PART III:
Paladin Handbook

Basic Guidelines

Introduction

Small Church Communities (SCCs) thrive not because of clever organization, but because they create room for God to move among His people. These guidelines aren’t rules—they’re a trellis that supports the living vine of faith, fellowship, and transformation.

SCCs require some basic guidelines to succeed. These guidelines offer a clear overview of our approach to small church communities. Most of the content is aimed at potential leaders; however, it will also help anyone interested in SCCs. SCC leaders should regularly review and refer to this material for guidance. Leaders need to evaluate and reevaluate the health of their group and their approach to SCCs. These guidelines are intended to provide valuable tools for this purpose.

Structure & Layout

The following goals and guidelines are essential for maintaining a healthy SCC; however, they are not set in stone. Please consider them thoughtfully, but avoid adhering to them rigidly.

A core team is the foundation of the SCC. These members collaborate to form an SCC; they are the foundation on which the group is built. The number and roles may vary; however, the core team should include at least three members. The three roles outlined below provide a good starting point. Sometimes, the leader will need to enlist an assistant leader after the SCC has already started.

• The leader oversees and coordinates the group, its meetings, and all related activities. The leader should be the most prepared participant; however, their primary role is to facilitate others’ contributions. The leader provides just enough input to encourage members to share their thoughts and ideas. This is the ideal; in practice, the leader or assistant leader often contributes significantly more to drive the discussion. Naturally, the leader will also clarify any confusion and highlight important points that others might have overlooked.

Leaders must also be learners. A healthy SCC leader dedicates time to prayer, study, and spiritual friendship outside of the group. Leaders can only guide others as far as they have gone themselves (See “Chapter 10: Paladin Leaders”).

• The assistant leader serves as a backup and supports the leader. Like the leader, the assistant focuses on encouraging others to participate in discussions. Often, they will contribute just enough to spark conversation and energize it. The assistant steps in as the leader when asked.
• The helper offers assistance whenever needed, ensuring everything runs smoothly. They frequently volunteer to lead prayers, facilitate discussions, give rides, coordinate snacks, and more. However, the helper is not another assistant leader.

The SCC is small, ideally consisting of around 10 people. You can start a group with as few as 6 people, but reaching around 10 is better since the two foundational discussion series covered at the beginning are essential. You will need to address how to bring newcomers up to speed on the foundational materials they missed.

SCCs meet once a week during a discussion series. SCCs may occasionally skip a week due to scheduling conflicts; however, they should not go more than two weeks without a meeting during the discussion series. SCCs have two discussion series each year: one in the spring and one in the fall. The series typically includes 8-10 meetings, followed by a celebration potluck at the end. SCCs are encouraged to meet for prayer and socializing outside the discussion series as well, especially during the winter and summer months.

The entire meeting lasts no longer than two hours. The leader assigns each part its designated time and manages the group to stay on schedule. People are busy and often have other plans. Sticking to a schedule benefits everyone. Sometimes, the leader might be tempted to deviate from the schedule—or someone else might encourage him to do so. While staying on schedule is important, being flexible is equally essential.

If a discussion goes on too long but the leader feels it needs more time, he might suggest revisiting it during social time. However, he must wrap it up and move on.

Each gathering allocates time for socializing, usually in the last half hour of the meeting. Social time, like discussion time, can become very lively and highly productive. Social time should not extend the total meeting duration beyond two hours. Snacks are typically provided during this period.

Orientation Night

When launching a new group, the first night will be an Orientation Night that provides information about the group and helps members get to know one another. Sharing the SCC’s vision and expectations is vital for a successful and healthy group. Equally important as sharing information are icebreakers, connecting with members, and creating a welcoming and accepting environment. Make the orientation enjoyable. Focus on helping people get to know each other better, rather than just delivering information.

Plan the orientation meeting as you would any other, following the same format. Don’t try to cover every detail; you don’t want to overwhelm attendees. Focus on key points and explain why they matter. Revisit guidelines early on or as needed. We include Orientation Night materials in Appendix B, and with our discussion series downloads.

Orientation Night alone does not fully communicate the Paladin SCC vision. Typically, when forming a new group, Orientation Night is followed by the two foundational discussion series: “Together on the Journey to God” and “Our Forgotten Journey to God.” These get a new SCC off to a solid start. If you are welcoming a few new members into an existing group, you won’t want to repeat the two foundational discussion series; you might consider holding an Orientation Night before starting another discussion series and instructing the new members to read the relevant sections of this book afterward (see “Appendix A: Welcome to the Paladins”).

Commitment

New members agree to participate in the current discussion series, which typically includes 8-10 meetings. After finishing the series, they decide whether to join the next one. Clearly, the SCC does not require an indefinite commitment. However, the SCC expects members to commit to a continuous period rather than attending the various discussion series intermittently.

Leaders understand that it’s unrealistic for everyone to attend every meeting. After all, such is life, and rescheduling isn’t always feasible. Nonetheless, the goal is to encourage attendance at every meeting. Since each group is different, reasonable expectations will vary. While leaders should remain flexible and understanding, they have the authority to set minimum expectations for their community. If they are aware of a group with different expectations, they might suggest that someone consider joining it. Remember that if expectations are too low, the group could struggle to succeed in the long term.

