I have heard from a couple of CPs that they have moved the Content Discussion portion to the last item of the meeting. I believe this is to allow more time, if needed, for the Round Table Issue processing and Featured Member. I have been leading with the content but also feel the time constraints when some major issues are brought to the table.
Any thoughts, insights, etc.?
I would agree that doing CONENT at the end allows for that portion of the meeting to be shrunk or expanded based upon what else has occurred in the meeting.
I've usually done it first. In my mind to get people talking and engaged...
I'm interested to hear others thoughts too.
I do it after quarterly team breakouts, essentially second. I have used those breakouts to further tease out round table issues/opportunities. I encourage them to have one come out of each breakout group. Then I look at those (per Jim Lange) and gauge where it may lead us and budget accordingly. Usually the content gets everyone talking early as well.
A few times I have left it until the end almost by accident, not even realizing I was doing that, and then dropping it as we did run out of time. What happens is this. I begin with prayer requests and prayer to accomplish 3 things -- getting caught up with each other, teasing out roundtable issues, and making sure we don't ever skip prayer. When this takes up a lot of time, I do a mental check on how much time we have left and then think about what is most important and move to that -- Featured Member when we have one or possibly a hot RT issue coming out of the prayer request sharing. From then on, I'm going with what seems to be most important. At some point I realize I haven't even mentioned the Content piece, and most of the time no one brings it up but me.
I much prefer to miss the Content piece than miss getting in at least 2 RT issues. I'm toying with the idea of regularly leaving it until the end, but I think where I will land is approaching it differently from week to week. When I have a Featured Member, I think I will leave Content until the end, and when I don't, I'll probably do it right after our prayer time.
@johnpurcelltaw Great comments John thanks for sharing!
A couple thoughts back:
- I've learned that for prayer requests it can help to get those on written cards vs. out loud. I say that because at times in the classing "small group" dynamic - people can take 15 minutes to describe a prayer request. I've also learned to help the member separate out the fact that we will pray for them - from what may be a really good Round Table Issue cards. I say that because a lot of members have a card but they say, "Just pray for me" when what they need also is Godly counsel.
- On the # of RT Issue Cards - When I get them filled out at the beginning of the meeting it always helps me plan the flow of the meeting, on the fly, by seeing how many cards there are submitted and how weighty the cards are... Knowing that early in the meeting allows me hopefully to make the best use of the time in the room (Issue Cards, FMP, Content, etc.).
LOVE THE DISCUSSION!
Thanks for the various inputs. This helps a lot. I LOVE WE HAVE THE FLEXIBLITY TO ADJUST TO THE NEEDS OF THE CHAPTER! That is the overarching theme in this discussion thread.