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Email Group Reunions
A Fourth Day article.
I participate in a weekly group reunion with six other extraordinary folks. We're from five different parishes from the midlands to the upstate. We are five women and two men and we've been crossing over one hundred miles to meet every week since March 2000. That's when Janet Jendron, Lay Rector for #86 (Feb. 2000) asked at our Day of Deeper Understanding who might be interested in an email group reunion.
How do we structure the "system"?
We have a coordinator/leader (Janet) who sends each of us the "format" at the beginning of every week. It's exactly the same as the card used for face to face group reunion. Once received, we reply to everyone with our answers to the questions on the card, sharing of moments close to Christ, prayer concerns and requests, apostolic successes and disappointments, and study. Logistically, the emails are broadcast to all the members' email addresses on the same "To" line, entitled "GR 1/7 (or whatever date is the first of each week)", making a "Reply to all" very easy.
Challenges and Benefits
The manner in which we reply is both the best thing about e-grouping and the most challenging. Each reply is done in the time frame of the respondent — no interruptions, as eloquently or as free form as one chooses and sent at various times throughout the week no matter when or where everyone else is. Some of the challenges are that some people don't respond; there's no face to face reaction or encouragement; styles of writing vary widely as does the content and focus. There are wonderful things that happen in an email group that you wouldn't experience in a face to face reunion. The following comments are from members:
- Parks Majors says " ... the flexibility of being able to group at any time allows even the busiest of us to join in anytime, anywhere."
- Karen Humbert says " ... the best part is checking email for new responses from everyone else because they are always personal gifts. There seems to me to be a peace about the solitude I find in email grouping all the while knowing that I am still connected in community even in silence."
- Holly Barber points out another unique benefit of using email is that "it is easier to say what my feelings are and not feel intimidated by what someone thinks so if someone thinks 'she's really off her rocker' they are saying it to the computer and not me!"
- Janet Jendron's comments follow: "I like the fact that when I have a prayer need, I can zip it out to this small group and I KNOW that I have committed, immediate prayer support. ... Our feedback to each other is prayerful and considered, and a little less 'off the cuff' than an in-person GR would be. We write with resources and support, and we really have time to pray about the answer, search for a few references or resources, and respond in depth."
- Mike McNabb is our group's published author and he points out that "it is important that the spirituality, the closeness of a common experience (#86), the purposes of the group reunion be maintained in order to 'refuel our trip to the mountain top.' There are times when some people may fall back into the feeling of aloneness due to the 'coldness of email.' I think we should swap phone numbers and sometimes just call another member to talk about what is going on."
- Karen Lumpkin offers a suggestion for e-groups to respond to one another, even briefly, acknowledging, "yes, I've received your note, and you continue (to be) in my prayers even though I cannot respond the way I want to right now." This type of response offers an assurance we're there for one another.
Suggestions for starting an e-group reunion
First of all, don't give up. If the format we use doesn't work for your group, try something different. Secondly, respect confidentiality and use of work email vs. home email. Thirdly, find folks who are committed to being in the group. Prayerfully consider the composition
of your group. Ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit and lastly, try to see one another face to face periodically if you're not all within the same geographic region. Actually hugging that person who prays for you and loves you is always nice.
by Frances Simon, Christ Church Greenville
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