STARTING NEW COMPANIONS GROUPS

Getting ready to start new Companions groups? Here are a few pointers:

We have found that the optimum size of a Companions group is 6-10 persons, including the leader. 6-8 is ideal; 10-12 is workable, especially if you break down into smaller clusters for some of the sharing times. If you start with less than 6 and one or two people drop out, you will have less than a "critical mass" for some of the group processes.

Remember that the leader is a participant-leader, one who reads the articles and completes the daily exercises along with other group members, and who shares from personal experience like everyone else. The role of the leader is not to teach, but to facilitate the small group process; not to "cover content" but to open to God's presence and guidance through the experiential learning process of the small group.

Help your group grasp the difference between informational and formational learning by pointing them to page 294 in the Participant's Book. Adapt this from the original context of scriptural reflection to the broader context of formational process.

Companions in Christ works well across denominational lines. You can invite interested members from nearby churches in your community to join groups in your church.

Start with Exploring the Way if you think folks in your congregation aren't ready for the longer-term commitment, or simply don't understand the language of spiritual formation. But be sure you understand the differences between the original Companions in Christ model and Exploring the Way. (Read Exploring the Way: A Different Model.)