For congregations and parishes that take seriously the task of community building, the preparation of leadership ranks as a top priority. People willing and prepared to assume responsibility for nurturing small groups will help assure the emergence of a vibrant church community.
This fact came home to me on a Saturday morning some weeks ago when I participated in a leadership training session at a local (Washington, DC area) Church of the Brethren congregation. The pastor believes that her people will best prosper spiritually through the formation of base communities similar to those prevalent in the Latin American churches. She proposes to invite every active member of the church and friends of the congregation to form small groups, meet regularly outside the Sunday worship time, and share their faith in a more intimate setting. The pastor's idea is that Sunday worship will then become the place where the "community of communities" gathers.
Our session was designed as a first step in the preparation of leaders for these base communities. The pastor gathered quite ordinary folk who were willing, if apprehensive, to take on responsibility for one of the small groups. They were the proverbial "people in the pews" who invariably underestimate their own worth and potential. Each of them told me that they felt both honored and very nervous at being asked to take on this responsibility.
The training task, then, was mostly a matter of convincing these good folks of their competence to nurture a fledgling community. Using Sojourners' publication Communities Sharing the Sojourn, I walked them through the various steps recommended for beginning a community. They seemed to relax as we reviewed the start-up process in bite-sized pieces, realizing no doubt that it is nothing more than a very logical and non-threatening set of activities. There was almost a visible sigh of relief when I stressed that the true leader is one who allows the gifts of each community member to surface and flower, thereby sharing responsibility for the collective.
As we talked over lunch near the conclusion of our time together, one woman made a remark that indicated that the training had been a success. She confessed that she had come with the intention of helping to begin a base community but then to beg off from any coordinating role. Now, she said, the task seemed much less formidable, attractive even, and she professed interest and enthusiasm for what lay ahead. The others expressed similar views.
Should your congregation consider forming a North American version of the basic Christian communities, then I urge you to review our resource Communities Sharing the Sojourn. The steps involved in beginning such a community are outlined to demonstrate that the community-building process is not intimidating. Let us know how it goes for you.
Joe Nangle, OFM was outreach director of Sojourners when this article appeared.
Got something to say about what you're reading? We value your feedback!