Reading this month's (April 2012) Redeemer Newsletter, I was disturbed by the article "Introducing Community Groups: Fellowship Groups Get a New Name!".
It is more like "fellowship groups get name downgrade".
My E-mail to the community leaders explains it all:
Well, Community groups sound very “universal” and welcoming.
But I still do not feel the need of replacing the name
“fellowship”. Because I do not think it is an old term, nor necessary to be
compromised to be more “seeker” friendly.
It is better to teach what the biblical “koinonia” truly
means, than to do away/water down the terms from the Book.
I’d rather say I belong to a fellowship group or Christian
community group, and add “it is a community group welcoming everyone” to
strangers, than “just to say” I belong to a “community group”.
But I guess, I am just too late nor have the authority to
deal with this.
However, I feel it is important for the “community” to know
what some few (if not only I) are thinking about this.
Sincerely in my prayer always with love,
Timothy Law
There's only 3 syllabus in Fel-low-ship,
I don't know why in the world it must be changed to "community group".