FACILITATING A SMALL GROUP

A note about the intent of the Questionswhen using the Scripture resource “Celebrating the Word.”The Questions are looking for a response not an answer.Note the difference between these two concepts.Our questions are not of the catechism variety.The “desired outcome” here is not an intellectual concept but a heartfelt experience.The questions are but promptings that can be described as “tugging” at our heartstrings.In our identifying them as such for the small group, the Spirit now is able to give them life and energy.And we are now in a position to experience this movement of the Spirit personally and in our small group.

WELCOMING THE GROUP

DO

  1. Create an atmosphere of welcome and hospitality.Members will be able to feel it as the group gathers together.
  2. Place chairs in a comfortable arrangement.
  3. Ask all members to introduce themselves and tell something about their families, interest, or work, if it is the first session (or if there are new members).Also, ask them to tell why they came to this group and what they would like to gain from it.

FACILITATING THE GROUP

DO

  1. Set simple ground rules for the meetings:
  2. Each person must have an opportunity to speak;
  3. Use “I” statements;
  4. Stick to the topic;
  5. As facilitator, you will bring the group back to the topic if it strays or move it along if necessary.
  6. Stress confidentiality: what is said in the group should stay in the group.
  7. Encourage group members to share their own experiences, insights, and opinions.
  8. Help group members to view their individual lives in the context of what is happening in the wider community.
  9. Consider all areas of life in your meetings, such as family, community, work, and world.
  10. “Belong” to the group yourself.Balance your role as leader with that of joining in as a full member.
  11. Share the responsibility for the group with the members, inviting them to participate in the prayer and in the Scripture readings.Invite them also to affirmand challenge each other.
  12. Take a “pulse check” at the end of the meeting.Ask “How have we done this evening?”Or ask them some other question to get a sense of how the meeting went.
  13. Encourage the group toward action as a result of the meeting.The action may be personal at first but, as the group grows, the action might be a group response to a parish situation, a local need, or even some broader public issue.
  14. Thank everyone for coming, and say that you look forward to being together for the next meeting.

Prayer

  1. Allow a few minutes of silence after reading the Scripture or other texts to give everyone time for reflection, application to their lives, and the generation of ideas.

Troubleshooting

  1. Find positive ways to affirm a dominator while helping him/her control an overly enthusiastic sharing.You might say, “That’s very true” or “You’ve really thought about that, but let’s continue and listen to what others have to say.”
  2. Wait until after the meeting to speak with those who are regularly dominating or distracting: “You have so much to share and offer the group.Your ideas and experiences are very interesting, but I think you might be overpowering some of the other members with your enthusiasm.Maybe if you hold back a bit, John/Mary might speak more freely.”
  3. Find ways to invite the quiet or shy persons to speak.Talk with them after the meeting to find out how they are doing.Suggest that they prepare a reading or a prayer for the coming meeting.

CARING FOR THE GROUP

DO

  1. Encourage, affirm, support, and challenge the group.Create an atmosphere where the Lord’s presence can be felt.
  2. Contact the members who could not attend the meeting.Assure them that they were missed and remembered in prayer and that you will see them next time.Remember to tell them the date, time, place, and agenda for the next meeting.
  3. Keep the members connected to parish life and its activities and encourage them to be involved individually, as a family, and as a group.
  4. Pray for each person in the group every day.
  5. Have a sense of humor and help the members to take themselves seriously, but not too seriously.

ENHANCING YOUR PERFORMANCE

DO

  1. Meet with other small group facilitators regularly for support and to exchange ideas for prayer, facilitating, materials, evaluation, and action responses.
  2. Plan special times for prayer and reflection with the other facilitators a few times a year.
  3. Be a good listener.

DON’T

  1. Let the group turn you into an “answer person.”
  2. Forget to have a regular evaluation.
  3. Be afraid of a little conflict in the group.Conflict can be beneficial to individuals and the group.
  4. Talk too much.
  5. Act as if you are “in charge” or an “insider”; it might make others feel inferior.
  6. Forget to smile!