I’ve served as an official convener of a CBF peer learning group for the past year and a half. But unofficially, I’ve been convening a peer group in some form for more than seven years. It started in seminary, with weekly dinners that were part learning, part fellowship, part fun and part encouragment. Then, after graduation, I noticed that many of my classmates were serving outside the local church, as chaplains, counselors, nonprofit leaders, etc. And we found ourselves without the support system (peer groups, residency programs, educational events, etc). that were geared toward our peers who served in churches. So, we began gathering every other week at coffee shops or restaurants to talk about the challenges of these new jobs and our ministerial roles (ordination, job interviews, promotions, certifications, etc.).

 A year and half ago, I gathered six of the core participants in this group – six female seminary graduates – to talk about becoming an official peer learning group with CBF. We were all excited about the opportunity. The grant funds from CBF allow us to purchase resources and plan retreats. And by being a part of the larger CBF peer learning community, we feel a greater commitment to the group.

There are very practical responsibilities in being a peer learning group convener – establishing time, date and meeting places, managing grant funds, providing brief reports to CBF, letting group members know about other learning opportunities, etc. But in my experience, one of the most important roles of a convener is encouraging an equal commitment level from all group members. It’s a frustrating feeling for everyone when you expect six people to show up and end up with half that number.

I’ve found that commitment can be contagious – if one person wobbles on attendance then everyone becomes wishy-washy. And if one person says, “I’ll be at every meeting.” Then, others immediately commit to do the same. That’s how our peer learning group began. We asked if everyone was willing to commit time and energy to each monthly meeting, and we went around the circle and each member verbally said “yes.” We’ve had about 17 meetings, and I can recall only twice having less than six people in attendance.

But I’ve found asking people to commit – to be engaged on a regular basis ‒ is not a question to ask only at the beginning. The most vibrant small groups that I’ve been a part of are the ones that continually ask “Are we all still committed to this?” or “What changes should we make along the way so that this group is beneficial to everyone?” And as a convener, I’ve talked individually with members who seem to have become bored by the group. I check in with them and try to find out what might be affecting their engagement. Sometimes it is personal or professional matters, and sometimes the conversation compels us to make changes that benefit the group as a whole.

Being a convener is often a learn-as-you-go process. But Steve Graham, who coordinates CBF’s peer learning groups, is a great resource for conveners – sgraham@thefellowship.info. And, if you already serve as a convener be sure to sign up for the convener lunch at this year’s General Assembly in Charlotte by emailing Mary McCoy at mmccoy@thefellowship.info.