SMALL GROUP LEADER
Manual
INTRODUCTION
This manual is intended to give the leader or coach of a ministry team or small group guidance in the process of achieving excellent group meetings. At CROSSROADS, we consider all groups that gather (i.e. ministry teams, Bible study groups, task force groups, etc) are by definition, small groups. This manual includes the Biblical basis for small group ministries, the philosophical underpinnings for small groups, a plan on how to implement effective small group meetings, and a strategy to insure the group will continue beyond one individual’s leadership.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Organization
Organization of the United Methodist Church 3
CROSSROADS CHURCH Organization 5
CROSSROADS CHURCH Mission and Vision Statement 8
CROSSROADS CHURCH Core Values 8
Small Group Philosophy and Function
Small Group Philosophy and Biblical Precepts 10
Advantages of Small Groups 10
Principles of Small Group Discipleship at CROSSROADS CHURCH 13
Types of Small Groups 16
Guidelines for Small Group Leaders or Coaches 24
CHORDS Model for Meetings 26
Small Group Membership 27
Guidelines for Writing Goals and Objectives for your Small Group 28
Decision making by Consensus 29
Church Records: Small Group Meetings and Events 30
General Description of a Small Group Leader 30
General Description of a Small Group Coach 31
Growing the Seeds from Your Small Group 32
Fostering Members at CROSSROADS CHURCH through Small Gr. Participation 33
Office Administrative Procedures
Communication Guidelines and Procedures 34
Building Use and Procedures 34
Church Office Procedures 36
Equipment Use and Procedures 40
Financial Policies and Procedures 41
Six Step Process to Conflict Resolution 44
ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Elements of the organization of the United Methodist Church include a conference system which guarantees basic democratic process. Almost all of the policy decisions are in the hand of the conferences. The chain of conferences represents a chain of representative democracy which permeates and under gird our entire church. A graphic of the organization structure is found following this section.
THE GENERAL CONFERENCE:
1. The supreme legislative body of United Methodism.
2. Meets every four years.
3. Composed of from six hundred to one thousand delegates, half of who are pastors and half lay persons.
4. The body is international with delegates from Annual conferences in many lands.
5. It is the only group which can speak officially for the United Methodist Church.
THE JURISDICTIONAL CONFERENCE:
1. Regional Bodies - five in number in the U.S.
2. The principle task is electing bishops.
3. Some debate within the church concerning the value of the jurisdictional systems exists.
THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE:
1. The basic body of the Church.
2. Membership includes pastors and lay members. Lay membership is based on the principle of representation of each local church.
3. Votes on all constitutional amendments, elects delegates to the General Conference, and determines all matters concerning ordination, character, and conference relationship of ordained and diaconal ministers.
4. Has the power to adopt rules and regulations as long as they are not in conflict with The Discipline of the United Methodist Church.
5. The Conference business consists largely of the various boards and agencies. It also includes election of personnel to the various boards and agencies, and the adoption of the yearly Conference Budget.
THE DISTRICT CONFERENCE: River Valley District – 494 South to Iowa
1. An optional structure utilized in some Annual Conferences.
2. The only actual power it has is to vote on issuing certificates of candidacy for ordained ministry.
THE CHURCH CONFERENCE:
1. A congregational meeting open to every member. (Only those 18 years of age or older may vote on matters of property and personnel.)
2. The primary responsibilities of the Church Conference in the annual meeting is to review and evaluate the total mission and ministry of the church, receive reports and adopt objectives and goals recommended by the Administrative Council.
3. The District Superintendent presides at the meeting of the Church Conference or gives permission to another elder to preside.
THE CHARGE CONFERENCE:
1. A special meeting of all elected officers of the congregation to make decisions on behalf of the congregation between Church Conferences.
2. The purpose of the special session shall be stated in the call, and only such business shall be transacted.
3. Presided over by the District Superintendent or pastors with the District Superintendent’s permission.
CROSSROADS CHURCH ORGANIZATION PLAN
CONGREGATION: Small Groups and Celebration Service
WORSHIP TARGET FOCUS: Believer driven, seeker friendly with elements of healing.
SENIOR PASTOR/ STAFF
Senior Pastor: Pastor Paul J. Marzahn
Primary Responsibilities: Staff Supervision, Staff Relations Team, Adult Discipleship Team, Finance Team, Stewardship Team, Vision Team, Leadership Team, Worship Team, Outreach Ministry Team, and other teams as needed for support.
Secondary Responsibilities: Worship Team, Youth Team, Leadership Development, Administration, Teaching, Preaching, Counseling, Weddings, Funerals, Baptisms, Confirmation, Conflict Resolution and Community Ministry.
(The Senior Pastor is appointed by the Bishop and all other staff are hired by the local church.)
Associate Pastor: Pastor Deb Marzahn
Primary Responsibilities: Campus Pastor for Inver Grove Heights, Children’s Discipleship Team, Inreach Ministry Team, Caring Ministry Team and other teams as needed for support in Lakeville.
