Small communities bear big gifts, study shows - small Christian communities in the US

National Catholic Reporter, May 28, 1999 by Arthur Jones

As to what they find most satisfying about small Christian community membership, friendship clearly takes the lead.

More than three-quarters of the groups meet weekly or biweekly, most often in a member's home; most groups have been in existence between one and 10 years. Nearly half of the leaders are "discerned" or volunteer.

When asked what difference small Christian community membership means in their lives, a strong majority said they had become more involved in parish activities. More than three-quarters of the Hispanic respondents said membership had strengthened their attitude toward the pope and Vatican.

Lee, reflecting on the study, said he was encouraged by the fact that "the existence of these communities depends largely on initiative of lay people. It never occurs to them that they're not being church when they do it."

He said he considered the laity's appropriation of ownership of church "extraordinary."

Noting that neither the small Christian communities nor the broader Catholic church is attracting younger Catholics in great numbers, Lee said he suspected that the U.S. church overall is going to be smaller but with a more committed membership.

And, perhaps, more house churches like the one on Carrollton Street.

RELATED ARTICLE: Small community members put friendships first

The percentages shown in the boxes below demonstrate the attitudes and motivations of Catholics belonging to various types of small communities. The data is based on the new study.

POPE VS CONSCIENCE

            General  Hisp/Lat  Charis  CTA   ECC
Tilt
to Pope:     32%     69%        69%    11%   33%
To
conscience:  55%     17%        18%    86%   94%
Unsure:      10%     14%         8%     4%    3%

REASON FOR JOINING (SOCIAL)

                General   Hisp/Lat  Charis  CTA  ECC
Community,
friendship      51%      30%       28%     35%  46%
Social support
friends         27%      12%       21%      26%  9%
Outreach
Meaning
of life          0        5%        4%       0    0

WANT VOICE ON

                 General   Hisp/Lat  Charis  CTA  ECC
Parish
income use       89%        69%       80%    N/A   95%
Econ. justice/
welfare          74%        83%       63%    N/A   95%
Ordain married
men              57%        58%       31%    N/A   89%
Ordain single
women            55%        42%       21%    N/A   87%
Selecting
pastor           53%        31%       30%    60%   91%

REASON FOR JOINING (RELIGIOUS)

                  General  Hisp/Lat  Charis  CTA  ECC

Prayer, praise      4%        4%       24%    8%   0%
worship
spirituality       17%        9%       24%   14%  15%
Conversion
experience          3%        3%       15%    1%   1%
Learn about
religion, God      35%       61%        7%    0%   4%
Get closer
to God              4%       10%       10%    1%   0%
Church
alternative         4%        0%        0%   12%  12%
New
liturgy             4%        0%        0%   13%   0%

CHURCH/PEOPLE CONNECTION

                       General  Hisp/Lat  Charis  CTA  ECC

New way of               48%      72%     34%     18%  44%
participating
in parish life
Have become              67%      81%     67%     54%  33%
more involved
in parish activities
New way of               33%      76%      3%     54%  67%
being church
Strengthened attitude    29%      76%     73%     35%  1%
toward pope
and Vatican
Primary source            4%      50%     15%      5%  10%
of social life