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How do I form a community of theological friendship?

Barry Ensign-George

Earlier this week we had a consultation here in Louisville for groups that have received grants for their communities of theological friendship.  A story was posted on the PC(USA) website about the consultation.

The first comment on the story raised great questions.  But the answer wouldn't fit in a comment.  So, I'd like to repeat those questions, and offer my initial answer here.

The comment was posted by Jennifer Warren Hauser.  "The article mentions that there are already groups meeting, but gives no guidance to those who may wish to join such a group in one's area. How does one determine if there's already a local group that meets? And if there isn't a local group in existence, how does one go about forming one (even if the grant money will no longer available)?"

Those are great questions.  Here's the reply:

How to become part of a community of theological friendship?  The groups that have received grants were all started by the members of the group themselves.  Some are new, others have been going for a while.  Groups have submitted applications for a grant, and the groups at the consultation are among those who have received grants.

So, the way to become part of a group is to start one. 

There are four key marks of a community of theological friendship that we look for.

First, it needs to be a small group.  For the grants we've focused on pastoral leaders - but a community of theological friendship could be any group of followers of Jesus Christ who want to grow in faith and know the best way to do that is with others.

Second, it needs to meet over a period of time.  One-time meetings can be great, but forming a community takes time.

Third, when it meets it will worship together.  Worship could take all sorts of forms.  What we look for in grant applications is commitment to worship every time the group meets, and some plan for how they will worship - even if worship takes a different form in different meetings.

Fourth, when it meets together the members of the community will engage in theological conversation.  Genuine theological conversation will involve all parts of our lives.  As with worship, what your community needs is commitment and a plan.  As a community's theological conversation deepens, members of that community will be sharing themselves with one another.

Let me invite you to explore starting a community of theological friendship where you are.  Consider who you would be interested in gathering with to be such a community.  Invite them to try it for a while.  Maybe once a month for 6 months.  Or maybe on a different schedule, for a different amount of time.

Your community of theological friendship might agree that when you meet you'll worship together by following the order of daily prayer from the Book of Common Worship for the time of day when you meet.  Then, choose something that can spark theological conversation.  In preparation for your gathering, read a portion of one of the confessions in our Book of Confessions.  Or maybe you might choose to read one of the books of the Bible that is being suggested for Sunday worship by the lectionary.  Or choose a movie to watch and discuss at each meeting, together with a brief reading from Scripture or the confessions that would illuminate themes in the film.

If you'd like to explore this idea of communities of theological friendship more deeply, let me suggest this essay.

 Above all, if you (or any other reader) would like more help, please contact me, or Karen Russell.

• Posted at 9:19 a.m.
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