In a group of people, there will always be subgroups. Subgrouping is unavoidable, people do have tendency to mingle with people that they are getting along well with. In the context of church, subgrouping can be a good thing and a bad thing at the same time. Do subgroups need to cetralized and “controlled”? I’d say it depends, if they do something regular that looks as an alternatives for the main group, then for sure they have to inform the main group. But even if it’s PURELY social, the main group can use it for the benefit of all.
The worst victims of subgrouping is people who dont belong to any subgroups, they dont get invited to subgroups activities, even if they do invited, they feel that the invitiations are somehow done half heartedly. The are the outs.
I think I am guilty of the sin of subgrouping in the past. And now slowly I become the outs, whether it’s in the church or in the work place, but because of my personality, I don’t really care.. 😛 The truth is I always be the ins within my family ie me and Lina 😛 very small centered and selfish I know.. sigh