonstrations, or write letters together.”

Regards,
Glen Powell, New Congregations Consultant