 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Participating in a Genesis discussion group can be a wonderful way to discover--or rediscover--the timeless stories of Genesis. For many of us, these are old and familiar stories--family stories, stories about the lives of our ancestors. Others of us barely know them; some of us don't know them at all. No matter what your background, we encourage you to think about participating in a Genesis discussion group in your community. These practical suggestions will help you to begin a meaningful encounter.
HOW TO START/JOIN A GENESIS GROUP 1. Starting a Genesis group is easy: just ask some friends and/or colleagues to join you at your home to watch and talk about the GENESIS: A LIVING CONVERSATION TV series. If you don't want to organize your own group, join a group already formed. Check to see whether there is a Genesis group in your community by calling your local library, bookstore, place of worship, community center, or public television station; or you can check via the Web, by providing your email address below and automatically receiving in your email box a list of contacts and organizations in your state that are involved in Genesis Discussion Groups. Or you can go directly to the List of Organizations. AUTO-MAILING OF ORGANIZATIONS 3. The starting point of a Genesis group must be an openness to different points of view. Keep in mind that learning about other traditions (or hearing new ideas about your own tradition) can do more than expand your world view; it can also serve to deepen both your knowledge and your belief in your own faith. 4. A group can be made up of old friends or new; it can include people from many different religious backgrounds or people of the same faith; it can have a leader or it can rotate leadership; it can meet for one or three hours. Although many people feel that Genesis groups are most exciting and valuable when they include people from different backgrounds and religious traditions, others have found sharing the experience with members of their own faith just as rewarding. You don't need an expert to lead your group. All you need is a group of people committed to re-examining the stories of Genesis, learning more about their own and other faiths' interpretations of these stories, and exploring their contemporary relevance. 5. If you want to coordinate with the series, your group should plan to meet weekly for ten weeks. Some groups will want to watch the show together and then discuss it immediately; others might prefer to meet a few days after the broadcast. You also might consider meeting every other week or even once a month. BEFORE THE GROUP MEETS 1. Usually, one group member acts as the initial group leader. Once the group begins to meet regularly, it works well to rotate leadership. 2. When you act as group leader, it's your responsibility to take care of logistical details and to select key issues for group discussion. Choose a few questions from this guide and/or the program that you think will spark lively discussion. 3. If possible, have the ten-part GENESIS: A LIVING CONVERSATION TV series on videotape (or watch it on public television); the Doubleday book GENESIS: A LIVING CONVERSATION; and one or more translations of the Bible on hand for reference. And if your group plans to do any of the suggested activities, check to make sure you have any materials that might be needed (e.g., recent magazines and newspapers, etc.). 4. Each person who joins the group should read the section on "How to Be a Good Genesis Group Member." From the beginning, it's important for everyone to understand that the key to a successful and rewarding Genesis group is as simple as following the Golden Rule: just treat others as you yourself want to be treated. WHEN THE GROUP MEETS 1. Have the group sit in a circle or around a table. You might begin with brief introductions and then ask one person to read the selected story aloud. Your group might want to listen to several versions. Try, for example, the King James Version; the Revised Standard Version; and The Five Books of Moses, also known as the Schocken Bible, translated by Everett Fox. You will be amazed by the differences in language. 2. As you begin to talk, try to keep the group focused on the story itself before going off in other directions. 3. Avoid "expertism." No matter how knowledgeable you are, if you present yourself as "the expert," you will change the tone of the meeting and chill discussion. Remember that this Genesis experience is meant to be different from other Bible study experiences you may have had. The focus here is meant to be on what the members of your group--not the experts--think about Genesis. 