Ministering Circles?

[ckmcdonald]

We had a ward RS presidency member ask if there is a way to assign more then 3 people together in LCR as ministering companions so they could implement "Ministering Circles". Poking around a little it appears there are wards implementing something called "Ministering Circles", which are groups of 10 or so sisters grouped together and minister to each other. References to "Ministering Circles" are few and I'm not able to get much information about them. A quick read of the Handbook would suggest that "Ministering Circles" aren't a Church support thing. Can anyone shed some light on this subject? Thanks.

[russellhltn]

Not sure what they're talking about. Given a finite number of sisters, It's all going to get circular at some point. Companions A minister to Companions B, who minister to C, who ministers back to A. That can be set up. But it's not going to support a large number of companions.

Personally, I'd ask the person making the request to show where that came from and if it's church approved.

[BrianEdwards]

I'd also consider the importance of the "companionship principle". Companionships of two are what's "normal" (GHB 21.2.1), with three approved as mentioned previously. There's a lot of good things that come from two brothers or two sisters working together as a companionship, with stewardship over specific members -- and they can always coordinate additional support from a larger community, if that's what the ward desires. But receiving that specific responsibility as a companionship, is much different than having a shared responsibility amongst many. Just another thing to consider.

[Hardy95]

A member of our Presidency had a dream about these "circles" and felt strongly about it. We prayed about it and talked with our Bishop who felt that the inspiration for ministering comes from the R.S. Presidency and that we can be inspired for our ward. With this, we took a lot of time and energy to create "Sister Circles", which we just kicked off a few weeks ago with a combined RS Lesson that all the Sisters and young women joined with. We had a chair for every sister whether present or not, and our President shared some things and our Bishop gave a great lesson on the oak tree and ministering. We gave each sister who was there, a program with every "Sister Circle", which consists of 8-10 sisters, both attending and not, including our yw 14+. It went great and we have done some follow-up since and may have to do some tweaking.

We started with 2 strong ministering sisters, creating 14 groups. We then spent the next few hours making the circles, considering the different phases/stages of life. We also will choose a leader of the circles that we can send information to, who will then pass the information on to her "circle". This is a brief run down of how we're trying this.

[davehilliard]

I am concerned that circles is not in alignment with the Prophet. I am all for creative solutions... and actually really like the idea. But there are a few issues I see... but correct me if I am off, please let me know. If assignments are made geographically, or by line-of-sight, it eliminates those key-holders that have been set-apart to ponder and pray about specific needs of individuals matched with inspired people to minister to them. Also, ministering as a group makes it difficult if not impossible to conduct effective ministering interviews. It's hard for me to see the benefit of a group watching over the one... because inevitably, someone in the group will figure someone else in the group is ministering to the others... and possibly 1 or 2 in the group of 10 are carrying the load for the group. I know there are some that have moved to circles because they felt inspired to do so. I know that all good things come from God. Circles may have been a better solution than what was previously happening (or not happening). I don't question the inspiration, but wonder if it's a good, better, best scenario. Best being what we have been taught by Prophets, Seers and Revelators/Handbook. Forgive me if I have caused offense, and teach me if I am not seeing circles clearly. Thank you.

[jjbohman]

This is interesting, and would love to know more. As a current RSP, I too have had inspiration to form ministering circles. I’ve never seen something like this in action and wondered how they would work. Do you put sisters going through the same stage in life together, ones that live near each other, or just mix it up!? I think there is value in sisters that seemingly have nothing in common watching over and loving one another, but that’s difficult to visualize a group like that. The more I’ve pondered and prayed about it the more likely I am going to focus on forming a ministering circle around a newly baptized sister, a recently returning sister, and an older sister with health challenges, instead of assigning all of our sisters to a ministering circle. I don’t see this as being in opposition of the handbook, even though it’s not stated as a specific option. The few friends and family I have spoken to about creating ministering circles have loved the idea!

[davehilliard]

