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Steps in Planning and Holding an Open House
1. Think carefully about the people in
your congregation. Are people asking questions about Islam or Muslims? Is there a
need or desire to learn more? Are there strong anti-Muslim feelings, or people who have
had negative experiences with Muslims? Is offering hospitality to area Muslims a
meaningful and potentially exciting undertaking for you? Also consider doing
this Open House project as a cooperative event with neighboring churches, or as an
activity of a local Christian council. Take a look at the experience of one congregation
(link) to help you think about holding an Open House. 2. Gather a small leadership team to help with planning and conducting the event. This group will be responsible for developing specific plans for the event and any preparatory or post-Open House sessions, contacting the Muslim community to invite them to take part and talk with them about the plan, and involving members of your hosting congregation(s) or council. 3.
Make a prior visit to the mosque/center with which you want to relate
(unless a well-established relationship already exists). This is essential to develop
trust and to communicate clearly your invitation. Discuss the proposed event with the
leaders of the mosque/center as well as any individuals who may be your natural contacts
because they are already known to you. Agree on a topic for your conversation if it is to
be specific in focus, or on a format for the evening. Talk through the details of
time, place, and length of the visit. Remember that you are making a request of others to
which they will respond as they feel moved and able. If your intention at present
is to issue a one-time invitation, make clear to the Muslim leaders that you have no plans
beyond the Open House and that you will be ready, with them, to make any further decisions
about ongoing contacts. 4. Collect any information about beliefs, practices, or the history of the mosque/center that they would like to supply to the members of your group in advance of the Open House. Talk with Muslim leaders about interfaith etiquette. Remember that you and they may each take certain behavior for granted that the other does not understand (e.g., appropriate dress, when to talk and when to be quiet, separation of men and women, dietary restrictions), so specifically ask about them. You may want to review the section regarding visits with Muslims in the book, How To Be A Perfect Stranger (see Resources). 5. Choose a date and place for the Open House,
and publicize it. Take care of space and seating needs, and arrange for
appropriate refreshments, keeping in mind the Muslim dietary laws about which you learned
when you met with the Muslim leaders. Distribute to Christians any information provided by
the Muslims who are coming to the event, including information about modest dress. Holding Your Open House 1. Begin with orientation. Ask members of the congregation to gather at least 10 minutes before the guests will arrive, so that you can greet them together. When guests arrive, take time for introductions and a review of the plan for your time together. Make a statement of welcome, and briefly describe the purpose for coming together. 2. Enjoy dialogue with respect. You may want to begin the structured dialogue with a prayer for understanding. Next, listen respectfully to any brief presentation(s) and to statements that participants make, then ask questions in ways that invite discussion rather than confrontation (e.g., don’t let your guests feel you are challenging their right to live as Muslims, but seek to learn as much as possible about their practices). 3. Aim for two-way, personal discussion. In your planning, choose a focus, or perhaps some questions, that will allow maximum interaction. Consider an approach that encourages the sharing of personal experiences and insights, rather than generalized statements about our faiths or expert opinions. In addition to questions for clarifying specific practices or ideas, consider questions that don’t elicit one “right answer.” The conversation might be about living as Muslims and Christians in your community: How do participants feel their religious practices and beliefs affect how they live in the world? What are the most pressing issues or concerns? Alternatively, you might want to focus on faithfulness: What does it mean to the Muslim and Christian participants to live in faithfulness to their tradition? What about life in this community makes it difficult to be faithful? What is especially conducive to faithful living? 4. End the discussion with thanks. Begin or end the gathering with appropriate refreshments and a time of informal fellowship. 5. After your Open House, communicate with the mosque/center to
thank them again for coming to be with you. Take time also to evaluate the experience and
how it has affected the congregation(s) involved. Consider what next steps you might want
to take. |
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