Community and Small Groups 3

Theresa Latini’s new book, The Church and the Crisis of Community: A Practical Theology of Small-Group Ministry, examines small groups in the context of the crisis of community in late modernity. In her thick description, which begins with sociological and psychological study and then proceeds to theological study (on koinonia), she is seeking to describe what is happening in small groups and what could/should happen in small groups who seek to embody koinonia.

Latini sketches “well-developed small groups” in chp 3. What’s a “well-developed” small group? Good question. Glad you asked. They are guided by a mission statement, supported by leadership training, and embedded within the congregation’s mission.

In your experience in churches, what are the strengths of the best small groups?

She finds the following chacteristics of well-developed small groups:

1. They practice communion with a personal God.

2. They support wider involvement in the congregation.

3. They enhance the congregation’s ministry of care.

4. They provide intimacy, friendship, and family. (They function as communities.)

5. They strengthen bonding social capital (strengthening ties of homogenous groups); but this feature often leads to ecumenical relations.

6. They prop up the pure relationship (particularly marriage; pure relationship is one that exists only for itself).

7. They witness in word and deed.

8. And they facilitate healing and the strengthenting of ontological security (self healing).