A Brief History
In 1984, people completing Renew in their dioceses gathered to explore ways to provide continuing mutual support. A membership body was formed.
By 1989 membership had grown to 23 dioceses and national organizations. A vision statement and organizational goals were developed.
Since then there have been:
- International gatherings with participants from six continents.
- Creation of a Joint Task Force and several joint convocations with NAFSCC, Buena Vista, and the National Alliance of Parishes Restructuring into Communities (NAPRC).
- A joint workshop for the US Bishops sponsored by the US Bishops' Committee on the laity.
- Joint convocation with Buena Vista and NAPRC in New Orleans and San Antonio.
- Ongoing Joint Convocations.
- Support for our lobbying efforts of Bishops, National Organizations, Networks, and promote SCCs.
- Annual NAFSCC conferences addressing such themes as “SCCs and Evangelization,” “Conversion in Community: SCCs and the Catechumenate,” “Parish and Small Christian Communities: Organizing for Social Change,” “SCCs: Shaping the Parish to Come,” and “SCCs: Shaped by the Culture? Shaping the Culture?”
Small Communities are powerful vehicles for adult faith formation, providing opportunities for learning, prayer, mutual support and the shared experience of Christian living in service to Church and society.
“Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us: A Pastoral Plan for Adult Formation in the United States”
