Grouping the Visioning for Action

RESPONSE TO VISIONING SESSION
OF
August 3, 2008

Groups for Action in Atlanta

At the visioning session following lunch at Shallowford Church more than 200 persons listed eight pages of actions they could take or needs that the felt. We believe that the best way to respond to these matters is through a series of small groups for which both leaders and participants take responsibility. The issues which were listed focus on:
Prejudice, Involvement, Prayer, Youth, Fellowship, Learning and Study, Sensitivity in Vocation, Learning to Love, Interfaith Activities, Awareness, Solve Problems, Engage in Service

Group One. Overcoming Prejudice. Two actions will assist in achieving this outlook – Gaining knowledge about the faith and lifestyle of those who are different; first hand exposure in person-to-person groups. Here are statements that were made:
- Don’t be judgmental
- Reject all prejudice, learn to show compassion, tolerance, adopt shared human values --- build communities of respect.
- My prejudice should not impede the progress I need to make in religious relationships. I need to be open. One example is Pentecost: many came together and heard the disciples speaking in their own language so they understood each other.
- I was reared in the South. Stereotyping is typical (but not only in the south.). Once you get to know a person you find the relation quite natural because we all want the same things
o Healthy happy families
o Religion which plays a big role in life
o Religion is important in the formation of Christian values
o Learn to be open to others who are different
- Be open to others; drop my prejudice (this person works at Emory and is exposed to all types of people; recalls hearing it said that we are more alike than different. We all share certain core values.
- More open to people of all faiths, more knowledge results in less prejudice and better relationships with all children of God.

If this is an issue you would like to work on, join with others who are seeking the same thing!

Group Two. Involvement Persons who wish to be involved can do so at many levels. First get to know a person who is different from you in culture, race, or religion. Volunteer to help at feeding places or with older people. If you for a group of people who wish to be involved, you can give each other support. Here are what some said who wish to be involved:
-Get myself involved in Interfaith to bring an awareness of others of different faiths like Muslim and Christian
-Increase the number of times we get with people in an interfaith setting to at least 6 times a year.
- Look for God showing himself in the workplace where people of different backgrounds are pressed together.
- I have been exposed to persons from different backgrounds and I wish to continue this exposure.
- Become intentional in my social life by socializing with people from different ethnic backgrounds.
- Courage to step outside my comfort zone.
- Participate in interfaith activities like Jan Swanson leads to experience how others practice their faith.
- Be a better neighbor. Need to be intentional relational with those around me.
- I would like to be part of a group with people of different faiths – honor the differences and find the similarities – would like for the communication to include Jewish people
- I also would like to be a part of an interfaith group where I could talk with people with different backgrounds and faiths.
- Be a better neighbor to my neighbors

You can get involved! You can make a difference!

Group Three. Groups That Pray Together Some have shown an interest in prayer as a means of drawing close to others. A group of us have found that meeting once a month and sitting together in silence for ½ hour and then sharing with each other is a powerful way of drawing close to each other. This group is simple to convene. Invite the group from different faiths, meet monthly, sit together for 30 minutes, and begin by each person telling the experiences in their lives that cause them to wish to be part of the group.
- I can seek out relations with others in different communities.
- We need to look past appearance and begin to learn others stories and who they really are.
- We need to make the extra effort to educate others about our faith journey and also learn to listen to others. We need most to develop trust and tolerance.
- - God is calling me to open my mind and heart to hear both what those who may be like me and especially those who are different from me. This will lead me to further thoughts.
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Group Four. Young Men’s and Women’s Group Quite a number of young adults joined in this exercise. They see new roles for themselves. Perhaps we need a group of young men and women to begin a regular meeting to talk about how they may be involved in building bridges, creating relationships, and adopting new modes of service to human needs.
- Kids are the future. Are exposed to a corrupt point of view and they will be formed by this experience if they are not offered an alternative. They could be called to work for a new vision of the world.
- I would like to know how other people see the world; I want to be aware of other perspectives from others; I wanted to be committed, no matter what the problem is to do the most charitable thing.
- Continue to work with International Students to bring them together and show them the spirit of hospitality.
- Seek to be an instrument of God’s will
- Live the Golden Rule
- Listen to what is said to me and respond honestly
- Build bridges between the faiths – learn what others believe without trying to convert them to my way
- Deal with students to be sure that they have a safe place to learn.

