It’s Gettin’ Real:
Report on the Small Group Systems Retreat 2015
Sasha Silverman
I
magine people in communities across the globe, united in mutual charity,
living out the teachings of love, wisdom and useful service that are central
to the New Church. Phenomenal right? Like any dream, it will start with small
steps.
One of those steps occurred this spring, April 21-22, during the 2015
Small Group Systems Retreat. More than 40 people came together to discuss
how to share the New Church in a broader way, specifically through small
groups. This committed group of ministers, staff and lay people arrived from
around the country (and even from England), and from 11 different New
Church congregations.
While flower blossoms, bursts of sunshine and wild gusts of wind
surrounded us outside, we sat tucked away in the Council Chamber of the
Bryn Athyn Cathedral sharing dreams, voicing concerns and forming action
plans. What follows is a report on what happened at the gathering, as well as
some background about why “small groups” were the primary focus of the
event.
One could define a “small group” as a handful of people gathered for a
common purpose. In a