small group ministry first unitarian church of san jose creating intentional ministry in small group...

SMALL GROUP MINISTRYFIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH OF SAN JOSE

Creating Intentional MINISTRY in Small Group Creating Intentional MINISTRY in Small Group MinistryMinistry

Presented at General AssemblyPresented at General AssemblyJune 2003June 2003

ByByFirst Unitarian Church of San JosFirst Unitarian Church of San José

Small Group Ministry CouncilSmall Group Ministry Council------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A vision without a task is dreamA vision without a task is dreamA task without a vision is a drudgeryA task without a vision is a drudgery

But a vision with a task can change the worldBut a vision with a task can change the world-- Black Elk-- Black Elk

06/27/0306/27/03 © First Unitarian Church of San Jose 2003© First Unitarian Church of San Jose 2003 22


PreliminariesPreliminaries

Workshop timingWorkshop timing Order of WorshipOrder of Worship Chalice lightingChalice lighting Opening readingOpening reading



Who are we?Who are we?

First Unitarian Church of San Jose First Unitarian Church of San Jose Small Group Ministry CouncilSmall Group Ministry Council

Rev. Lilia CuervoRev. Lilia Cuervo Jennie LarsonJennie Larson Ed MasseyEd Massey Bob MiessBob Miess Bob OwenBob Owen Julia Rodriguez -- ChairJulia Rodriguez -- Chair



Who are we?Who are we?

First Unitarian Church of San Jose First Unitarian Church of San Jose Small Group Ministry CouncilSmall Group Ministry Council

Rev. Lilia CuervoRev. Lilia Cuervo Jennie LarsonJennie Larson Ed MasseyEd Massey Bob Miess Bob Miess Bob OwenBob Owen Julia Rodriguez -- Chair Julia Rodriguez -- Chair



What might you gain from this What might you gain from this workshop?workshop?

AwarenessAwareness IdeasIdeas EncouragementEncouragement InspirationInspiration IntentionIntention Why high-quality content is so importantWhy high-quality content is so important Content samplesContent samples Web-based content resourcesWeb-based content resources



Why would you want to Why would you want to have small groups?have small groups?

Goals of SGM at First Unitarian of San JoseGoals of SGM at First Unitarian of San Jose Draw us into mutual ministryDraw us into mutual ministry Strengthen our congregationStrengthen our congregation Deepen our understanding of UU principles & Deepen our understanding of UU principles &

valuesvalues Continuously develop lay leadershipContinuously develop lay leadership Challenge us to action & spiritual growthChallenge us to action & spiritual growth Express our principles & values in the community Express our principles & values in the community Help members identify their own calling & Help members identify their own calling &

expression of lay ministryexpression of lay ministry



How would you organize to How would you organize to support small groups?support small groups?




Small Groups




Small Groups

SGM Council

Leadership

Membership Content




Small Groups

SGM Council

Leadership

Membership Content

Leaders




Small Groups

Ministers

SGM Council

Leadership

Membership Content

Leaders



What key roles would be What key roles would be needed for this organization?needed for this organization?

Group MemberGroup Member Group Leader (two per group)Group Leader (two per group) Small Group Ministry Council MemberSmall Group Ministry Council Member

– Leadership team leadLeadership team lead– Membership team leadMembership team lead– Content team leadContent team lead

SGM Support Team MemberSGM Support Team Member– Leadership team memberLeadership team member– Membership team memberMembership team member– Content team memberContent team member

MinisterMinister



What would you want the What would you want the groups to be like?groups to be like?

6-12 Members6-12 Members Meet first & third weeks of each month, 1 ½ or 2 hoursMeet first & third weeks of each month, 1 ½ or 2 hours Worshipful experience, guided by content, based on questions Worshipful experience, guided by content, based on questions

distributed before the meetingdistributed before the meeting In place of the sermon is sharing our stories in context of deep In place of the sermon is sharing our stories in context of deep

listeninglistening Topics sometimes synchronized with Sunday ServicesTopics sometimes synchronized with Sunday Services Service to the church and the community encouragedService to the church and the community encouraged Vessels for mutual support of spiritual growthVessels for mutual support of spiritual growth Right to reticenceRight to reticence ConfidentialityConfidentiality Not all group members are church membersNot all group members are church members Open ChairOpen Chair BirthingBirthing



What would you have the What would you have the leaders do?leaders do?

