Planning an ecumenical encounter

4. What would we like to do together? 5 mins.

From the Lund principle advocating shared action, move the discussion towards the kinds of activity the group would like to see the parish becoming involved in. What are their hopes or wishes for ecumenical action? Brainstorm and write people's ideas down on newsprint or blackboard. If the group is short on ideas, you may draw suggestions from many ecumenical resources such as materials produced by regional covenanting groups.

5. Who are we going to do it with? 10 mins.

This is the point at which the group will begin making concrete plans for the next step in ecumenical action -- the ecumenical encounter. Move the discussion from the ideal (what we would like to do) to the practical -- who our potential partners are, what they might be interested in working on. Ask people to identify potential encounters: who is in our neighbourhood? Make a list of churches, coalitions, prayer groups. Also identify particular projects/action already being undertaken by other Christian communities where you could offer help (collecting clothes, soup kitchen, action for justice...).

6. What preparation do we need to make a connection? 15 mins.

One aspect of preparation for the ecumenical encounter is to develop or practise "encounter skills" such as hospitality, listening, and icebreaking -- skills that will be called on as you forge connections with other Christian communities.

This section also includes a practical exercise Ask group members to find the person they know least well in the room, and take 5 minutes to discover something they have in common. After the conversations, ask each pair to say what they learned and how. As follow-up, invite people to make a point of using those same skills at least once each day next week.

As the workshop concludes, be sure to establish who is going to approach whom as you move towards ecumenical encounter(s), and a timeline within which they will work. Which ecumenical partners do you want to approach? Do you know if they have ecumenical contact people? Who is the most appropriate person from your parish to make the connection? (This may well be the ecumenical co-ordinator or committee, but it may be someone else - a social justice convenor in the case of a social project, a music leader in the case of a liturgical event, and so on...)

Allow time for any final questions or observations.

Stress the importance of prayer support for these encounters and the work they will give rise to. Conclude the workshop with a prayer which you ask people to pray daily through the preparation stage:

Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you": look not on our sins, but on the faith of your church, and grant to it that peace and unity which is acceptable to your holy will...