Mission-Shaped Groups

In addition to course 1.1 Missional Church: Its Nature and Purpose being taught by Alan Roxburgh and John Franke, Tim Keel and Shayne Wessel are teaching 5.1 Mission-Shaped Groups: Structures for Missional Formation.  We had a great discussion about the idea that Small Groups are a product of the modern self-actualization movement and have been largely ineffective.  If the small group doesn't effectively therapize the participant they romantically continue the search for a group that will meet their needs.  Add to this dynamic the reality that people in our culture are unlikely to make an open-ended commitment to participate in a small group without end.  We examined a different way of thinking about small groups focused on learning, participation, and interests.  These new kinds of small group gatherings would have a specific time commitment to them - perhaps six weeks, seasonal, or over a semester.  These new kind of small groups would focus on affinity interests.  The affinity interests should be unrestricted by categories such as spiritual or secular.  Anything that is of interest to groups of people should be considered.  These groups would be missional in the sense that they are not exclusively for those who are "in" (church members).  These new kind of small group gatherings would blur the lines between those who are on the inside and those who are on the outside.  Though some groups may not be assigned a defined and limited time of existence when they begin, they would be understood to have an organic and limited period of existence based on the life-giving outflow of the groups dynamic.  In other words, there is a natural life-span for most groups created for a definitive purpose.  The problem with the modern small group movement is that when the small group loses energy someone (the small group pastor or leader) is often criticized for not being a good leader.  If they were a good leader and organizer, the logic runs, the small groups would synergistically continue and grow.  In a more organic environment we should celebrate the formation, growth and decline, yes, decline and cessation of a small group... so that we can anticipate the organic birth of a new expression of a small group  dynamic.

Comments

[Dan Gras]

I'm interested in hearing more about this. I can see how small groups are a "product of the modern self-actualization movement"

[Mike King]

Dan, sweet... let's chat next time we see each other.

[bob c]

can i ask a sorta odd question ?

is the modern self-actualization movement something bad or something to be avoided ?

when i look at the power & impact of movements like AA, it makes me realize just how transformative small groups can be.

it strikes me how much the objectives you list - learning, participation, and interests - sync up with what are more commonly called communities of practice

[Mike King]

Hey Bob,

It is not an odd question. The context of our discussion was what does a small group look like when it is missional shaped. The problem with so many church small groups is that they are often filled with people who are coming with expectations of being fulfilled or fixed by their involvement with the group. These undercurrent expectations can lead to dysfunction and more hurt followed by the search for the "perfect" small group that will "fix us." A missional shaped small group obviously can provide life and bring health but that isn't the focus... more of a byproduct.

[bob c]

thnx

if ya'll have not already, i'd encourage you to engage with the Society of Learning & the broader work around communities of practice