Covenant Groups

What are covenant groups?

Covenant Groups are groups of 8-12 people who meet regularly for spiritual reflection and sharing. Each Covenant Group has a trained facilitator and the content for each meeting is based on a theological theme (see box at right). Members of each group make a commitment to share deeply and build connections quickly, to explore one’s faith through reflection and deliberate listening, to practice radical hospitality, and to participate in a group spiritual practice. Group members create a covenant (a sacred promise) with one another to abide by their own rules for group interaction.

Participants in a Covenant Group meet for five months. At the end of the five-months, the group either ends or agrees to randomly divide and to start two new groups. In either case, the final meeting allows members to practice “endings,” and to hold themselves accountable to saying a “good goodbye” to one another. Forming new groups at the end of each five-month cycle allows Covenant Groups to truly live out the idea of “Radical Hospitality,” as they continually make room for the newcomer.

Themes for September 2010 through June 20100

September: Faith

October: Longing

November: Covenant

December: Wonder

January: Justice

February: Surrender

March: Evil

April: Freedom

May: Peace

June: Wisdom

All Covenant Groups follow a standard format and agenda that is used across groups. If you are interested in joining a group or have already joined one, please familiarize yourself with the following:  

The Basics of Covenant Groups

Basic Covenant for Covenant Groups

Covenant Group Registration

If you are interested in joining a Covenant Group please contact Leon Dunkley at the Church Office.

Are you interested in becoming a Covenant Group Facilitator?

Covenant group facilitators are people who:

• Have good people skills
• Are genuinely interested in helping people to become spiritually engaged with one another
• Can feel comfortable learning to guide group dynamics in positive ways
• Are comfortable being primarily responsible for the administrative details of group meetings
• Are reliable
• Support the covenant group model (i.e., committing to meet for 5 months, then either ending or forming two new groups)

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Covenant Group Facilitator please contact Leon Dunkley at the Church Office.