Act as local representative of the lay ministry of Act as local representative of the lay ministry of our churchour church

Express and model the goals and purposes of Express and model the goals and purposes of the SGMthe SGM

Assemble the groupAssemble the group Facilitate the group processesFacilitate the group processes Bring wider context of the church communityBring wider context of the church community Connect ministers with those who have special Connect ministers with those who have special

needs beyond the resources of the groupneeds beyond the resources of the group Mentor one another and future leadersMentor one another and future leaders



What should group leaders be What should group leaders be disallowed from doing?disallowed from doing?

Allow the group to function as a therapy session.Allow the group to function as a therapy session.– Groups should not focus on advice givingGroups should not focus on advice giving– Groups should not focus on personal problem solvingGroups should not focus on personal problem solving

Promote philosophies that are contrary to UU Promote philosophies that are contrary to UU principles and values.principles and values.

Allow disrespectful behavior within the group.Allow disrespectful behavior within the group. Use the group as a platform for the leader’s own Use the group as a platform for the leader’s own

perspective.perspective. Dominate the group.Dominate the group.



How would you support the How would you support the group leaders?group leaders?

Initial training (one day)Initial training (one day) Monthly Leadership GatheringsMonthly Leadership Gatherings Personal mentoring/support by the Personal mentoring/support by the

Leadership TeamLeadership Team Electronic group/websiteElectronic group/website Content for sessionsContent for sessions SGM FAQSGM FAQ



What is the Monthly What is the Monthly Leadership Gathering?Leadership Gathering?

All leaders gather once each month All leaders gather once each month (second Wednesday evening, 2 hours)(second Wednesday evening, 2 hours)

Worship, announcements, training, and Worship, announcements, training, and mutual supportmutual support

Our leaders report that this is one of the Our leaders report that this is one of the best parts of being a leaderbest parts of being a leader



What would role would the What would role would the clergy play?clergy play?

This is a lay extension of the ministry of the clergy (Multiplication of ministry)This is a lay extension of the ministry of the clergy (Multiplication of ministry) Develop Lay LeadershipDevelop Lay Leadership

– Create and sustain a context in which lay ministry can flourishCreate and sustain a context in which lay ministry can flourish– Help establish and maintain this ministryHelp establish and maintain this ministry– Guide and inspire the lay leaders, including the Small Group Ministry Council, the Guide and inspire the lay leaders, including the Small Group Ministry Council, the

Leadership team, the Content Team, the Membership team, and the group Leadership team, the Content Team, the Membership team, and the group leadersleaders

– Lead the Leadership Team in the selection and support of group leadersLead the Leadership Team in the selection and support of group leaders– Lead the training of group leadersLead the training of group leaders– Lead the Monthly Leadership GatheringsLead the Monthly Leadership Gatherings– Assist the Content Team in the development of appropriate, relevant, and Assist the Content Team in the development of appropriate, relevant, and

inspiring contentinspiring content Minister to the CongregationMinister to the Congregation

– Maintain connections between the Small Group Ministry and the other ministries Maintain connections between the Small Group Ministry and the other ministries of the congregationof the congregation

– Respond to the needs of people identified by group leadersRespond to the needs of people identified by group leaders



Why is content so Why is content so important?important?

““Quality content makes Small Group Quality content makes Small Group Ministries worth going to.” --Ministries worth going to.” --Julia RodriguezJulia Rodriguez

Keeps small groups interestingKeeps small groups interestingStrengthens group bondsStrengthens group bondsEnriches lay ministryEnriches lay ministryProvides a strong spiritual experienceProvides a strong spiritual experienceEnables growth of SGMEnables growth of SGM



What do we try to What do we try to accomplish with content?accomplish with content?

Encourage spiritual growth Encourage spiritual growth Maintain a worshipful approach Maintain a worshipful approach Enable us to minister to each otherEnable us to minister to each other Promote all-church conversations Promote all-church conversations Acknowledge milestones Acknowledge milestones Facilitate important transitions Facilitate important transitions Educate about UU principlesEducate about UU principles Strengthen bonds to the church Strengthen bonds to the church



What types of sessions What types of sessions do we offer?do we offer?

GeneralGeneral SeasonalSeasonal MilestonesMilestones Life RitualsLife Rituals



Encouraging Mutual MinistryEncouraging Mutual Ministry

Life RitualsLife Rituals Acknowledge the good and bad times of Acknowledge the good and bad times of

individual members of groupindividual members of group 20 minute ritual20 minute ritual Used before or after the regular content for Used before or after the regular content for

the daythe day



Does every group do the Does every group do the same session at the same time?same session at the same time?

