OST for religious communities

[Brendan McKeague]

Thus wrote the insightful Lisa...
So: design it, prepare for it, and facilitate 
just the way you would any organization, and as 
with any organization, use the inspiration and 
ideas of the organization’s planning team to see 
if weaving in bits of code and culture (such as 
song, prayer, lighting candles, or breath work) 
helps to invite and frame the Open Space for that 
community.  Let me clarify – don’t feel that 
extra warm-up or intro things are necessary for 
the Open Space to work – it will work if it’s 
been chosen as the right tool for the job and is 
thoughtfully prepared for.  What I’m saying is if 
the culture traditionally frames its work and 
coming together as community in a way that 
involves ritual, you may wish to design in time 
for ritual in the open or close of your day(s).
I agree entirely with this summary counsel - it 
has worked with the many faith-based groups I 
have had the privilege to journey with - the 
process of co-designing the program with the 
sponsors enables the culture of the community to 
be fully integrated within the gathering in a way 
that enriches the OS segment.

In five-day congregational chapters I have 
facilitated, DAY ONE began with gathering ritual 
prayer/silent time, perhaps honoring the founder 
or a particular event in the life of the 
community (like the recent 'canonisation' of OS!) 
and moving into a day of 'storytelling' to enable 
folks who may not have seen each other for the 
past two-four years, to reconnect and engage in 
community - often based on scriptural stories 
such as the Emmaus journey, combined with an 
Appreciative Inquiry flow that evoked the central 
themes of significant events and sacred moments 
during the past year(s)....commencing in pairs, 
flowing into foursomes where partners recounted 
each others stories (the power of telling your 
story in depth to one attentive listener and then 
hearing your story being told to others is very 
potent in community bonding) and culminating in a 
collective sharing of the significant stories 
from the small groups - leading to a ritual 
celebrating of all that has been life-giving and 
'holy' in the lives of this community since last 
they gathered together...a naming of the personal 
and collective journey to here...

This prepares the way for the opening of space on 
DAY TWO which has typically gone for 2.5 days - 
creating an intentional discussion and 
discernment around where we are called to go 
next....with convergence and action planning as 
part of the OS process on the morning of DAY FOUR of the gathering.

Then some 'free space' - with some groups there 
have been periods of 'noble silence' in the 
evenings after dinner and also on the 
afternoon/evening of DAY FOUR (some even going 
through in silence until breakfast of DAY FIVE) - 
this gives space to breathe in deeply the fruits 
and challenges of the rich conversations that 
have taken place and to discern more fully the 
movements of spirit within the individual and the 
community - leaving the final day for 
congregational business, canononical requirements 
and ratification of the action plans prepared in 
the OS - great closure where this happens - the 
actions going forward to the decision-making body 
on the spot!  So that closure of the Assembly 
comes with a real sense of completion of the 
cycle so meaningful within the Christian metaphor 
- reflection on our journey to here, enter the 
often painful unknowing of what are we to be 
about now - the chaos/confusionof 'hanging' on 
the cross betwixt and between the past and the 
future - followed by new life as the letting go 
of old ways takes shape in dreams and concrete 
expressions of hope for how the future will unfold....

I've heard it said by some sponsors during 
planning for the Assembly that the final day is 
insufficient to get through all their 'business' 
that normally takes up most of the Assembly time 
(four days) - and they are anxious about that 
part as they only meet together every four years 
and need to make decisions - and surprise, 
surprise - they rattle through the decisions like 
a spoon through honey once all the conversations 
have taken place in OS - they really feel so 
pleased with themselves....its wonderful to behold!

And all of the above interspersed with 
culturally-appropriate ritual, prayers, singing, dancing and whatever...
Incidentally, I've also noticed a lot of more 
earthy spirit being consumed in the course of some of these assemblies....hic!

Hope this is useful

Cheers
Brendan

Pace E Bene Nonviolence Service
Australian Associate
Ph/fax   +61 8 9244 8090
Mob           042 944 8090
Web     www.paceebene.org
We must be the change we wish to see in the world
                 Mahatma Gandhi

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