The 4 C’s of Covenant Groups

 

Consistency

Meeting Times

Meeting Structure

Member Attendance

Membership closed

   

Core Training (Required)

C - Competencies

Shepherding, Conflict Resolution, Advanced Facilitation

O - Organization

For spiritual growth, communicating with members, choosing resources

R - Relationship Building

What is unique about Covenant relationships?

E - Embracing Covenant Values

In depth training on the values that define covenant groups

 

Covenant Values

Relationships- While prayer and transformational learning are key elements of a covenant group, the driving force behind the group is the building of relationships.

 

Authenticity- The atmosphere of a covenant group should encourage openness and transparency among members.  This is an environment where people should feel free to be themselves.

 

Confidentiality- For authenticity to occur, members must be able to trust that issues discussed within a covenant group will not be shared outside the group.

 

Respect- Group members should never say anything that will embarrass their spouse or members of the group.

 

Availability- A primary responsibility of building a sense of community is to prioritize specific relationships.  This requires a willingness to be available to meet other's needs.

 

Multiplication- Covenant Group members recognize that one of the goals of their group is to start a new group every eighteen to twenty-four months, if God so leads.  Every group must remain open to parenting a new covenant group at the end of a covenant term to allow others to experience the covenant group relationship.

 

Coaching

Covenant Group leaders will agree to be coached either one-on-one or in a triad.**  Covenant Group leaders will attend and/or lead annual CORE training, or attend the Willow Creek Small Groups Conference.

 

**Some group leaders will be asked to become a trained coach and participate in a coaching triad.