““If you ask three Unitarians a question, If you ask three Unitarians a question, you’ll get five answers.”you’ll get five answers.”

AnonymousAnonymous



What’s in a session’s content?What’s in a session’s content?

Order of WorshipOrder of Worship Preparation Preparation Leader NotesLeader Notes



What’s in an What’s in an Order of Worship?Order of Worship?

““When I am working on a problem, When I am working on a problem,

I never think about beauty. I only think I never think about beauty. I only think

about how to solve the problem. about how to solve the problem.

But when I have finished, But when I have finished,

if the solution is not beautiful, if the solution is not beautiful,

I know it is wrong.”I know it is wrong.”

Buckminster FullerBuckminster Fuller



What kind of sharing What kind of sharing do we include?do we include?

““If I had my life to live over…If I had my life to live over…

I would have talked less and listened more.” Erma BombeckI would have talked less and listened more.” Erma Bombeck

““Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.” Jimi HendrixKnowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.” Jimi Hendrix

Sharing/Deep ListeningSharing/Deep ListeningDiscussionDiscussionFeedbackFeedbackExplorationExploration



How do you encourage How do you encourage deeper sharing?deeper sharing?

““If someone listens, or stretches out a hand, If someone listens, or stretches out a hand, or whispers a kind word of encouragement, or whispers a kind word of encouragement, or attempts to understand a lonely person, or attempts to understand a lonely person,

extraordinary things begin to happen.”extraordinary things begin to happen.”Loretta GirzartisLoretta Girzartis



What’s the value of What’s the value of Preparation?Preparation?

Open-ended, provocative questionsOpen-ended, provocative questions Promotes thinking in advancePromotes thinking in advance Creates an ongoing spiritual practiceCreates an ongoing spiritual practice Enriches the sharing experienceEnriches the sharing experience Suggests different approachesSuggests different approaches Helps reluctant speakersHelps reluctant speakers



Why do we need Why do we need Leader Notes?Leader Notes?

Enables leaders to Enables leaders to leadlead Reminds them of their ministryReminds them of their ministry Prepares for a smooth sessionPrepares for a smooth session Provides background, training, Provides background, training,

& resources& resources



Why do we have a Why do we have a content team?content team?

High level of commitment & experienceHigh level of commitment & experience Quality assurance & consistency Quality assurance & consistency All-church conversationsAll-church conversations Ministerial supportMinisterial support Leader supportLeader support



Can we “share the wealth”?Can we “share the wealth”?

San José SGM web site:San José SGM web site:http://pages.ivillage.com/quixoposto/sanjosesmallgroupministryhttp://pages.ivillage.com/quixoposto/sanjosesmallgroupministry

Content website:Content website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/uusj-sgm-leaders/fileshttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/uusj-sgm-leaders/files

Content team email:Content team email:[email protected][email protected]



What challenges might you What challenges might you expect to face?expect to face?

BirthingBirthing Rapid incorporation of new group membersRapid incorporation of new group members Growing the structure for more groupsGrowing the structure for more groups Affinity groupsAffinity groups Small groups do not meet all needsSmall groups do not meet all needs Evaluation still being refinedEvaluation still being refined Content:Content:

– Dealing with complex, educational topicsDealing with complex, educational topics– Coordinating with our Worship calendarCoordinating with our Worship calendar– Encouraging more participationEncouraging more participation– Copyright issuesCopyright issues



Where is the San Jose Church’s Where is the San Jose Church’s Small Group Ministry now?Small Group Ministry now?

Started with 8 groupsStarted with 8 groups 12 groups and growing12 groups and growing

– Three women’s groupsThree women’s groups– One “Twenties & Thirties” groupOne “Twenties & Thirties” group

About 120 participantsAbout 120 participants Members finding this a rich environment Members finding this a rich environment

for their own spiritual sustenance and for their own spiritual sustenance and growthgrowth



How long does it take to establish How long does it take to establish a Small Group Ministry?a Small Group Ministry?



ClosingClosing

““Only out of our lives together as people do Only out of our lives together as people do patterns of worship or programs for teaching patterns of worship or programs for teaching

or outreach make sense.”or outreach make sense.”

Maria HarrisMaria Harris

““The central task of the religious community The central task of the religious community is to unveil the bonds that bind each to all.”is to unveil the bonds that bind each to all.”

Mark Morrison-ReedMark Morrison-Reed



Q&AQ&A

““Judge a man Judge a man [sic][sic] by his questions, by his questions, rather than his answers.”rather than his answers.”

VoltaireVoltaire

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