Using the Social Statement in Your Congregation
Session 5: Section 5
and Implementing Resolutions

Aims for this Session
Through this session’s study, participants will:

1. Look more closely at their own congregation’s role as peacemaker, by reviewing past and current activities;
2. Generate ideas for strengthening the congregation’s peace witness.

Resources and Advanced Preparation

• Newsprint (or blackboard)
• Post Matthew 5:9 on newsprint
• List and post the aims for Session 5 on newsprint
• Make copies of Handout #5-Evaluation

Opening Devotions
Ask one of the participants to read Ephesians 6:10-17. Pray together the "Prayer of St. Francis" on page 48 of LBW.

Introducing the Aims for this Session
Call the group’s attention to the goals for Session 5 that you have listed on the newsprint.

Sharing
Invite someone to read aloud Matthew 5:9 that you have put on newsprint. Ask participants to group themselves into threes and to share the example of peacemaking that they brought OR a time in their life when they were a peacemaker. If your group is small, you may want to do this in the whole group or in pairs.

Peace and Our Congregation
1. Ask participants to share their vision of what a "peacemaking congregation" might look like. How would it function? What would its worship look like? What kinds of activities would it have? How would it relate to the community and the world? Record people’s ideas on newsprint or the blackboard.

2. Ask participants to share what they teamed about what groups in the congregation have done or are doing related to building peace. Record on newsprint or a blackboard. It is possible in some congregations that people will come back with "nothing." Their assessment may be true or may result from lack of awareness about what has happened. If a list is very short, do not focus so much on blame as on the opportunity to do more. If the list is long, take the opportunity to rejoice.

3. Ask participants to turn to the Implementing Resolutions at the end of the statement. Invite all to read aloud resolutions that have particular relevance to congregations (1-4 and 6-8).

4. Brainstorm: Ask participants to take a few moments to reflect on the Implementing Resolutions and then to share ideas about what the congregation might do to respond more effectively to God’s calling to be peacemakers. Encourage people to think in terms of different age groups and different kinds of activities--from youth to seniors; from worship to advocacy. Include in your consideration what the congregation and its members can do to support what the ELCA is doing to build peace through LOGA, the Lutheran Office of World Community, LIRS, the ELCA World Hunger Appeal, and other groups. Record ideas on newsprint.

5. Ask for volunteers to bring these ideas to the appropriate groups and committees in the congregation for consideration. You may wish to schedule a follow-up meeting in several months.

Evaluation
Ask participants to reflect a few moments and share one sentence about what they valued about the study process. Distribute the Evaluation (Handout #5) and encourage people to complete them and return them to you.

Closing Prayer
Invite participants to offer their own petitions.

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