the cell church - the nature of church as replicating faith community 2nd edition
DESCRIPTION
This is a free core version for members of this group. I reserve the right to the expanded details that I have developed from this core content. The members of this group may have their own extrapolations of details for use in their own cell-type applications for their own needs and particular community settings.TRANSCRIPT
The Nature of Church as Replicating Faith Community
S. J. Earl P. Canlas
The Cell Church
The Cell Church: The Nature of Church as Replicating Faith Community 2nd Edition Copyright © 2011 by S. J. Earl P. Canlas All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. Cover design by Benin Clarion Canlas
I. Cell As The Nature Of Living Entities
Small group ministries involving at least 7 – 12
(and up to 16 max) members plus a leader may take the form of a
weekly gathering for Bible study, fellowship, prayer
and mutual covenant faith group. These meetings
occur on days other than Sundays.
Other “micro church” formation models include the extension church, the house church, even the “visiting team and host family” process – all of
which are connected to a local church and its
ministries. These meet more probably also on
Sundays at venues other than the local church.
Whatever organizational pattern is followed from the above micro-church models, a cell-model ministry may only be defined with:
a)Regularity of group meetings at
least weekly, b)Sense and practice of
priesthood of all believers, c) Continuous leadership and
leadership formation from among cell members,
d)“Replication” of groups, and e)Continuing progress in the
“faith-heritage” cycle.
The distinction between cell ministry in the church and the cell-model church is reached when every member of the church accepts the priority of being part of (at least) one cell group as inseparable part of church life.
As in the small group/class of early Methodism, some new churches or Christian fellowships require cell group membership as part of the discipline and requirement of legitimate church membership.
Today, class/cell ministry is but an optional part of life and membership in the local churches of the UMC, unlike during John Wesley’s time.
III. Faith-Heritage Process & the
Leader-Member Cycle
The faith-heritage process needed for cell ministry can be briefly shown in the diagram as follows:
The initial
interactive
process
between
source (A1)
and the
receiver (A)
is the most
basic
relationship
in the
process of
discipleship.
(A1) persons
(leader,
pastor,
teacher) are
“basic”
personal
factors in the
faith-heritage
process.
The continuity
of (A1)'s roles
are
indispensable
to the basic
discipleship
interaction
and to the
sustainability
of cell-type
ministry.
The A1 person is a “push” factor in the faith-heritage process into full cycle (eg. by assuming leadership of a new cell).
Stages (A) to (E) are internal or personal progression of the receiver in the discipleship process. This is the intended “full transformation” process needed for cell-type ministries.
The (E) to (A1) stage is the “outgoing” or “sending” process for the former (A) person. The receiver becomes an (A1) person, a sharer and leader in the official sense of coordinating a new cell of church members.
The (E) to (A1) stage requires a formal training session and an on-the-job process of assuming leadership.
The (E) to (A1) stage is completed when cell membership is appropriated into 2 or 3 cell divisions depending on the number of new leaders and the current cell size (between 14 to 16)
Definitely, a cell church system presupposes a life system of nurture, growth, sharing inter-relationships, living witness, and propagation of members, leaders and cell groups. Anything short of this is not a cell church system.
The cell is a life system of itself but it is also part of a larger life system and larger community. The same is true for the cell group or cell church.
The cell group grows the parts
of the cell church. The cell church in turn takes part
in the many other functions of the larger church system and the larger community.
Acknowledgement
First edition format by: Lynn Basan
Second edition format by: Benin Clarion Canlas
Layout of Faith-heritage process by: Lynn Basan