1. We will not argue or try to prove that one tradition is more "right" than another.

2. We will seek to learn from one another, to listen and share rather than argue and pronounce.

3. We will come together as equals, as a gathering of seekers, without divisions according to station, status or religious differences.

4. We will speak honestly, as far as we understand our own tradition and experience.

5. We will speak from our own understanding and experience, using "I" statements.

6. We will ask questions out of a desire to understand rather than to call in to question the validity of another’s statement.

7. We will approach each other with the understanding that our understanding is limited.

8. We will approach each other acknowledging and setting aside our preconceived ideas or prejudices.

9. We will look for both commonalities and differences.

10. We will look to explore not only the historical and intellectual dimensions of our traditions, but also to understand the whole of the spirit and heart of each religious experience. We do this so that we might emerge enlightened, broadened and deepened.

(Adapted from Journal of Ecumenical Studies, 20:1, Winter 1983, p.1,4)

Exploring the ecumenical idea of reconciling neighbors across boundaries: intrachurch (divisions within Methodism); interchurch (between denominations); interfaith or inter-religious (between religions); across culture (races, nations, economic, high /low church).

1. Ecumenical neighbor - Roman Catholic presenter: Rich Darr, Minooka

2. Jewish neighbor presenter: Carol Brown, Glencoe

3. Muslim neighbor presenter: Chuck Emory, Villa Park

1. How does your experience relate to what you have just heard?

2. What are your or your church’s key experiences with your neighbors?

3. What significant persons or events play a role in neighbor relationships?

Silent period for reflection.

IV. Dialogue Experience – Dialogue is a conversation on a common subject between two or more persons with different views. The purpose is not to produce agreement but to create relationship or friendship which arises out of mutual understanding.

We will divide into groups of 6-10, aiming for diversity of types and locations.

A. Sharing Personal Journeys (25-30 minutes)

Purpose: To help participants reflect on and share about their own experience.

Activities: 5 min. Greeting and video

5 –10 min. Introduce yourself. Briefly share the purpose of this dialogue. Have each person share briefly, their name, and the church with which they are affiliated as well as their own ecumenical or interfaith experience.

6-9 min. Break into pairs or groups of 3…use worksheet #1 on "Personal Sharing".

Each person is to have three minutes. By using the timer, each small group can monitor their individual time.

5 min. Have each pair (or threesome) reflect summation to their group.

1. Where were you born?

2. Your family?

3. What do you do?

4. In everyday life, what is important to you?

5. How has your religious or spiritual tradition shaped your life?

6. What is your key question about your neighbor’s faith?

B. Visioning for your Future (30-40 min.)

What vision steps could you take at your home church?

Purpose: To use an individual to small group to large group process to articulate a broadly shared vision for an ecumenical and/or multi-faith community.

5 min. Using your worksheet #2, reflect on your vision for church/community life.

15 min. Going around the table, participants are to share three elements of their vision. (3 min. each). Facilitators should record on newsprint the essence of each element.

10 min. Have the group reflect on what has been shared and recorded. The group should then come up with three shared elements of a collective vision.

These should be written with words or short phrases.

5 min. Each facilitator will report to the large group on the three shared elements of their small group. These elements will be tapes to the walls grouping them according to common themes or goals. (2 min. per group)

5 min. Each participant has five stickers to place next to postings of their choice.

1. Who are your neighbors?

2. What visioning steps could you take at your home church?

3. In what way does your ecumenical understanding contribute to your vision?

4. How can your church have an impact on life in your community?

5. How do you see yourself personally contributing to this vision?

6. What steps can you and your church take?

7. What in you experience today, will help you take the next step?

Leaders Encounter Living in a Multi-Faith World

1. What did you find helpful?

2. What should be eliminated?

3. How could we make this a better dialogue next year?