Just a follow up to ministering circles... It has been 2 years since 2 of our 8 wards implemented circles in the RS and in the EQ. It's been a valuable experiment to see how it works and doesn't work. Where it has been effective is in smaller groups where EQ or RS were inspired to focus on individuals needing specific support from specific people to minister to them. Great results in that arrangement. Where it has not worked is when the concept is implemented as a whole. It turns out that truly, in circles of 8 tot 10, only 1 or 2 end up doing all of the ministering... the others all get comfortable because "someone in their group is doing something". Also, reporting just doesn't work... It is pretty much impossible to get accurate reports - especially when groups are ministering to each other - it simply just goes back and fourth... and they count one visit with each other as two visits. The other issue is with our youth... they are getting left out of a real ministering experience where they are assigned and have consistent opportunities to be in homes of those they minister to, because there is a group mentality... and it's just not working for them. Sounds efficient, but it's not accomplishing what is intended... to minister in higher and holier ways. We have found that RS and EQ presidencies are frustrated with circles. In general, it is effective for a few, but not for the whole. The other issue is ministering interviews just are not effective in circles. So, as a counselor in the stake presidency - I visit with EQ and RS presidencies often, and get lots of feedback from ward members in recommend interviews... we routinely ask about their ministering efforts and families. It has become very apparent that those in the Circles wards are not seeing ministers hardly at all. So, my humble opinion, the handbook has the ideal outline for how it works... and for sure, I have seen inspired EQ and RS presidencies create small circles as they receive specific inspiration... but overall, it's not accomplishing what the Lord has intended... in our stake. Just my honest view of what works and doesn't work - if you have different experiences, I would love to know, and how to implement it differently, or at all. thank you.

[BrianEdwards]

Just a follow up to ministering circles... It has been 2 years since 2 of our 8 wards implemented circles in the RS and in the EQ. It's been a valuable experiment to see how it works and doesn't work. Where it has been effective is in smaller groups where EQ or RS were inspired to focus on individuals needing specific support from specific people to minister to them. Great results in that arrangement.....

To clarify - where you have seen success in the smaller groups, are these true "ministering circles" where everyone equally shares ministering with each other? Or is this more of a one-way solution, where there are additional dedicated resources (what might be termed a "ministering group") to help with an individual or family's specific needs?

For instance, instead of just having a ministering companionship assigned to a family with specific needs, were there more than two members assigned to minister to that family? And if that was the case, did the "group of ministers" equally share the ministering responsibility for the assigned family, or was there a primary minister assigned who then coordinated the ministering efforts?

I think the term "ministering circle" may mean slightly different things to different people. I believe you were referring to more of what I would call a "ministering group" than a "ministering circle", but I may have misunderstood your description.

PS: thank for your detailed follow-up post. It's really great when the Forum provides these types of examples to others, as we all try and put the gospel into real-world practice, and seek inspiration for challenging situations

[russellhltn]

I guess the real question here is are we talking about traditional ministering, but just with assignments in a tight circle, or a group meeting designed to allow everyone to "check the box" that ministering has been done?

[davehilliard]

Brian - great question! I definitely don't have all the answers, but do have some experiences and some time testing some of these ideas. You are correct, I think we have different terms for what we are discussing... I really like the term "Ministering Group" where more than two individuals are assigned to one individual. That is totally fine and works great - especially when those called to minister to that individual know the "why" behind their inspired call. As you can imagine, there are still EQ and RS presys that ask their class or quorum to refer to the tools app, or pass out peices of paper when giving out ministering assignments. When I train EQ or RS presys I start with... How were you called to this calling? Usually, there is a very personal and spiritual answer to how they were called. As a Stake Presy, we make an effort to explain how we prayerfully approached the Lord and how we knelt in earnest prayer together to ask His will as we present names for callings - and wait - and usually feel his confirmation - although we have also received a quieter "sure, that makes sense" answer - and for sure, we have gotten the "stupor of thought - or an outright... no, it's not right." When they share these experiences, we ask them how that makes them feel about their call to serve. It's usually something like: "although I feel inadequate, I know the Lord has confidence in me" or "I had an idea this was coming", etc. So then we ask EQ and RS presidencies to do similar when they extend ministering assignments - they are calls, directed by the Spirit - and we testify that the Lord has a purpose in mind for each of them. Anyway, sorry to be long-winded, but this has been a very impactful and honest way to extend callings - and assignments.

I have a new favorite "go to" that gives some great answers... if you go to LCR, then login to the Handbook, you will see a Search Assistant pop up in the corner. That is an AI tool that answers handbook questions. Here is the answer I got with your question:

Yes, more than two people can be assigned to minister to an individual. In some cases, youth may be assigned as a third member of a ministering companionship. Leaders may assign the youth to help minister to some or all of the individuals and families assigned to the companionship 1. Please consult the General Handbook to verify the accuracy of the answer and to further study the related topics.
21.2.2 Ministering Assignments for Youth

I do think you are inspired to be creative in this way, and it's in alignment with the handbook. Circles are much different where assignments are made generally because of proximity - and that doesn't really let leaders "wrestle with the Lord" to know his will on whom should minister to whom. You are doing something totally different - and I believe it definitely has a good place in making effective and inspired assignments! Thank you.