Small Group Leader
Orientation
About Christ Church Small Groups
Why do we have small groups at Christ Church?
Worship is the purpose for which humanity was created, and therefore worship is the purpose for which Christ Church exists. Weekly services of Word and Sacrament are the primary place where our members live into our biblical core values (Acts 2:42) of worship, formation, belonging, and compassion.
Outside of worship, these core values are further supplemented and supported primarily through Small Groups, a collection of Christ Church members and attendees who regularly gather to share time, pray for each other, and study God’s Word.
Large worship services provide a sense of community that is majestic, festal, formal, and heavenly while small groups provide a sense of community that is intimate, personal, and accountable. Through the friendships which form from being in community together, small groups are the primary place where a parishioner knows and is known, loves and is loved, serves and is served.
Who are small groups for?
We invite all members and regular attendees of Christ Church to join a small group. We see the largest increase of participants through Foundations, our church membership class.
Group members do not have to be members of Christ Church. While our program is designed for members, anyone is able to view the videos online and join a small group. However, it is our hope that all small group members will become worshipping members of Christ Church.
How do people join a small group?
When an individual or couple expresses interest in joining a small group, a Christ Church staff member on the small group team will reach out to them. Over a brief conversation, we come to understand their goals and needs for a small group, stages in life, and preferences for meeting time and location. The staff team, considering all of these factors, then select a small group for placement.
We inform the small group’s leader of the new member and ask them to reach out and welcome the newcomer into the group and share meeting details. We will follow up with the new member after a few months to ensure that they are happy and comfortable with the group.
What is the ideal size for small groups?
10-15 members is ideal, but small groups are not required to have a specific number. We work with small group leaders to help groups reach their ideal size.
Meet the Small Groups Staff Team
The Rev. Canon John Battey
Canon John is the staff leader of the small group ministry, and the clergy contact for leaders. He communicates with the congregation regarding small groups through worship announcements, articles in The Call, and direct emails. He also leads regular meetings of small group leaders.
Canon John is available to leaders who need pastoral guidance with complex group issues.
CJ Johnson
CJ is the Small Groups Coordinator. She supports and guides members and attendees who are seeking a small group. CJ also coordinates room reservations and provides front desk reception support.
The Rev. Marci Dittmer
Marci is both Small Groups Associate and Women’s Minister. Her primary responsibility is to act as a coach to small group leaders through ongoing training and mentoring. She assists in the formation of new adult small groups through intentional relationships and recruiting. She will also help coordinate larger events that benefit multiple small groups and church women.
Jose Lopez
Jose serves a Small Groups Associate and Men’s Minister. Like Marci, he coaches small group leaders and provides ongoing training and mentoring.
Roles and Responsibilities in Small Groups
Leader/Facilitator
All small groups have a leader/facilitator whose role is to help their group members mature in their faith and foster environments where genuine friendships form. A small group leader also encourages the members to support one another with prayer and other forms of care in times of need.
Specific responsibilities include:
- Set the meeting time. Work with your group members to identify a weekly time for your meeting. Suggestion is to meet for 60 – 90 minutes.
- Prepare for meetings. Watch the online video and review the discussion questions each week in advance of your meeting.
- Host the weekly meeting. If your meeting is online, the leader schedules and activates the Zoom call.
- Facilitate discussion based upon the leader guide and questions provided by Christ Church. Encourage all members to take an active role in conversation.
- Post attendance each week in the Fellowship One application.
Member Care Coordinator
Some groups may have a member care coordinator who focuses on the prayer and pastoral care needs of the group. When nobody serves in this role, the Leader/Facilitator should consider how these needs will be met for the group:
- Record prayer requests at each meeting. Share these requests with the members in an email within 48 hours.
- Notify Pastoral Care. Let Christ Church’s Pastoral Care team know of any prayer requests that warrant Clergy support (with member’s permission).
- Be a point of contact for members who are having surgery or medical challenges. Share updates with the rest of the group.
- Coordinate visitation and meals for group members following surgeries or medical events.
Meeting Coordinator
Some groups may have a meeting coordinator who organizes weekly meetings in terms of location, meals, etc. When nobody serves in this role, the Leader/Facilitator should consider how these needs will be met for the group:
- Determine the location for each meeting. Manage a sign-up list if the group rotates locations.
- Coordinate snacks or refreshments for each meeting. This person is not responsible for providing these items for every meeting, merely coordinating a rotation.
Fellowship Coordinator
Some groups may have a fellowship coordinator who thinks about ways that the group can enjoy time together outside of regular meetings, as well as remembering important events. When nobody serves in this role, the Leader/Facilitator should consider how these needs will be met for the group:
- Develop ideas or activities to socialize outside of small group discussions. It could be going out to a hike, group dinner, or other activity.
- Keep track of important dates: birthdays, anniversaries, and other important events. Send cards from the group on these dates. Mention them in meetings.
Service Coordinator
All small groups should be working to develop a heart for the world through selfless service in our community. The service coordinator works with the group to find places to serve together. When nobody serves in this role, the Leader/Facilitator should consider how these needs will be met for the group.
How We Support You
- Your Small Groups Associate. Every small group leader is paired with a Small Groups Associate. This staff member provides support and care for the small group leader. They are available for any question about leading the group including curriculum, location selection, pastoral care needs, and group dynamic challenges.
- Quarterly Training Nights. Small group leaders gather at Christ Church for training 4 times per year. In these meetings, the Small Groups team provides leadership training and shares information on upcoming studies and church events.
- The Church Center App. Christ Church uses a mobile and web-based app called Church Center to make group management easier. Leaders use Church Center to post group attendance. All group members have access to Church Center, and we highly recommend everyone use it for group scheduling, resourcing, and messaging.
Get started with Church Center here: https://christchurchplano.churchcenter.com/ - Discussion Guides. Each Christ Church weekly study video is accompanied by a Discussion Guide (also called Leader Guide). This single-page document provides a summary of the teaching, a Scripture reading, questions for discussion, and suggestions for weekly reading and application.
Discussion Guides for current and past studies are available to both group leaders and group members on the Church Center App. - Weekly Leader Email. On Monday mornings, the Small Groups team emails a weekly update to all leaders. This message includes the week’s Discussion Guide as well as information on upcoming church activities that can be shared with your group. Please ensure that you are receiving these emails.
- Campus Availability. Christ Church has spaces available for your small group to meet. Campus rooms are outfitted with a smart TV which can be used to watch the weekly teaching video as a group. Reservations are required for campus meetings. When coordinated in advance, Nursery and childcare is often available.
Ways Groups Can Meet
In Homes
The best location for a small group to meet is in each other’s homes. This provides a sense of connectedness that is only available when sharing the place where we live.
There are at least twenty-six references in the New Testament that talk about believers meeting in homes or being part of a household. Homes are usually comfortable places—places devoid of pews, PA systems, and stages. They are places where people can open up, listen, learn, and grow.
If you choose to meet in homes, we suggest that you rotate as is possible so that no member bears an unreasonable requirement to host each week. If you choose to have snacks or a meal, this responsibility should also rotate between members.
On Campus
With your reservation, Christ Church can accommodate midweek meetings on campus at the following times:
- Mondays from 6 – 8:30 p.m.
- Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 12 noon
- Wednesdays from 6 – 8:30 p.m.
- Sundays from 9 – 10:30 a.m. (members should attend 11 a.m. worship)
- Sundays from 10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. (members should attend 9 a.m. worship)
Zoom
For those groups who wish to meet online, Christ Church will provide a Zoom membership for the leader.
Ready to Continue?
Read our essential guidelines to leading small groups and get started with weekly processes and resources.
