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Couples
for Christ
Foundation for Family and Life
ASSURING
A GOOD FOUNDATION FOR NEW MEMBERS OF CFC-FFL
Critical
to laying a good foundation for a new member of CFC-FFL are
two of the initiations courses--the Christian Life Seminar
(CLS) and the Covenant Recollection (CR). If we do these well,
then when a new member makes his/her covenant, we can more
or less be assured that a good foundation has been laid.
The
CLS brings people to conversion and transformation in Christ,
or at least the initial stirrings. The CLS follow-up in household
meetings reinforces what has been taken up in the CLS. Then
the CR, together with follow-up discussions in households,
makes clear what is the commitment (covenant) in CFC-FFL,
and starts to bring people into a deeper life in Christ.
What
comes later is for further growth--MER, different formation
courses, service. If the foundation has been well laid, the
new member himself will look forward to what else is to come.
Therefore,
herewith is the step-by-step process that needs to be done.
No short-cuts are allowed.
Prior
to CLS
| 1.
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All
CLSs are to be chapter based, that is, by the authority
of the Chapter Servant (CS). |
| 2.
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The
CS must keep a running list, based on feedback from
Unit Servants (US), who receive feedback from Household
Servants (HS), of those brethren who seem ready to become
facilitators. |
| 3.
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A
CLS is mounted on the initiative of any member, that
is, a parishioner, a parish liaison, a corporate person,
etc. That member recommends that a CLS be mounted, which
then needs to be approved by the CS after appropriate
study. |
| 4.
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The
CS then prepares the team by going through the CLS Training
(3 talks). The CS appoints a CLS team leader. The team
preferably would be parishioners, but non-parishioners
can be tapped for the team. |
| 5.
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It
is presumed that the Evangelization Training (ET) has
been given to all new members either at the beginning
of the year or at the end of the year. CSs and/or District
Servants (DS) should ensure that the ET is given. |
| 6.
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Our
basic method of evangelization is person-to-person.
While we may make use of fliers or parish announcements,
CSs/USs/HSs should move their people to do personal
witnessing and invitation to the CLS. This basically
is the reason why the CLS does not have an Orientation
Session, because participants have basically been oriented
already. |
CLS
| 7.
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A
CLS should be the standard 9-session seminar.
Compressed CLSs are only for exceptional cases. Exemptions
are to be approved by the Area Servant. |
| 8.
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A
CLS is ideally by adult ministry (CFC,HFL,SvFL,SFL)
but may be a mega one if the different ministries are
not yet large enough or not yet well established. |
| 9.
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A
CLS needs to be done “by the book,” that
is, following all the provisions in the CLS Team Manual
and the CLS Team Leader’s Guide. Pre- and post-session
team meetings need to be done. |
Households
| 10.
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After
the CLS, graduates are invited to attend households. |
| 11.
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The
CS appoints the HSs and gives them the attendant training,
starting with the Household Leaders Training (HLT) orientation
of 4 talks. Thence they will have one teaching a month
for 12 months. HSs are provided the Household Servant’s
Manual.
|
| 12.
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The
HSs follow the content of the Orientation of New Households
(providing for 8 meetings). |
CR
| 13.
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The
CR has 8 teachings contained in 4 sessions (2 topics
per session). In between sessions are the household
meetings. Here the HSs are to follow the discussions
according to the Covenant Recollection Follow-up paper. |
| 14.
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At
the end of the CR, the underway members are asked if
they want to commit to becoming full members of CFC-FFL,
by signing their covenant. |
Miscellaneous
provisions
| 15.
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All
established chapters should have at least 2 CLSs a year.
If the chapter is large, then more CLSs might be called
for. One gauge: is the chapter able to double
in membership for the year (the natural
consequence if each member successfully evangelizes
just one other person in a whole year)?
|
| 16.
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All
established parish CFC-FFL groups not yet a chapter
(unit or household only) are to look to mounting a CLS
in their parish, with the aim of becoming a chapter. |
| 17.
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As
much as possible, the one-service rule is
to be observed (except for fulltimers
or retirees). Those who are HSs, USs and CSs are not
to take a major service in the parish if such will keep
them for fully exercising their primary role and responsibility
in CFC-FFL. |
| 18.
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HSs
are at the frontline is helping bring new members to
Christ. They should be faithful to their service. USs
provide the back-up support for HSs and their members.
CSs ensure that the life and mission of the mini-CFC
that is the chapter is moving on in the strength of
the Spirit. ClSs focus on the personal pastoral formation
of CSs. |
(May
8, 2011
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