Care Group Dialogue

1. Care Group Dialogue 29 July 2011

2. Issues for Discussion • Every EMC Member assigned to a Care Group • Sermon Discussion for All Care Groups • Introduce Accountability in Care Groups • Goals of EMC Care Group Ministry

3. Every EMC Member a CG Member • Everybody will be assigned to a CG whether he/she attends CG or not. • The primary purpose is to provide membership care and oversight. • The secondary purpose is to encourage CG participation and CG responsibilities. • Rationale: Discipline + 142.1: “The membership of the local church may be arranged geographically in groups with a leader for each group designed to involve the membership of the church in its ministry to the community. These groups…”

4. Every EMC Member a CG Member • Assign members to CG by Dec. 2011. • Every new members will be assigned to a CG with a sponsor of the same CG. • The CGL will give oversight of all members under his/her CG that includes phone call, emails, and visitation. • CGs will be a means of communication (wake services, announcements, etc.) and participation (Street Ministry, organizing Church Camp, etc.) in certain responsibilities of Church.

5. Every EMC Member assigned to a Care Group • Is this a good idea for the Church to implement? • What other concerns do you have? • When do we want to see this implemented?

6. Sermon Discussion for All CG • Pros: • A greater sense of community and togetherness. (We are all doing this together, and on the same page.) • A sermon preached in Church is followed up (not left alone/forgotten) with members responding to it – clarification, applications, suggestions, and actions. • A greater sensing and direction for Church when preachers and members interact together. • Members will pay attention (and take down notes) during preaching and visit the EMC website if absent.

7. Sermon Discussion for All CG • Cons: • Individual CGs will have less freedom to choose the studies they like or need. • If absent from Church, it is hard to participate unless they make an effort to listen to the sermons posted on the website. • Outsiders will find it difficult to participate unless they go to the website and listen to it (though this is mitigated by the 5-minute summary of the sermon preached before discussion).

8. Sermon Discussion for All CG • If sermon discussion is agreed: • Sermon notes /outline will be provided by preachers and inserted in the bulletin. Questions for discussion will also be in it. • Taped sermons will be available on website by Sunday night or Monday morning. • Where outside preachers do not give notes or questions, Church leaders will draft an outline and provide the questions, and post it on the website and email to all CGLs who will then email to their members. • CGLs will be instructed how to conduct sermon discussions.

9. Sermon Discussion for All CG • Is this a good idea for the Church to implement? • What other concerns do you have? • When do we want to see this implemented?

10. Introduce Accountability in CG • TRAC is moving towards encouraging CG to do accountability during their meetings. • Rationale: • Account for our Christian life, a reasonable expectation. • The Methodist Class Meetings. The focus was “to watch over one another in Love, that they may help each other to work out their salvation.” • “My covenant discipleship group is not where my discipleship happens. It’s where I make sure that it does” (Merrill Hartman).

11. Introduce Accountability in CG • Accountability for Our Christian Life: • Personal Devotion, • Family, • Work, • Others (Leisure, Clubs, etc.) • Church and Ministry • How to Fit It into Current Program? • Worship: 10 minutes • Study: 40 minutes • Accountability: 40 minutes (including prayers)

12. Introduce Accountability in CG • What do we need to do to implement accountability into our CGs?

13. EMC CG Ministry • Currently, a SG Coordinator oversees the CG ministry and reports it to the LCEC. There is a CGLs meeting about 4x a year. CGs meet weekly or fortnightly and choose their own studies. (Since coming to EMC, I have been visiting the CGs.)

14. EMC CG Ministry Goals • Next to Sunday Service, CG ministry is the most important activity in EMC. • Goals: • Care for all members. • Accountable for their spiritual life. • Rally them to flow with Church vision. • Evangelize the community.

15. EMC CG Ministry Goals • CGL: • Complete 8 CGL training modules. • Appointed by the LCEC. • Sign to agree to the roles of a CGL. • Lead and be responsible for the CG. • Attends the CGL meeting bi-monthly. • Submits attendance form bi-monthly with some notes. • Care Group Members: • Participate and share in all the CG activities. • Support your CGL in pursuing vision of the Church. • Be prepared to be a sponsor for a new member.

16. EMC CG Ministry Goals • Pastor: • Conduct 8 module CGL training. • Meet with CGLs bi-monthly (with SG Coordinator) to receive feedbacks and to give input. • Visit CGs on my rounds. • Keep abreast (with SG Coordinator) what is happening through your attendance form. • Your CG can: • Request for my visit on special occasions or to address issues. • Inform me about your CG needs.

17. EMC CG Ministry Goals • Are these guidelines for CG ministry sufficient? • What else would you like to add or subtract? • What about CG Supervisors? • What other ideas do you have?