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