4. Lead by example. Listen actively when others speak and urge all group members to do the same. When you speak, try to build on comments made by others. One longtime Genesis group participant recommends asking each speaker to begin by acknowledging the comments of the previous speaker. Whether you agree or disagree with the earlier comment is not the only consideration; what matters is that the prior speaker feel that s/he has been heard by the group. 5. Be sure not to monopolize the conversation--and don't let anyone else dominate, either. Be polite but firm. Don't let people cut others off or "talk over" people who are speaking. Make sure that everyone has a chance to speak. Some of those who've been in Genesis groups recommend choosing an object--a paperweight, a tennis ball--that can be passed from person to person to indicate who "has the floor." While a person is holding the object, s/he has a right to speak without being interrupted. When s/he is done, s/he recognizes the next person by passing along the object. Others say that they've found it helps to use a chess timer. Each speaker is given a set amount of speaking time for the session. 6. Discussion of and reflection about the Bible can sometimes lead to very personal comments or highly charged responses. While it is important to avoid having a session turn into "group therapy," it is just as important to honor people's feelings and personal testimony. Remind group members to respect confidentiality. 7. If questions arise that cannot be answered or disagreements develop, put them aside for further discussion at your next meeting. Ask someone in the group to assume responsibility for doing some research during the week. Alternatively (or additionally), if the Genesis Bulletin Board is in operation, post your questions on-line (at http://www.pbs.org or http://www.wnet.org) and one or more of the people involved in this project may reply to your submission. HOW TO BE A GOOD GENESIS GROUP MEMBER You don't have to be an expert to participate in a Genesis group. Remember that the whole point of this series is to encourage everyone--including those with little or no background or expertise in the Bible--to (re)examine the stories of Genesis. 1. Listen--really listen. If you can really hear what others are saying, the group's discussion will be far more interesting, and you will learn much more. 2. Be honest. People in the group want to hear what you really think, not what you think you should say. 3. Be open to new viewpoints and new ideas. Each of us comes to the Bible with a different perspective. Try to give all interpretations a hearing. 4. Reaching consensus on the meaning of the text is not the goal of a Genesis group. Learning, sharing, and interreligious understanding are. Even when you disagree, respect others--their views, their opinions, and, most important, their beliefs. How you say things may be as important as what you say. Try to say "I don't agree with you" instead of "You're wrong." 5. Don't rush to smooth over differences. Try to understand your differences and honor them. There should be no proselytizing--hidden or overt--in this setting. 6. Don't monopolize the conversation. Remember that you will learn more from hearing others talk than you will from hearing yourself talk. 7. Come prepared. Watch the programs; read the materials; reflect on your own experience. A good discussion depends on every group member bringing his or her best thinking to the discussion--as well as his or her feelings and beliefs. LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS This is a list of organizations that can help you form a GENESIS Discussion Group or find an already existing group in your area. Al-Hewar Center 124 Southeast Park Street Vienna, Virginia 22180 Contact: Sobi Ghandour T: 703-281-6277 F: 703-281-0528 Alliance of Baptists 1328 16th Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20036 Contact: John E. Roberts, President T: 202-745-7609 F: 202-745-0023 American Bible Society 1865 Broadway New York, New York 10023 Contact: The Reverend Fred Allen T: 212-408-1200 F: 212-408-1512 American Jewish Committee 165 East 56th Street New York, New York 10022 Contact: David Harris, President T: 212-751-4000 ext. 202 F: 212-838-2120 Coalition for Advancement for Jewish Education 261 West 35th Steet, #12A New York, New York 10001 Contact: Eliot Spack T: 212-268-4210 F: 212-650-4169 Council for Initiatives on Jewish Education 15 East 26th Street New York, New York 10010 Contact: Gail Dorph T: 212-532-2360 F: 212-532-2646 Council of Jewish Federations 730 Broadway New York, New York 10003 Contact: Don Kent, Director/ Dalia Pollack, Consultant on Jewish