Small Community Services
Structure and Style in Parish Life
The emergence of Small Christian Communities (SCCs) within parishes affects both the structure and style of church life. As a structure, small communities engage parishioners in the personal relationships needed for mutual support, faith reflection, or participation in the mission of Christ. The emphasis may vary from group to group. Some, such as bereavement groups are more for support, others such as Bible study groups are aimed at a greater understanding of the Tradition. In any form, small communities offer the compassion and courage for renewed discipleship.
But aside from specially formed groups, the small community experience affords all parish groups—ministry groups, councils, and staffs—enriching elements of meeting and working. The linking of prayer and support, reflection and study, mission and participation in the full life of the church can lend depth and vitality to any part of parish life. It is this combination of structure and style (we call “Community Discipleship”) that is the goal and content of the workshops. According to the National Pastoral Life Center study Parishes and Parish Ministries, approximately 50% of the parishes of the United States report having small communities
We are committed to the development of parish-based SCCs, not as one of many parish activities but as a way to call, affirm, and form people as disciples of Jesus. We include all aspects of parish life in our definition of a “community style” of parish: seasonal groups, ongoing Small Christian Communities, and ministry groups which can be the parish pastoral council, the many types of parish ministries, societies, organizations, adult formation, youth, young adult, prayer groups, and even parish meetings.
To support this we offer
- Workshops in exploring, organizing, training, and evaluating parish-based SCCs.
Workshops are tailor made for each situation. - Consultation for dioceses, clusters of parishes, parishes, and national organizations
- Publications and training materials
- Ongoing study and exploration of the importance of SCCs in relation to parish life
- Relationship and collaboration with national and international organizations promoting SCCs
Some types of workshops we offer:
- The Big Picture of Small Christian Communities
- Community Discipleship: Restyling the Parish
- Getting Your Groups Going and Growing
- Developing Your Vision for SCCs and the Parish
- Forming and Training Your Core Community
- Training and Pastoring Your Facilitators
- Evaluating your efforts
- Days or evenings of Reflection
- Discerning the Way Ahead: What Kind of Small Community Are We?
- Ongoing consultation
Share your SCC Stories
Contact us:
smallcommunities@nplc.org
Links to other SCC sites
- Buena Vista
- A grass roots organization for small communities and individual members. Holds a yearly conference and publishes a bi-monthly newsletter.
- North American Forum for Small Christian Communities (NAFSCC)
- The association for diocesan directors of SCCs. Has a yearly conference and works with other associations for a joint convocation every three years.
Resources & Publications
Order from NPLC- The Roundtable - Small Communities - Publications - Center Services -
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