8. THE ROLE OF FELLOWSHIP GROUPS IN THE CHURCH

Fellowship Groups complement the ministry of the church by catering to the needs of each particular group. They function within the framework of the church, in a subsidiary role under the direction of the Board of Elders.

While the functions of a Fellowship in many respects reflect (and duplicate) the functions of the main body, nevertheless a Fellowship Group is not a church, and must not begin to act like a church, independently of the Pastor and Elders, doing its own things under its own direction.

When a Fellowship Group begins to hew its own line, without reference to Pastor and Elders, we see the beginnings of "a church within a church", and this spells trouble for the entire body. Satan is a wily foe and he is never slow to exploit the pride and rebellion lurking in every heart. He will seduce zealous, upcoming young leaders to imagine that their knowledge exceeds their elders. Then these young people despise the church leaders, elevate themselves above Pastor and Elders, and take matters into their own hands. This has been our recent experience, which was a hard lesson. The church harmony is disrupted and Satan rejoices.

The Objectives of the Fellowships

The objectives of the fellowships, and other similar groups, are:

a) to nurture and care for the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of members through the preaching and study of God's word and fellowship activities;

b) to encourage fellowship among the members through outings, indoor and outdoor activities, Bible quizzes, memorization of Scriptures, tracting sessions, witnessing programmes, leadership seminars, etc;

c) to help new members of the church adjust, adapt and integrate into the body of the church;

d) to ensure continuity and cohesion between fellowships, each group working closely with other groups within the church; and

e) to promote the unity and harmony of the church as a whole, planning activities so as to harmonize and not conflict with those of the church.

Conclusion

Fellowship Groups assist and complement the work of the Session by catering to the needs of their particular members. They function strictly in a subsidiary role, under the authority and direction of the Pastor and Elders.

Fellowship Groups which faithfully discharge their functions within the framework of the church greatly promote the growth, unity and harmony of the main body. Any group which tries to function as a "church within a church" becomes a source of disorder and confusion, serving only to advance the cause of the adversary.

God help us at Calvary to appreciate our own particular roles and faithfully play our part, for the edifying of the members, and for the glory of God.