Identity T: 212-475-5000 ext. 535 F: 212-529-5842 Episcopal Church Center 815 2nd Avenue New York, New York 10017 Contact: Diane Porter, Director of Programs T: 212-922-5385 F: 212-490-6684 Friars of the Atonement 138 Waverly Place New York, New York 10014-3845 Contact: The Reverend James J. Gardiner, SA T: 212-255-6731 F: 212-675-6160 Girls, Inc. 30 East 33rd Street New York, New York 10016 Contact: Jennifer Young, Program Director T: 212-689-3700 F: 212-683-1253 Hadassah, WZOA 50 West 58th Street New York, New York 10019 Contact: Susan Marks, National Public Affairs Chairman T: 212-355-7900 F: 212-303-4525 Institute of Christian and Jewish Studies 1316 Park Avenue Baltimore, Maryland 21217 Contact: The Reverend Dr. Chris Layton T: 410-323-6854 F: 410-323-3554 Institute of Jewish Religion 1 West Fourth Street New York, New York 10012 Contact: Rabbi Norman Cohen/Ms. Jean Rosensaft, Director of Public Relations T: 212-674-5300 ext. 215 F: 212-388-1720 Jewish Chautauqua 838 Fifth Avenue, 4th Floor New York, New York 10021-7064 Contact: Doug Bardan, Executive Director T: 212-570-0707 F: 212-570-0960 Jewish Outreach Institute 33 West 42nd Street New York, New York 10036 Contact: Egon Meyer, Director T: 212-642-2688 F: 212-642-1988 Laymen's National Bible Association 1865 Broadway New York, New York 10023 Contact: The Reverend Robert Saul T: 212-408-1228 F: 212-408-1448 Louis Finkelstein Institute for Religious and Social Studies 380 Broadway New York, New York 10027 Contact: Rabbi Burton Visotzky/ Adina Kalish T: 212-678-8020 F: 212-678-8947 National Association of Campus Activities 13 Harbison Way Columbia, South Carolina 29212-3401 Contact: Nancy Walbron, Director of the Educational Foundation T: 803-732-NACA F: 803-749-1047 National Association of Diocesan Ecumenical Officers 462 North Taylor St. Louis, Missouri 63108 Contact: The Reverend Vincent Heier T: 314-531-9700 F: 314-531-2269 The National Conference 71 Fifth Avenue, Suite #1100 New York, New York 10011 Contact: Wayne Winborne T: 212-206-0006 ext. 234 F: 212-645-7546 National Congress for Black Churches 1225 I Street, NW, Suite #750 Washington, D.C. 20036 Contact: The Reverend Michael Lemmons, Executive Director T: 202-371-1091 F: 202-371-0908 National Council of Churches in the USA 475 Riverside Drive, Suite #850 New York, New York 10115 Contact: Betty Thompson, Associate General Secretary T: 212-870-2511 F: 212-870-2030 National Council on Islamic Affairs 230 East 44th Street, Suite 3F New York, New York 10017 Contact: Dr. Mohammed T. Mehdi, Secretary-General T: 212-972-0460 F: 212-682-1405 National Council of La Raza 1111 19th Street NW, Ste. #2000 Washington, D.C. 20036 Contact: Raul Yzaguirre, President T: 202-785-1670 National Federation of Temple Brotherhoods 838 Fifth Avenue, Suite #1502 New York, New York 10021-7064 Contact: Doug Bardan, Executive Director F: 212-570-0707 T: 212-570-0960 National Jewish Center for Learning 99 Park Avenue, Suite C-300 New York, New York 10016-1599 Contact: Irwin Kula T: 212-867-8888 F: 212-867-8853 Neighborhood Bible Studies 34 Main Street Dobbs Ferry, New York 10522 Contact: Shirley Jacobs, Executive Director T: 914-693-3273 F: 914-693-4345 Outreach Judaism P.O. Box 789 Monsey, New York 10952 Contact: Ilene Dorfman, National Program Director T: 914-356-1915 Presbyterian Church, USA 100 Witherspoon Street Louisville, Kentucky 40202 Contact: Gary Luhr, Associate Director of Communications T: 502-569-5000/5515 F: 502-569-5018 Rabbinical Assembly 3080 Broadway New York, New York 10027 Contact: Rabbi Joel Meyers T: 212-678-8060 F: 212-749-9166 Religious Public Relations Council, Inc. 475 Riverside Drive, Suite #1948A New York, New York 10115-0050 Contact: Shirley Whipple Struchen, Vice President T: 212-870-3802 F: 212-870-2171 Shepherd's Centers of America 6700 Troost Avenue, Suite 616 Kansas City, Missouri 64131 Contact: Elbert C. Cole, Th.D. T: 816-523-1080 F: 816-523-5790 Study Circles Resource Center Route 169, P.O. Box 203 Pomfret, Connecticut 06258 Contact: Martha McCoy, Executive Director T: 203-928-2616 F: 203-928-3713 Union of American Hebrew Congregations 838 Fifth Avenue New York, New York 10021-7064 Contact: Rabbi Eric Yoffe, President T: 212-650-4000 F: 212-650-4169 United Methodist Women 475 Riverside Drive, Suite #1504 New York, New York 10115 Contact: Ann Craig, Executive for Spiritual and Theological Development T: 212-870-3725 F: 212-870-3948 Women of Reform Judaism 838 Fifth Avenue New York, New York 10021-7064 Contact: Ellen Rosenberg, Executive Director T: 212-650-4050 F: 212-650-4059 YWCA, USA 726 Broadway New York, New York 10003 Contact: Dr. Prema Matthai-Davis, Executive Director T: 212-614-2700 F: 212-677-9716 |
