Start a Church Book Club
The steps used to start a book club at church are similar to those used in forming a club in a community. But a church book club has advantages from the start. You spend less energy on promotion and recruitment. Potential members are fellow church worshipers. There is no need to worry about finding a place to meet as the fellowship hall is accessible. You spend less time on building group cohesion because church members already know each another. You do not have to worry about offending people with the selection of religious books. Church members share religious values. Read start a book club at your church below.
Instructions
1. Gauge the interest of your fellow church members. Attend meetings of established groups. Ask if there is a desire to start a book club at church.
2. Get permission to start a book club. Query the pastor, chairman of the congregation or elders if it is possible to use church space for meetings.
3. Plan to meet on a weekday, as opposed to the weekend, when members may be busy. Schedule the meeting after the dinner hour so that more people can attend. Be mindful of other church activities as you start to plan, such as choir or Bible study. Pick a room that is conducive to discussion, such as a classroom with seats and a board to write on.
4. Promote the church book club. Write a notice to be included in the church newsletter, bulletin or on the Website. Create a flier and post it on bulletin boards.
5. Design a survey that will help clarify the reading interests of potential members. Ask what types of books they enjoy, such as fiction or nonfiction.
Start the First Book Club Meeting at Church
6. Distribute the reader-interest survey to members and visitors. Give people a moment to fill out the survey, then ask them to share responses. List possible choices on the board and then put it to a vote after members have had time to think about what books they want to read.
7. If potential members cannot make certain meetings, make a list of possible choices on the board and put that to a vote, too.
8. Determine the group's focus. Refer to the list generated from the reader interest survey for help. Suggest the group start with general fiction, then move to religious books in the future.
9. Determine the price range of texts. Clarify what price members are willing to spend on books.
10. Consider who will lead the book club discussion. Ask attendees how they want to facilitate discussion -- taking turns or by nominating a regular leader.
11. Delegate responsibilities at the start of a church book club. Call on people to look for book discounts, make arrangements to order books and find recommended books.
