[C*UUYAN-Chat] Small Group Ministries and Covenant Groups

[Adrian Winchell]

I gotta question. Seems my local congregation focuses pretty heavily on 
covenant groups.

And is thoroughly unable to describe them properly.

I've been hopping about to various sites about them, and get this...I 
dunno, sorta "icky-cliquey" vibe from the descriptions I'm reading. 
Either that or an "extroverts support group" :P

Some of the stuff I've reading also suggests making decisions about 
"When do we close people out? When do we tell people they haven't been 
here enough to come back?" - now, I've read stuff from the Foundation 
for Community Encouragement, and understand the necessity of this - but 
it still seems worded awfully coldly. Maybe I just like cycles and 
coping mechanisms rather than closed doors, but it seems that the 
questions "how often do we want to reopen and reform the group?" and 
"How do we handle someone who is falling away from the group?" would be 
more productive.

Anyone done this sorta thing? Have any recommendations? Horror stories? 
Celebrations? Reassurances? Tips?

Thanks in advance,
Adrian

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-- 
Adrian Winchell
adrian at winchell.us