Creating a sacred community space is paramount to the functionality of the sessions. Seating should be comfortable, enable all to see each other, and provide space for break-out groups. There is no right size of group. The suggested approach has been used with groups as small as 6 and as large as 75. Larger-sized groups should use discussion dyads and small break outs to ensure that all can meaningfully engage.
The role of the clergy is to facilitate fellowship and learning. The practices to guide the conversation should be consistent with those suggested above for the clergy meetings. The texts, questions, and group activities are designed to penetrate the harder and more difficult aspects of our American identities, taking patriotism as a serious commitment. Skills effective clergy use regularly are required, including starting and ending with prayer and/or song, asking questions from a pastoral mindset, and teaching in a communally engaging way. In addition, educational leadership is essential. Clergy should develop a general schedule of how the time will be used, initiate each activity, pose clarifying questions, ensure participation, and determine when to use full room vs dyads or small groups.
A suggested agenda follows. 90 minutes is the minimum recommended starting point for a session that includes discussion. If a group activity is included, an additional 30-45 minutes will be required. Group feedback at the end of the first session may lead to the need for alterations to the schedule for future sessions.
The general flow of each session is suggested as:
10 days prior to the session:
Distribution of the text, history, and one pre-session question. This will enable participants to come prepared and avoid using in-session time to read the text (this is especially important with the longer texts, the Declaration of Independence and What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?, for which only excerpts are included on our provided handout). The pre-session question will initiate individual thoughts on the text and provide an indication of the content of the discussion to take place. Participants should be asked to think about and write down their response to the pre-session question and bring it with them. This helps ensure they will complete the reading and thinking and build reflective practice.
At the session:
Welcome. Opening prayers/songs. 5 minutes.
A quick, round robin introductory icebreaker. These are suggested for each text and should be “modeled” so they are kept extremely brief. 15 minutes.
Opening covenant (ground rules). Review of schedule. 5 minutes.
Discussion: Full room, dyads, small groups, or a combination. 45-60 minutes.
Begin with the pre-session question. It is essential to use what participants were asked to do in advance, so they continue to prepare in advance going forward.
Discussion questions which illustrate the values of the text are suggested for each text. Feel free to add your own.
Connect the text to scriptures from the faiths present.
Group activity: Small groups. 30-45 minutes.
This is recommended to build community. Activities that deepen our understanding of each other, identify common themes, and orient to actions that improve the community are suggested for each text. Feel free to add your own. We caution against activities that are polarizing (i.e.: debates). Allow time for room sharing.
Closing reflection: 15 minutes.
Individual time (5 minutes) to make meaning of the session. This provides the opportunity for participants to identify what they have gained by being present. A question is suggested for each text. Again, participants should be asked to think about and write down their response to the closing reflection question.
Group (10 minutes): Invite a few participants to share what they wrote. Ask for any other comments about the session.
Closing prayers/songs. 5 minutes.