A small group curriculum for Disciples
A journey through interactive conversation towards faithfully living into covenant as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Five guided sessions will take participants into a deeper reflection of what it truly means to live in covenantal relationship with each other, with the church, and with God.
How to use the resources
This curriculum contains five sessions, each with carefully articulated learning goals. Each session starts out with a short video, followed by questions for consideration and conversation. The materials are versatile enough to be used in a variety of settings, both virtual or in-person, in small groups or large gatherings. A facilitator is needed to review the materials ahead of each session and to guide conversation. Participants should be invited to have a Bible handy. You will want to be familiar with the language the Preamble to the Design, which you can find in multiple languages. It is also included in the Chalice Hymnal as #355.
The curriculum links to transcripts in Spanish and English, discussion questions for each session, and a full bibliography. You can download and print the PDF, and access the videos separately here.
The Preamble to the Design
The Design of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the document that governs our common life together, begins with a Preamble that reads more like a hymn than a governing document. In it, we find an affirmation of our faith, an expression of hope, a call to service, and a reminder of “God’s covenant of love that binds us to God and to one another.”
That covenant is written into the Preamble, but it is lived out through covenantal relationships in all expressions of the church. This curriculum is an opportunity for Disciples to explore the notion of covenant within our faith tradition, and to deepen our commitment to living in covenant with each other.
How this curriculum came to be
The Governance Committee of the General Board, a group tasked with making recommendations for changes to the Design when needed, has spent the past two years considering what revisions to the Design might help the church better live out our calling. As part of that work, it became clear that what was needed was not only a review of the specifics of the design, but an exploration of our theological foundations. The concept of covenant kept resurfacing as the foundational premise of our life together. This resource is an invitation to the church to join conversation.
Many hands and minds worked on this material, from all corners of the church. We have done our best to offer resources that will inspiring meaningful conversation in a variety of contexts, though we know that some parts will be more relevant to some than to others. We encourage you to embrace what’s helpful to you and your community, and to consider the rest with an open heart.
We pray that this resource will be a blessing to you, your congregation, and your ministry, as it strengthens the covenant that binds us to God and to one another.
The Governance Committee of the General Board
Spring 2021