All members should prepare for the discussion by dedicating sufficient time to prayerful reading and journaling before the meetings. Everyone must complete the reading and journaling, whether or not they attend the meeting. Additionally, meetings should start on time; after a five-minute grace period, they should begin.

Discussion Guidelines

• The group maintains a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere.
• Being accepted and listened to with respect is essential for fostering openness and honesty. A genuine desire to listen to others and be receptive to them is a key element of Christian growth within the community.
• The group provides each person with the opportunity to share their feelings and thoughts at their own comfort level or choose not to share at all.
• Silence is valuable and an important part of the process. Don’t feel pressured to move on during a period of thoughtful silence. It’s important to give enough time for silent reflection, allowing participants time to think about and build on what has been shared.
• Expect and accept ambiguity and differing perspectives.
• The entire group shares responsibility for the quality of the experience.
• Everything shared within the group is confidential.

Suggested Meeting Outline

• Welcome.
• Opening Prayer (should start with praise and thanksgiving).
• Review guidelines or goals from previous meetings (as applicable, keep brief).

• An icebreaker question is encouraged during the first few meetings of a new group or when new members join.
• Brief introduction of the material (may read an excerpt).
• Group Discussion based on “Question to Contemplate.”
  • The leader reads the first question as a discussion prompt.
  • Someone other than the leader begins the discussion by either sharing their journal entry or an impromptu reflection.
  • The group discusses the material; the leader ensures key information is covered.
  • The leader moves on to the next question and repeats.
• Wrap up Discussion.
• Announcements and Other Community Concerns.
• Closing Prayer (should include prayers of the faithful).
• Social Time (snacks are always a good idea).
• Later, the leader reviews the meeting and assesses how to improve.

Discussion Materials

Our materials are as diverse as faithful Catholicism itself. We select accessible yet profound Catholic books and create free discussion guides to accompany them. We will never run out of excellent books to develop discussion guides for! Equally important, our guides include open-ended questions that encourage both reflection and conversation. Our goal isn’t to test your comprehension but to help you connect the truths of Christ to your personal life! (See “PART IV: The Paladin Discussion Series”). 

Multiplication

As healthy groups are growing groups, every group will eventually need to split into two or even three. It can be challenging to decide when and how to start a new group. Remember, the ideal group size is 10 people. Usually, a group has about 10 members, with a few more waiting to join, when it splits. The group might even grow to 11 or 12 members; however, the leader should only allow this temporarily. A new group should start with as close to 10 people as possible so most can participate in the two foundational discussion series. Generally, the group should stay together for four or five years before splitting, although one or two members may leave earlier to start a new SCC.

Ideally, the assistant leader will become the leader of one of the two groups, and each leader will recruit a new assistant leader. Usually, the group doesn’t split exactly in half; often, two or three members leave to start a new group with the people they’ve already lined up. All of this is carefully coordinated with all members.

Leaders should highlight the importance of multiplication early on. In fact, leaders should always be preparing to form the next group. Dividing groups through multiplication works much more smoothly when people see it as a vital part of growth, evangelization, and group health; that it is something to celebrate!

Of course, growth and multiplication depend on the enthusiasm, expectation, and generosity of group members. A firm conviction and expectation that the Holy Spirit is actively moving and working within and among us are essential. The Lord can accomplish great things through our groups and us; we must expect such great things!

Like the seed that falls to the ground and dies, a multiplying group gives up comfort to bear more fruit.

Clan Meals

The Clan Meal is an optional celebration meal. A Clan Meal primarily celebrates the successful completion of a discussion series. However, it also honors the growth and fellowship of our small church community, as well as Jesus and our walk with Him. During the Clan Meal, we remind ourselves that even though there’s darkness in the world, we have many reasons to celebrate—especially our fellowship with Christ and each other. At its core, it’s a celebration and a feast.

Also, the Clan Meal provides an opportunity to invite others to meet our group. It’s a chance to fellowship with us without any pressure. For many people, joining a small church community can seem intimidating, especially if they barely know any members. A dinner invitation is definitely less daunting than committing to a discussion series.

Finally, the Clan Meal provides an opportunity for old friends to reunite, especially former members who have left to start a new group. Clan Meals can help ease the sadness caused by the multiplication process.

The Clan Meal reminds us that every Christian meal echoes the Lord’s Table. We gather to rejoice in His presence among us and to remember that our fellowship is rooted in His sacrifice and love.

The Next Step

Paladin SCCs always emphasize the ongoing Journey to God, challenging us to continually discern the next step. We must remember that there is always a next step and indeed take it. After completing it, we look for the next one. As living, growing disciples, we strive to grow in our prayer life and the virtues, study and self-denial, fellowship and evangelization.

The theme of the next step should influence everything the SCC does. This theme should constantly echo in our materials, discussions, and attitudes. However, the inspiration and challenge for the next step should never feel pushy or intrusive. Each person must choose their next step—what it is and when they feel ready to take it.

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