Facilitating a Meeting

Main role of facilitators

• Is not teaching, preaching, counseling, advising, or solving problems
• Is creating a sacred space where members feel welcome, participate in group discussion, and share honestly and openly.

Ten Helpful Guidelines

1. Be prepared: Read and pray over meeting topic and content a few times during the week before the meeting. Make an outline or highlight key points. Follow the meeting format. Make sure to have all supplies and set up a “sacred space” for the meeting.
2. Confidentiality: Establish the confidence that what is shared in the group is sacred and a gift to be treasured. Thus, what is shared in the group stays in the group.
3. Active listening: We participate in the discussion not only by what we say, but also by how we attentively listen. We all know how difficult it is to share when those listening seemed bored, distracted, or uninterested.
4. Modeling: Play both roles as facilitator and participant. You will be sharing experiences along with others. This not only builds trust but also models the process for the participants.
5. Be open: Speak from the heart and about personal experiences rather than speaking from the head. Encourage members to do the same. This involves sharing how we feel, how things affect us, or what meaning they have in our lives.
6. Be vulnerable: When we share vulnerably, we create the space for God to enter, for others to grow, and for greater self-acceptance. Speaking from the heart takes this kind of openness and trust. It is not being weak, but rather vulnerability takes strength and courage.
7. Be “co-facilitators”: Encourage members to ask each other questions for clarification or furthering the conversation. After someone shares there will be a short time to ask questions. This is not a time to share your own experiences or reflections, but simply to ask questions that might help to clarify or deepen our understanding of the experience that has been shared. Give advice only when explicitly asked.
8. Be respectful: No interruptions, no pressure. No one is required to speak. We should feel free to share whatever we want in a way that feels comfortable for us.
9. Be attentive:
   • Keeping time, keeping on the topic, and moving the agenda along.
   • Asking quiet people if they want to speak.
   • Gently nudging people who are talking too much to let others speak.
   • Pointing out if people are giving advice or getting off the topic.
   • Paying attention to God’s movement during the meeting.
10. Establish group covenant or commitments: At the beginning, have members come up with some basic rules and agreements how the group goes as far as sharing and conversation. Three basic rules: be open, be respectful, and be confidential. You may go over some of the guidelines above. Check in with group members when the group breaks the rules.