Events at the Temple
As I have traveled throughout the church, people have
shared several questions and requests: “How can I participate in a
Listening Circle if one is not offered near me?” “Several people
couldn’t make this Listening Circles facilitator training. Will there be
other opportunities?” “I’m interested in Listening Circles. They aren’t
available in my mission center. What can I do?”
The Peacebuilding Ministries team has scheduled a
Listening Circles weekend at the Temple in Independence, Missouri,
February 2–3, 2008, and a Listening Circles Facilitator Training, April
11–13, 2008. This central location will allow people throughout the
church to participate, providing rich dialogue that informs perspectives
as well as the usefulness of the process.
Listening Circles Weekend is for those interested in
participating in a Circle experience held over several sessions
throughout the weekend. Multiple sessions allow Circle participants to
go deeper into a selected topic. Groups of people with diverse
viewpoints will be created through the registration process.
Participants will determine what topics will be the focus of the
dialogues. Possible topics are: rebaptism, priesthood accountability,
death penalty, immigration, and homosexuality. Participation is limited
to 60.
Listening Circles Facilitator Training is for those who
want to train to be a facilitator. This is an intensive 24-hour
training. It includes skill building, evaluation of participants, and
lots of practice. It is a good opportunity for those already trained to
have a refresher and participate in Circles with people from various
mission centers. Participation is limited to 50.
Past Listening Circles participants have said: “I was
initially afraid of sharing my opinions because I felt I had none. Being
a part of a Listening Circle allowed me a safe place to discover and
voice what my thoughts and perspectives were on several topics. It was a
healing process.” “These Listening Circles training sessions have been a
very real learning experience for me. I feel the issues that confront
many of us can be better understood through our hearing the perspectives
brought forth by the ones within the circle.”
For more information and registration forms call or
e-mail Sandee Gamet at
sgamet@CofChrist.org; (816) 833-1000, ext. 2353, or 1-800-825-2806,
ext. 2353. You can find more information at
www.CofChrist.org/peacejustice/listening-circles.asp. The
deadline to receive registrations for the February event is January 15;
the deadline to receive registrations for the April event is March 14.
—Sandee Gamet reporting
