I found these great principles for safe small groups in Discipleship Magazine. Mary Glenn was the author of this article and I thought is was worth passing on to small group leaders.
Is your small group a safe place?
Here are 9 ways we can create a safe place environment in small group life:
1. Provide a supportive nonjudgmental space. We must learn o provide a safe place for people to discuss real issues without fear of rejection.
2. Be genuine The ability to be real is so important. When we are attentive, respectful, and above all human, people feel comfortable to share real struggles.
3. Show empathy When we make a sincere effort to understand and identify with another’s pain, we can help in the healing process.
4. Err on the side of grace It doesn’t do any good to heap condemnation on someone who’s trying to work through their own issues.
5. Communicate acceptance and show love People need to be loved just because.
6. Be a friend Friends are a much needed resource.
7. Share from your life You may not be able to relate exactly, but you have experienced your own personal struggles. You can help put the struggles into perspective and give them hope.
8. Care enough to confront Love enough to give honest feedback, but speak the truth in love.
9. Instill hope and lead them to resources that will help It has been said you can live 40 days without food, 4 days, without water, 4 minutes without air, but you can’t live seconds without hope. Be an encourager.
ACTION: Figure out a time to review these with your group. How can your group implement these? Are there any that you could work on? Personally? As a group?
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