Broadcasters of the Truth

Workshop # 4
Mark Helpsmeet

Friends World Media and SpeakingTruth.org launched this past year with a desire to give a voice to Friends spirituality and testimonies. This workshop will help Friends brainstorm and season ideas for media outreach, via radio and the Internet, and help with practical skills in producing media and finding our voices.

Percentage of time:
Worship/worship-sharing 20; Lecture 15; Discussion 30; Experiential 35

Open to all

The workshop will balance motivation/discernment of messages participants are led to share, with practical skills for producing audio media suitable for broadcast or podcast.  The following is my first-draft of the schedule for the week.

Day 1: What Canst Thou Say? (short day)
 
Purpose, ground rules, expectations, vision of Northern Spirit Radio and of Friends World Media.
 
Short intro of all group members with response invited - sharing of outreach ministry which participants have planned, done or would like to do.
A short exercise where a 3-volunteer “improv panel”  will be recorded, responding to questions from the moderator on a couple topics of Quaker belief & practice.  The recording will be produced as a podcast by the end of the week.

Day 2: Finding Our Voices, in Community
 
Opening worship with attention to leadings. (Query about leadings offered at the beginning)
Large group discussion of clearness committees, oversight committees and other forms of discernment and support for ministry.
 
Creation of small working/support/clearness groups (3-5 members per group) brief small-group meeting with attention to raising question, “What message(s) am I called to share with the world and how?
 
Listening to several recorded audio ministry segments from SpeakingTruth.org
Initial “how-to” session regarding production methods for audio programs, including some technical instruction on use of sound-editing software.
 
Day 3: Preaching What We Practice
 
Opening worship prefaced by “unprogramming Quaker worship” guidelines.
 
Large group brainstorming of possible aspects of Quaker spirituality and life which could speak to the world via audio & video media.
 
Large group discussion of audio media available to the world - spiritual and activist.
Examination of SpeakingTruth.org content, guest address by other Friends World Media participants.
Small group listening and discussion of leadings/callings with respect to outreach, message and media and, possibly, group peer support and suggestions toward selection and creation of specific message and media.

Day 4: Understanding & Embracing Ministry
 
Unprogrammed worship.
 
Large group discussion on the meaning/identity of ministry, Quaker insights, limitations, opportunities. How is Quaker ministry the same as or different than ministry elsewhere? Is it distinctive in any way and, if so, how?
 
Small group session, flowing into individual creation (or small group collaboration) of audio media.
 
Large group time testing of leading/sharing inspiration with the whole group selected volunteers – reflection on leadings through a “committee of the whole”.
 
Day 5: Walking the Walk, Talking the Talk

Worship sharing on truth-speaking, in our meetings and to the world.
Large group time for consideration of questions technical and conceptual.
 
Individual creation or small group collaboration in media creation.
 
Exhibit of selected initial efforts at audio production (if available) or sharing of other SpeakingTruth.org samples, if workshop production is not yet available.
 
Day 6: Under a Bushel No More
 
Individual creation or small group collaboration in media creation.
Worship sharing with attention to the gifts of ministry – sharing products of individuals/groups, received in a worship sharing format.
 
Networking to support continued ministry, connection to resources and post-gathering “buddy pods”.
 
Day 6 Afternoon: A Voice Crying In The Wilderness

A gathering-wide "media fair" - presentation of (some) media to the gathering, as designed by the participants in reserved interest group room or space.