Secondary Responsibilities: Leadership Development, Administration, Teaching, Preaching, Counseling, Weddings, Funerals, Baptisms, Confirmation, Conflict Resolution and Community Ministry. (Licensed Local Pastor is appointed by the Bishop and affirmed by local church.)
Associate Pastor: Pastor Stephen Bortey
Primary Responsibilities: Lead the Pentecostal Fellowship worship service and work toward developing an ethnic ministry within the CROSSROADS community.
Children’s Discipleship Kid’s Own Worship Director: Pam McDonald
Primary Responsibilities: Oversee the Children’s Leadership Team that coordinates Sunday Morning Kids Own Worship, and nursery, Vacation Bible school, family events, retreats, and fundraisers.
Youth Discipleship Director: Jeremiah Lideen
Primary Responsibilities: Oversee the Youth Leadership Team that coordinates Small groups, Confirmation, fellowship activities, service projects, retreats, mission trips and fundraisers.
Office Director/ Finance Director: Chris Koher
Primary person responsible for database management of the church, including membership, visitors, emails. Oversee office management and assist Pastor Paul with special projects. Primary person responsible for e-newsletter, bulletin, Web calendar and other church communication, and oversee office volunteers.
Secondary Responsibilities: Write checks and oversee finance work area.
Facilities Director: Brett Holland – Lakeville Campus
Primary Responsibilities: Oversees the Trustee Ministry area and building and property maintenance, coordinates building and property use.
Facilities Director: Jeff Shaw – Inver Grove Heights Campus
Primary Responsibilities: Oversees the Trustee Work Team and is in charge of building maintenance. Coordinates property use in cooperation with Pastor Deb Marzahn.
Worship Director / Technology Director: Shawn Vaughan
Primary Responsibilities: Oversees the Worship Leadership Team to plan worship including technology, video and PowerPoint, drama, and special music for Sunday morning 9:00a and 10:30a worship services.
Secondary Responsibilities: Oversees the Technology needs of the church and works primarily with the Trustees to coordinate staff needs and ministry team needs.
- Technical support for Worship and Discipleship work areas regarding technology needs.
Wedding Directors: Donna LaBeau & Bethany Lempola
Primary Responsibilities: Scheduling of weddings, wedding preparation and communication and assistance to Pastors in regards to wedding responsibilities.
Interns: Interns receive scholarships to their schools in exchange for ministry experience. Interns can serve in any work area of the church. Interns are supervised by and area director and Pastor Paul.
LEADERSHIP & STAFF
- MODEL, MENTOR AND MAINSTAY
- All Staff/Leaders are expected to Model and promote the Mission, Vision and Values of the church.
- All Staff/Leader are expected to Mentor and equip other leaders within their work area.
- All Staff/Leaders are expected to be a Mainstay to the Pastor and be an extension of his ministry.
- All staff members have a church e-mail. It is the first letter of the first name and their full last name and then @crossroadchurch.org. For example, .
- Signed Leadership Covenant – Leaders will sign a covenant agreeing to be a model, mentor and mainstay to the pastor. (See Addendum 1 - Leadership Covenant)
LEADERSHIP TEAM - all volunteer leaders work alongside Senior Pastor and staff to support them in their ministry. - Focuses on the Direction and Vision - They answer the “What”, “Why” and “Who” questions, and oversees the budget.
STAFF - Focuses on Managing - Focuses on How and When questions. Day to Day details of ministry. Oversees how the budget is followed and money is spent.
CROSSROADS CHURCH MISSION/VISION STATEMENT
MISSION STATEMENT: “To reach out in love and acceptance so that all may become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.”
VISION: “To become a Biblically functioning community of believers.”
LOGO:
“Where FAITH and LIFE meet.”
CORE VALUES: A SPICE JAR
AUTHENTICITY…Galatians 6:1-10; Ephesians 4:25-32; Philippians 2:1-4; Psalm 51
To pursue vulnerability and humility so we have genuine relationships with one another and God.
*Authenticity involves truth telling and Biblical conflict resolution
SMALL GROUPS…Acts 2:46-47, 5:42, 16:40, 20:20
To acknowledge that life change occurs best in a small group of Christian disciples.
*Small groups are the church, not a program of the church.
PROCESS…John 13:34-35; I Thessalonians 2:8
To measure our success by the process (the way we do ministry) and not just the product (the Ministry programs).
*Biblical process emphasizes loving relationships.
INTERDEPENDENCE…Ephesians 4:11-16; 6:18-19; I Corinthians 12; Romans 12:3-9
To acknowledge our dependence upon others and the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish our goals.
*Every member is a minister.
*Families matter to God and to the Church.
COMPASSION… Matthew 9:35-37; Galatians 5:13-14; James 2:14-26
To demonstrate compassion by modeling the servant nature of Jesus Christ.
*We expect to participate in mission on a local, state, national and global level.
