THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF CONGREGATIONS

Building blocks provide the road map for a transition from one type of congregation to another.

Small Group Block

15 or less Greatest intimacy, mutual care and

support occur. Anthropologists call “sympathy group” Some degree of homogeneity, (age,

educational or circumstances) Has its own leader,

Convener and connecting agent

Family Group Block

Larger than small group but no more than 50 people.

Intergenerational group functions like a family.

Leadership is entrusted to respected elders.

Members receive rights and privileges based on age, relationship to the elders, family position

Family Group Block

Sometimes called Primary Extended family or clan whose members

are related by birth and marriage. Like a tribe with more than one extended

family. Group of unrelated people formed by

common circumstance continues over a period of time family-like style of governance emerges.

Fellowship Group,

Larger than Family group but no more than 150 members.

Governed by council whose members serve with legitimate or coerced consent of the group.

Principal leader may maintain the position by popularity, acknowledged skill or experience, charisma, personal respect, or force.

Anthropologist Robin Dunbar

Number of relationships an individual can manage is primarily the consequence of neocortex size.

The neocortex portion of the human brain large enough to handle complexities of active relationships in group of no more than 150 people.

Number of Relatinships

Most members of group need a facilitator who can help them maintain knowledge of that many active relationships.

Human beings are naturally aware of this upper limit in relationship capacity and have organized their lives accordingly.

Average Worship Attendance

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Family Size PastoralSize

ProgramSize

CorporateSize

Family Size

Pastoral Size

Program Size

Corporate Size

Family Congregation (up to 50) Resembles extended biological

family in which all know each other Family matriarchs and patriarchs

make decisions. Maintain stability through tacit

authority Consisting of single cell, each use

only one building block.

Pastoral Congregation

Pastor facilitates relationships of group members

Makes it easy for members to be in active relationship with the others, even if they do not have complete knowledge of all the active relationships in the group.

Usually do not have family groups Rarely see true small group in family or

pastoral congregations. Consisting of single cell, each use only

one building block.

Family and Pastoral Congregations Simplicity of the single cell is

appreciated and cherished by the members.

Program and Corporation Congregation Consist of multiple cells. Building blocks:

Small Family Fellowship

Assembled in a variety of configurations with no set pattern, Differing sizes within their ranges Varying connections or lack of connections with

each other.

FELLOWSHIP GROUP

SMALL GROUP

No two Program or Corporation Congregations assemble the building blocks in quite the same way.

SMALL GROUP

SMALL GROUP

FAMILY GROUP

FAMILY GROUP

SMALL GROUP

SMALL GROUP

SMALL GROUP

Small Groups in Congregations Covenant Groups Committees Boards Class Newsletter Crew

SMALL GROUP

BUILDINGBLOCK

Family Groups in Congregations The early worship service The choir RE teachers, The youth group FAMILY

GROUPBUILDING

BLOCK

Fellowship Groups

9:00 Worship Service 11:00 Worship Service

Many Program Congregations have less than 150 in attendance at each of worship services.

Active relationships with their own worshipping congregation but not with all those at other worship services.

RE Parents

FELLOWSHIPGROUP

BUILDINGBLOCK

Corporate Congregation has more of each type of building block.

Multiple cells (building blocks) that exist alongside but are not fully merged with each other.

Fellowship groups and family groups have high levels of autonomy to manage their affairs, possess many characteristics of completely

independent mini-congregations. Each of the main worship services may actually be

subdivided into two or more fellowship groups whose identities are shaped by activities other than worshipping together, such as fellowship or education.

BUILDING BLOCKS in TRANSITIONS

Any strategy for transition must take into account the building blocks

A transition in size is not just a matter of increasing membership or starting a new and different worship service

Pastoral to Program

Must give up being a single cell in which almost every member is in active relationship with each other

Become a multiple cell in which members are distributed among building blocks of small groups, family groups, and fellowship groups in a complex configuration.

Program to Corporate,

Take on a far greater degree of complexity as members of each minicongregation have greater autonomy and independence from each other.

Proportion of worship-only members increases as the numerical size of the congregation increases. Greater complexity allows for greater

anonymity. Easier to hide in a complex organization than in

a simple one Larger congregations may have more

members, without a corresponding increase in active participation.

Leaders of Pastoral Congregations Keep building blocks in mind as a

strategic road map for the transition to Program Congregation,

Bring into existence several new building blocks alongside the existing single fellowship group.

Leaders of Program Congregations Bring into existence new building

blocks Increase the size of current ones

New building blocks create room for the congregation to grow from one type to another. Congregation accomplishes transitional

growth by adding new building blocks Grow current groups incrementally (up to

their maximum size limits) at the same time.

Possible to form groups that are substantially larger than the 150-200 Language allows humans to

categorize individuals into types makes it possible to create very much larger groups than is possible by direct interaction.

Categorize individuals into types and Instruct other individuals as to how

they should behave towards specific types of individuals within society.

Making sure Groups are a part of and not apart from their congregations.

Warning: Painting over bad wood, holes, mildew. (Conflicts)

Need good infrastructure Minimizing maverick groups

What is a Church Program Anyway?

Take The Mystery Out

Spell out what a church group, program or event is

Specific steps to be taken by everyone to begin a group or program.

Allow for exploratory groups Clear Expectations on both sides

The Board of Trustees

LET GO Encourages and supports initiatives by

individuals and groups to further mission of the Congregation.

Govern Provide structure to initiatives and to

assure align with mission of the Congregation

Manage appropriately in areas such as risk, safety, finances, and right relations,

Congregation Expectations from Group: Agree to basic principles of Unitarian

Universalism and safe congregation covenant

Meet community, security, and legal responsibilities

Leadership should be mainly members of the congregation and report activities to board and congregation

Leaders should participate in cluster and program council meeting

Prepare Annual Reports

Group Expectations

Use of space at rent-free The name of the church in publicity Use of the church's tax exempt

status and bulk mailing permit Space in the newsletter, bulletin and

website.

Application to become…

Annual Report

The Block

The Block