Church home groups have become commonplace among small and big churches alike and there is great potential for spiritual growth within this kind of setting. But there are also liability risks like injuries (slips and falls), sexual abuse, and negligent advice (spiritual or otherwise) which should be considered.
For the purposes of this article, we’re going to assume that the church is promoting these small group meetings at homes and promoting those leading them. Individuals within the church gathering on their own does not necessarily constitute it being a sanctioned church program.
Childcare
Probably the biggest challenge any home group will face or need to be prepared for, is dealing with younger childcare. Will childcare be provided at all, will it be provided at the home, or will it be provided at the church?
It’s challenging at best to provide adequate childcare at a host home and for that reason we don’t encourage it, but if that’s a consideration then here are a few pointers.
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The room used for this purpose should be given special consideration. It should be fully accessible to all parents and age appropriate for those being kept there. Look for rooms that are not isolated from the main group but if at all possible, avoid having the kids in a back bedroom or isolated in another part of the house. The more open and accessible the area, the better. If it has to be in a bedroom there should not be any closed doors.
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Small group leaders who are operating as an arm of the church should be provided with copies of the church’s policies on child supervision and should be expected to adhere to those guidelines.
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Volunteer workers should be adults. The risk of injury and molestation increases dramatically if only minors are used to supervise children. One solution is having parents take turns serving as supervisors for the children.
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Adhere to the “Never Alone” or “Two Adult Rule” where an adult and child are never alone.
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Avoid situations where for example, older children are group together with preschoolers.
Home Safety
If there is an injury on the premises of a host home, the homeowner could have a shared liability so it’s an important fact to understand. If there is no “childcare” but older children or teens are involved and the home has a swimming pool, playground, or bounce house, those require specific supervision and guidelines.
And if serving a meal, it’s even important to know or ask about any food allergies.
Negligent Advice
Church home groups offer a lot of advantages but have to also be mindful against negligent advice, mishandling confidentiality, failing child abuse reporting (a reminder that Texas is mandatory reporting for all individuals) and creating silos within the church.
Small groups can build a sense of community within the church. Members of a small group can develop close relationships with each other and provide emotional support and accountability which in turn strengthens the church. For those reasons, we support these ministries but like anything, with careful planning and knowledge of the risks.
