The Church and the Crisis of Community: A Practical Theology of Small-Group Ministry

by Theresa F. Latini

Contemporary society is in crisis, its structures broken and fragmented, and its people overstimulated, overstressed, and thirsty for true communion with the sacred and with one another. Yet although more than eighty-five percent of congregations in the United States conduct small-group ministry, too many of these groups begin with no clear sense of purpose, structure, or spiritual focus and end by veering away from Christian tradition and unknowingly settling for shallow versions of popular Christianity.

In The Church and the Crisis of Community Theresa Latini lays out both a theoretical groundwork and a practical guideline for successful small-group ministry. Examining the latest sociological research and the real-life practices of small groups in six congregations, she shows how well-developed groups ― those with mission statements, leadership training, and solid organizational structure ― can be a truly effective tool in the church’s work of transforming broken and shallow forms of community into life-giving, life-sustaining relationships with God and others.

Genres: Theology, Leadership

251 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2011

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

We live in a world fraught with loneliness, risk, and uncertainty. Neighbors no longer know neighbors. Christians can set across the pew for years without entering one another’s lives. No matter how many friends we have on Facebook, we still feel isolated. We are in a crisis of community.

Enter Small Groups. In The Church and the Crisis of Community: A Practical Theology of Small-Group Ministry, Theresa Latini argues that small groups have been the church’s response to the fragmentation and uncertainty we face. Small groups are both a response and a symptom of our current struggle for intimacy and security. Small groups are caught up in the same dynamics that they seek to address. Using her training as a practical theologian, Latini offers a critical reflection on the small group movement in order to ground this church practice in the action of God. She offers description and interpretation of the present moment, substantial theology, as well as practical steps for implementing more faithful small groups in a congregation. In doing so, she offers a gift to the church and all who care for the fractured communities we live in.

By itself, her methodology is worth the price of admission. Her four-fold practical theological task (descriptive-empirical, interpretive, normative, pragmatic) empowers her to integrate insights from the social sciences with an expansive theological vision. Latini neither sacrifices her theology on the altar of science, nor dismisses the insights given to her by these secular disciplines. Theologically, she presents a thoroughly Trinitarian and Christ-centered vision for the church that absolutely sings. In reading it, one is reminded of the joy and possibility for true koinonia through the grace of God. God’s action makes it possible, and we are invited to participate.

If you are unfamiliar with sociology or psychology, there are a lot of terms to learn. Regardless, I highly recommend this book for any pastor or lay person seeking to more faithfully cultivate community through small groups.

[Akash Ahuja · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is was a pretty good book. I was actually more interested in the first chapters of the book as Latini described sociological and psychological impacts of small group communities, and started to glaze over as she got into her theology. It was well written, and very helpful to churches looking to start or reinvent a small group ministry. My biggest complaint with Latini was her very strong Reform bias, and she does nothing to offset this with other voices. Otherwise, a great book that ends with good practical advice to consider in developing a small group culture at your church!

[Robert D. Cornwall · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author seeks to develop a practical theology of small groups using a Neo-Barthian approach. It's a good book, which seeks to help us understand that small groups do more than help the church grow (or keep the folks happy). It is the outgrowth of a Princeton Ph.D. in Practical Theology. It's an academic treatise, not a how-to manual.

The author uses Barth's concept of koinonia, which emerges from his view of the Trinity, to help us understand the nature of the divine/human interaction and human/human interaction. It invites us to remember that truly Christian small groups will not be homogenous -- a gathering of the birds of a feather -- but will seek to incarnate the diversity present in church and community.

It's a good book, but recognize that its an academic piece.

[Anja Noordam · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are a lot of "big words" in this book and that tends to take the speed out of reading. The appendix seems very helpful for people involved in setting up small groups and do it well