Parliament of Worlds Religion 2004 Barcelona

Author(s): Parliament of the World’s Religions
Publisher: USA Parliament of the Worlds Religions

Page 57

Plenary Sessions
Guidelines for Appreciative Conversations
Step 1 APPRECIATIVE CONVERSATIONS
. Please share an experience that is meaningful to you
about something that happened here (describe the setting, the people, its effect on you).
• Create groups of two or three people. Each person is
invited to participate in an appreciative conversation by asking and answering questions. These are called 'appreciative' because they ask each person to speak from the heart and to listen deeply for the unique qualities in the other person.
3 What will you take home? • What do you want to share with people back home? • What are your hopes for what could happen? • What are you willing to commit to doing back home? • What challenges do you anticipate? • How will you find support for your ideas and
initiative?
Begin with one person asking and another answering all the questions. Once you are finished, change roles. After each person has been interviewed, take time to share impressions and say thank you.
Step 2 SMALL GROUP SHARING
You might want to take notes during your conversation in order to introduce the your interview partner by sharing highlights from your conversation. After interviews, directions will be given to form groups of 6-8 persons.
Form into groups of 6-8 people with your interview partner(s). Take a few minutes to introduce your interview partner by sharing highlights from your conversation. After everyone is introduced, you might talk about what people are inspired to do when they get back home and what ideas people have for mutual support to meet the challenges.
Interview Questions:
1 Who are you? • Where are you from? • What brought you to the Parliament? • What would you like to share with me about yourself,
your life and your vision for the world that would help me understand more about you?
Step 3 INTERRELIGOUS BAZAAR
Leaders will offer brief closing words or a blessing and direct you to the Interreligious Bazaar.
2 What has been your Parliament experience? · Since you have been attending the Parliament, what high points or remarkable experiences have moved you most?
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Parliament of the World's Religions 2004