Small Groups in the Church: A Handbook for Creating Community
Thomas G. Kirkpatrick
This planning and leader training handbook offers a distinctive broad-based, small-group approach to building community. From the Jewish
havurot to Christian
koinonia, you will gain a thorough understanding of community, learn how to plan an effective small-group ministry, how to select and train leaders for all kinds of small groups, and how to start small groups that are a part of and not apart from their congregations. Appendices provide an overview of the sociological, psychological, and biblical theological literature on community and a wealth of presentation and leader training resources.
Praise for the Book
“Small Groups in the Church is a welcome effort to instruct church leaders in how to make small groups function more effectively. Drawing on the wisdom gained from his own experience and from the work of clergy and other religious leaders, Thomas G. Kirkpatrick makes a compelling argument for the importance of community in today's world and shows how small groups can meet that need. Especially valuable are his suggestions for the recruitment and training of group leaders.” —Robert Wuthnow
“Small Groups in the Church: A Handbook for Creating Community presents the step-by-step process that shaped our congregation. This book provides a way to plan for small groups, train leaders, and implement these groups in a congregation. I whole-heartedly recommend this book. I've seen it work.” —Rev. John B. Pierce
About the Author
Tom Kirkpatrick, Ph.D, is a communication consultant, workshop leader, and church leadership trainer with specialties in small group ministries and conflict management. He has served as an interim minister in Olympia Presbytery. He was pastor of Westminster United Presbyterian Church of Galena, Illinois, for twelve years. During this time he was also an adjunct professor of practical ministry at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. Previously, he was Associate Professor of Speech Communication at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. He has also served as a campus minister and a program director of camps and conferences. He received his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Washington, his D.Min. from San Francisco Theological Seminary, and his M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary.
ISBN# 1-56699-151-X
Alban No. AL161
paper, 144 pages
1995
In stock
$12.00
($9.60 for members)