Group Five. Learning and Study References to understanding Islam and understanding other cultures were numerous. This understanding was joined to communication as a way of building relationships. This study can be directed by an informed leader or it can be done by various members of the group.

- Spend time and effort in learning about other religions.
- Acquaint myself with the teachings of my Indian Hindu friends – they worship the same God, face the same issues, same care for the family of God.
- A Lebanese from out of town met two brothers who were Jewish. They never judged each other; they had camaraderie as people of the world. They could seek friendships everywhere.
- We need to see the world as an international village:
o Each is devoted to and protective of each other’s religion
o We are a melting pot of Eastern European cultures
o A common thread the speech impediment not matter what language was the native tongue.
- I grew up in a background of hatred. One Sunday school teacher showed me
how to get through the terror of the world --- the faith, love, peace and the tears of the people we have met here has given us support and has helped to reduce our fear
- We need to make the extra effort to educate others about our faith journey and also learn to listen to others. We need most to develop trust and tolerance.
- I can read and study Islam in order to know who Muslims are.
- Be open to establishing relationships with those in the Muslim community.



Group Six. Practice of Love in the World One way, perhaps the greatest way, that we affect the lives of other people is by the way that we live. When we show understanding, tolerance, forgiveness, and kindness to others, it models what the world needs most. It is possible to practice love without the aid of others, but having a group of caring people to talk with increases understanding and deepens knowledge.
- I have been influence by moving to America. I have witnessed people being kind and helpful to each other and I can do this in the future for others.
- I have seen people in crisis show their best self. I believe that a crisis brings out the best in people. I can be part of that.
- As a nurse practitioner says I am privileged to be in a profession where I have a clear opportunity to create an atmosphere of caring, equality and recognition to persons of all walks of life every week.
- Two parts to my answer: emphasize the love of God and acting on that love. Using that love in everyday life to move forward but take a patient approach.
- I can take the message out into the world and share it with other groups and engage them in helping figure out ways to engage others.
- Important to realize how you respond when tested in faith. Need to recognize everybody is God’s child and they all go through their struggles. We need to go through our struggles with God’s love supporting us.
- I can seek out relations with others in different communities.
- To love one another, regardless of race, religion, country of origin, gender or status.
- We need to learn how to look past appearance and begin to learn others’
- stories and who they really are.
- Here are the things that I can do:
o Anticipate different faiths in my classroom.
o Learn from them how they see the world.
o Act in these ways without being judgmental.
- Reach out to Muslims
- As a youth sponsor in a church I was taught about being open and the importance of looking beyond outward appearances. All persons desire to be valued, respected and loved; this is what the teenagers taught me. They taught me more than I taught them.


Group Seven. Work Together for Changes. What one person cannot do, five can. When we take others into our confidence, when we learn from them, and when we join them working on worthy projects, we get closer together. Some persons learn by doing and others learn by talking, but doing is always for the good of others. Are you a Doer?
- I believe that Habitat for Humanity gives us a way to bring people from different backgrounds together. People who work together find that their differences disappear.
- Try to make an opportunity for people of different backgrounds to work together.
- Communication needs to be increased. We need to communicate events that can help people grow and we need to let them know about it.
- To join with others in our congregation as they journey outward.
- Do a mission trip to a Muslim Country
- I am from Sandy Springs – I plan to write to the council to see if the city has an interest in setting up this kind of gathering in Sandy Springs. Maybe it would be good to be outside a particular church setting. I will facilitate this with my wife.
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