Multiplication

Multiplication is the intentional split of a group when it grows too large. Ministrium models it as a first-class operation, preserving the lineage between parent and child groups.

When to multiply

Typical signals:

• Group hit 15+ active members
• There’s a co-leader formed ready to take their own
• Venue logistics start being a problem
• A leader explicitly asks to multiply

The multiplication flow

1. Groups → [Group] → Actions → Multiply.
2. The system suggests a balanced split (halves). You can adjust manually by dragging members between the two columns.
3. Assign child group leader (typically the parent’s co-leader).
4. Define venue and time for the new group.
5. Confirm.

Result:

• A child group is created with its own members and meetings.
• The parent group keeps remaining members.
• Both are linked by lineage: each knows its parent, child, etc.

Lineage

Viewable from Groups → Family tree:

Downtown - Families (María R.) [2018]
  ├─ Downtown - Families II (Pedro G.) [2021]
  │    └─ Downtown - Families III (Lucía R.) [2023]
  └─ North - Families (José L.) [2022]
       ├─ North - Young Couples (Carla T.) [2024]
       └─ Online - Couples (Roberto P.) [2025]

Lineage enables reports like:

“María R.’s tree has 6 descendant groups with 73 total members — that’s generational multiplication.”

Communication to members

Before confirming, define how to communicate:

• Auto email to each member: “You’re in group X” + new group info
• Transition meeting: schedule one last joint meeting before they split
• Grace period: 4 weeks where a member can return to the parent if the child doesn’t fit

Canceled multiplication

If a member reassigned to the child says “I’d rather stay with the parent”, they can revert within 4 weeks. After that it’s permanent.

If the whole multiplication was a mistake (rare), org_admin can revert it in the first 48 hours. Past that, groups stay independent.

Metric: multiplication rate

Multiplications YTD: 4
Avg multiplications/year (3 yr): 5.2
Network growth: +14% YoY

This is the most important metric of the module. A multiplying church grows sustainably. One that only adds members to existing groups eventually stalls.

Closed by multiplication vs closed by disappearance

When a group closes:

• Closed by multiplication: counted as success, stays in lineage as “graduated”.
• Closed by disappearance (leader leaves, members scatter): counted as departure, doesn’t appear as anyone’s child.

The difference matters for health reports and for the leadership team’s morale.