1D. Leaders in the Household

We need to distinguish between these three concepts in order to fully understand what the Household of Faith is intended to be. The Households of Faith is first of all not a House Church in that The Household of Faith will be part of the local Church's structure and will strengthen the local congregation. House Churches usually have only a loose connection with one another and no buildings but for the homes they meet in. The Household of Faith is a separate entity like the House Church but a Household of Faith has a permanent tie to the church either through a local parish or a Diocesan structure. The Household of Faith is part of a wider Episcopal structure and under the authority of the Church. Other denominations might order their Households of Faith in a similar manner.

Long Term Entity

The Household of Faith is not a Home Meeting in that it is intended not to be a long term entity and also not a short term form of Christian outreach in an area. Some Home Meetings are formed for a single purpose such as a Bible Study, a Social or a Prayer Group but these tend to end up with a fixed membership over many years. Home Meetings are also sometimes employed over the short term as a form of evangelism in an area. The Household of Faith is intended to be an arm of the local church which trains up local Christians and is mandated to multiply and double its membership every two years.

Switching Over

An existing Bible Study or Prayer Group may be turned into a Household of Faith. They will continue in their present teaching and devotional function but with added dimensions from the Household of Faith. We could add also groups established for mums and tots, teenagers, adult singles groups or to study a Christian book. Each would covenant to multiply at the end of a two year term.

If you create a gathering, you have a home meeting. If you create an environment, you have a Household of Faith. If you add to a Home Meeting the ability to function without a church building, you produce a Household of Faith. A Household of Faith is not dependent on the church, but within the church. A Household of Faith may be useful when people in a local community can no longer afford to pay for a church building, and therefore would continue the Faith with the added feature of expanding every second year.

A Household of Faith could possibly meet outside a home in a church hall, or a private room in a restaurant, but there is something very special when a Host invites a group to his or her family home. Maybe it inspires the aspect of a caring family which is so important in the Household of Faith. Only a maximum of twelve members is allowed in each Household of Faith which should preferably meet in a member's home.

The Prospective Leader

The Leader needs to be aware of the types of household member one is likely to meet in a group. People are complex beings and may even move from one role to another. The Leader and other members will be aware of some possible reactions from different types of people and be prepared to help them to feel welcome and to be integrated into the Household group.

Natural Leadership Ability

Every Leader should be chosen because they have a natural leadership ability and are able to share experiences and use other people's ideas. A Leader will be able to initiate when necessary and be prepared to clarify or test opinions around the group. A Leader should encourage others in the Faith and be positive.

Occasionally, a dominant person in the group may try to carry the discussion off in a different direction. The Leader should gently but firmly guide it back. Some Household members may be shy or embarrassed in a larger group and sit silently. They may be overpowered or even intimidated by others. Silence may also indicate deafness and it may be an idea to strategically seat those with hearing problems towards the center of the group where they can hear best. The Leader should encourage the silent and prompt them for their opinions without embarrassing them. On the other hand, sometimes an individual appears in a Household who is afraid of any spiritual content and attempts to lighten the conversation.

He or she may crack jokes to divert the discussion from the chosen topic. Again the Leader should seek to guide the discussion back. The "salt of the earth" in a Household group is the supporter who backs the Leader in offering suggestions as the discussion or program develops. The opposite of the Silent is the stage hugger who stops only to breath! They are often afraid of silence but silence may be a useful time for the Household members to think about what they have heard. Silence is certainly not to be feared. Some people tune out what they don't like to hear. They may have their own agenda and not want to listen to other people's ideas. The Leader can help by gently directing pertinent questions in the direction of the Selective Listener.

References

1. John 1.40-42 2. 3 John 12.20-22

"You are fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household." Ephesians 2.19

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