EXCELLENCE…Leviticus 22:20-22; Numbers 18:29-30; Ephesians 6:5-8; Col. 3:17-24
To give God our best through intentionality and creativity.
*Excellence honors God and inspires people.
*Excellence requires ongoing evaluation.
JOY…Galatians 5:22-23; Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; Acts 2:46
To experience joy produced by the Holy Spirit through studying God’s Word individually, in small groups, and in the larger community of faith.
*Church should be fun and energizing.
*True fulfillment comes from God.
ACCEPTANCE…John 8:1-8; John 4:1-26; II Corinthians 6:2-10; Peter 2:2
To accept persons where they are and enable them to grow in their faith journey.
*To remove barriers in the church that keep people from a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ.
*Faithful disciples should expect to sacrifice on behalf of persons seeking a faith relationship.
RELEVANCE…I Corinthians 9:19-23; John 4:24; Ephesians 5:15-20
To demonstrate the relevance of Jesus Christ where the intellectual and the emotional come together in a revelation of God.
*We expect continuous change in methodology.
OUR WORSHIP TARGET: Believer Driven, Seeker Friendly, with Elements of Healing
SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT: Believers who seek to become high commitment, faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.
FAITH RELATIONSHIP: Persons who are seeking a first time relationship with Jesus Christ.
SPIRITUAL RECOVERY: Persons who have been hurt emotionally or spiritually and are seeking healing.
SIX STEP PROCESS OF EVANGELISM:
1. Building bridges with the unchurched.
2. Raising and answering spiritual questions.
3. Inviting Persons to a CROSSROADS event.
4. Participation in a small group.
5. Find a meaningful place of Service.
6. Become a TEAM member - Time, Evangelism, Abilities, and Money.
SMALL GROUP PHILOSOPHICAL AND BIBLICAL PRECEPTS
SMALL GROUPS ARE BIBLICAL:
Small groups were an integral part of the early church and vital to its life. A conservative estimate of the size of the Jerusalem church alone was 20,000 to 25,000 people. It could have been much larger and so could some of the other churches that were planted later. The early apostles and elders solved this problem by structuring the churches around both large and small groups. Acts 1:1-12, 2:41-42, 2:46-47, 20:20.
Large group meetings were used primarily for three purposes: Evangelism, Preaching, and Teaching. Acts 4:4, 4:42, 3:11, 5:42, 20:20.
Small groups were used for a variety of purposes including: Provision, Communion and Worship, Evangelism, Prayer, and Encouragement. Acts 2:44-45, 2:32-37, 2:45-47, 5:42, 12:12, 16:40.
There is one major, all encompassing purpose for small groups: that transformation of a person’s life occurs through community. Most people assume that life change takes place as the result of the pastor’s preaching ministry in the church. The problem in many churches, however, is that this is either the primary or the only vehicle for implementing change.
The reality is that life change takes place most often as the result of a significant relationship with either an individual or a small number of individuals in community with one another.
The obvious conclusion is that if churches expect their people to grow spiritually and mature in Christ, then they’ll need to provide a variety of ways to facilitate that growth.
THE ADVANTAGES OF SMALL GROUPS:
Small Groups Aren’t Limited by Facilities, but are Geographically Expandable:
We can meet just about anywhere and at a wide variety of times. The ministry of small groups is not limited to a Sunday school format which meets in the building, but can utilize neighboring, coffee shops, businesses, and homes. In fact, geographically expandable small groups also facilitate the planting of branch churches.
Small Groups Promote Vital, Interpersonal Relationships: It’s difficult for people who meet in large groups to get to know one another. Large group meetings are not designed to facilitate the development of significant personal relationships. Instead they promote corporate evangelism, worship, and teaching. Yet it is the relational element that many church members - believes and seekers alike - need and want. When a limited number of people (ranging from five to twelve) meet together, something is bound to happen because of the size of the group. There’s no guarantee that good interpersonal relationships will develop because they depend in part on the dynamics of the group(s). But, relationships are not likely to happen outside this context under normal circumstances.
Small Groups Encourage Lay Ministy:
Repeatedly and in various ways, Scripture promotes lay ministry in the local church. One way is through the exercise of spiritual gifts. Another is equipping lay people for ministry. A third way is through the priesthood of all believers, the idea that all believers are ministers to one another. I Corinthians 12-14; Ephesians 4; I Peter 2:9-10;
Small Groups Aren’t Limited by Finances:
The cost for operating most churches ranges from minimal to exorbitant depending on the size of the church and its facilities. The rule is simple: the larger the church, the greater the operating expenses. The cost of conducting a small group ministry is minimal if any. The leader is usually a lay person who isn’t paid. Neither are there any vehicles or facility expenses. In fact, it’s possible to conduct small group ministries without incurring any costs whatsoever. In many cases, small groups charge only for supplies (books, for example) or for coffee and doughnuts, or their members pay for these costs themselves on a voluntary basis.