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TRAINING FOR TRAINERS - A WORKSHOP FOR YOUNG ADULT LEADERS OF THE NORTHEAST UNITARIAN UNITARIAN UNION The workshop was a resounding success, far exceeding the expectations and hopes of its organizers. On a scale of one to ten, it was at least a fifteen. The energy and enthusiasm of the participants was palpable. Some of the local leaders declared it the most important event in many years for the future of Unitarianism in the Khasi Hills. The thirty five carefully selected young adult leaders were unanimous in their praise and in urging that comparable workshops be conducted in the future. Several of the participants declared that, although having been born Unitarians, this was the first time that they had begun to have an inspiring vision of their own faith. A brainstorming session about the Union led to a long list of strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities. After beginning a discussion of the list in small groups, it was resolved to try to turn the weaknesses and threats into opportunities, and to continue the conversations at the forthcoming Youth Wing gathering at the Union’s annual gathering in April. In a moving "graduation" ceremony, all the participants pledged to carry forward the results of the workshop in their home congregations.
Background:
Preparation: These ministers worked together to select the thirty five participants. All are leaders within their own congregations. At least two were invited from a congregation, understanding that two would have significantly more motivation and effectiveness when they returned home. There were also a few auditors who could not be full participants because of work or family commitments. Ages ranged from 17 to 45. The workshop was held in the residential conference center of the University of North East India. It was important that the participants lived and ate together. While many had previously been acquainted, the setting provided an opportunity to encourage significant bonding. The faculty included several of the Union's ministers. Rev. H. H. Mhormen has studied at the Unitarian College in Manchester, U. K. he Revs. Pearl Greene Marbaniang and Derrick P. Pariat have been active in the ICUU and attended its recent conference at Monserrat in Spain. Bah Khlur Mukhim is a professor at the local college, and comes from a family that worked very closely with Margaret Barr in Kharang. The overseas members were Rev. Janamanchi and David Shaw from the U. K. and Rev. Richard A. Kellaway from the U. S. Shaw is a trained teacher of leadership development and is currently studying for the ministry. Kellaway has been active in international interfaith work for nearly fifty years and has had extensive experience in working with a variety of faith communities. After extensive preliminary planning by email and phone, the faculty gathered a day in advance of the workshop to become acquainted and to solidify the program plan. It was determined that the workshop would be most effective if the participants were divided into small Credo groups of about six persons. The Khasi faculty members selected the leaders and assigned the participants in hopes that this would make them varied, balanced, and effective. It was assumed that the program would have to be bilingual. However, it quickly became clear that the participants had sufficient English for most of the presentations to be in that language with occasional digressions into Khasi.
The Workshop:
Lectures: Marbaniang and Mohrmen discussed the history and character of Khasi Unitarianism, and Janamanchi, Kellaway, and Shaw presented brief histories of British and American Unitarian and Universalism. All of the faculty members except Mukhim shared their personal understandings of Jesus with reference to historical and contemporary scholarship. Shaw led the sessions on leadership development, emphasizing the difference in styles and the importance of inclusion and dialogue. Kellaway led those on credo development. The plan was to have each participant develop a personal credo before the end of the workshop. He created a number of questions to guide discussion in the three small group conversations. Pariat challenged them to work towards a positive statement of Khasi Unitarian faith. The result was the brainstorming list of strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities. (The list is attached.)
Credo Groups: Beyond discussing the credo questions, they also met to consider their personal understanding of Jesus. The brainstorming list about the future of the movement was divided into six categories, and each group was given one to discuss.
Worship: Janamanchi and Makhim directed an experience of guided meditation.
Surprises: Several participants suggested a talent show. There was an immediate and eager response. The presentations, at the end of a busy day, were organized by the credo groups, meeting informally between sessions. It was creative and exuberant. Bah Khlur Mukhim offered 6:30 A. M. Yoga sessions; a large percentage of the participants attended.
Evaluations:
Perhaps the most challenging task for most of the participants was to develop a personal credo statement. The concept was new and confusing. In fact, most of them did not do it. However, during the time on the final morning when each participant was asked to share a statement, there were some extraordinary personal testimonies. The most compelling ones came from those who stated that they had been born into Unitarian families, but had never actually understood the faith, or even ignored it. The testimony centered on telling that they now understood it much better, accepted it, and were eager to share it with their own congregations and the larger community. Faculty Evaluation and Follow-up We were all thrilled by the responsiveness and enthusiasm of the participants. The Khasi leaders felt a sense of a rebirth for the movement, and that the leaders of the future had been present with us in the workshop. It was agreed that the momentum created there should be nurtured and developed into an action plan. A concern was expressed for the Khasi leaders who did not participate in the workshop. How can they be included to share in some of the ideas and be encouraged to share in the enthusiasm? The participants will be gathered again at the annual conference of the Youth Wing in April. Kellaway and the Khasi ministers will work on refining the SWOT analysis to try to change some of the identified weaknesses and threats into opportunities. The credo groups will be gathered again at the conference and new groups will be created from the additional participants. They will all do a check in on individual situations and to tell what they had done as a result of their workshop participation before discussing the challenges emerging out of the SWOT analysis. Janamanchi suggested creating an email discussion group to keep the conversation going. He also suggested that some of the themes identified in the SWOT analysis could be developed into pamphlets for outreach. Mukhim commented that it was very valuable to hear participants tell of their connections with earlier generations of leaders. He noted that the SWOT analysis was a very good indicator of the present state of the movement. As a non-minister, he expressed his awareness that there were now major expectations of the Minister's Association, and commended them on their willingness to undertake vital leadership responsibilities. Replication? ICUU leaders have expressed the hope that this workshop might be a pilot that could be replicated with other member groups. Some of the factors that made this one so successful cannot be easily replicated in other venues. The Northeast India Unitarian Union is an established institution with committed and experienced leaders. The workshop participants were all leaders within established (if sometimes small) congregations. They all have a personal history within their movement. The factors that made this workshop so successful include:
—Rev. Richard A. Kellaway |