Group work has become increasingly important in the church
today. There may have been a time when people saw individual
leaders as individuals doing most of the leading. If that was
ever true, it is no longer so. Despite all the jokes about
committees, it is through people working together in small
groups that the work of leadership is being done. The church
makes use of many types of groups: church staff, deacons, church
council, leadership groups from organizations, committees,
boards, and councils.
The book of Proverbs has several verses that emphasize
the importance of group work:
11:14 – “For lack of
guidance a nation falls,
but many advisers make victory
sure.”
18:17 – “The first to present his case seems
right, till another comes forward and questions him. .”
20:18 – “Make plans by seeking advice;
if you wage
war, obtain guidance.”
28:26 – “He who trusts in
himself is a fool,
but he who walks in wisdom is kept
safe.”
Group work and Christianity make several
assumptions about the individual. The individual is
important. The individual is competent. The individual is
responsible. The individual is social. The individual has
personal needs to be met. These assumptions form the basis
for group work.
Group work has increased in importance
because of several factors. The common democratic style of
leadership has contributed to the rise of group work. Group
work is central to the concept of a democratic style of
leadership. The increased concern for human rights has also
been a contributor to the rise of group work. As people have
had more of a voice in government, business, and other
areas, they have desired an increased voice in the church,
and this has also contributed to the rise of group work. A
primary characteristic of baby boomers is that they want to
participate in decision-making and to have a voice.
The
small group is a powerful force in the world today,
including the church. The successful leader today must learn
how to work with small groups. He must learn how to be a
group member as well as a group leader, because he will find
himself in both positions. Many church workers have
experienced problems in their ministries because they messed
up in working with small groups (deacons, church staff,
church council) in the church. Effective work in small
groups will involve persuading, negotiating, a little power
politics, and building relationships. The members will all
have to work at keeping harmony.
In leadership groups from organizations, the leader of
one group becomes a member of a group at the next higher
level of the organizational chart. The Sunday School teacher
leads the class group, but is a member of the department
group. The department superintendent leads the department
group, but is a member of the Sunday School Council group.
In an organization with several levels, each leader will be
a member of at least two different groups. A Sunday school
worker would be a member of two Sunday school groups, and
may also be a deacon and member of several church
committees.
