AARR FACILITATION METHOD
Overcoming Issues, Complaints, Tangents in Faith Sharing
When a person strays from the process or says something inappropriate during the Small Church Community meeting, the facilitator can apply the AARR Method to get the group back on track. This simple method presents a win/win situation for all: the individual, the group, and the facilitator. It involves active listening, respecting the person who raised the question or issue, and refocusing. This simple method has four components:
1. Acknowledge what is said
2. Affirm the person
3. Redirect the conversation
4. Refocus the question
ACKNOWLEDGE
Demonstrate that you’ve heard the person
“You certainly feel strongly about this.”
“I can see you’ve done a lot of thinking on this subject.”
“It must have taken some courage to share that with us.”
“You sound very frustrated.”
AFFIRM
Validate the person for who he or she is
“You really seem interested in this.”
“I can see why you feel that way.”
“That’s something we’ve all thought about.”
“Our hearts go out to you and we will pray for you.”
REDIRECT
Show how the issue/complaint cannot and should not be addressed in the faith-sharing session
“At this session we are not going to be able to change the Church’s/media’s/society’s position.”
“We’re not trained counselors/theologians/teachers, etc.”
“After the faith sharing, possibly as a mission activity, perhaps we can write letters to the editor.”
REFOCUS
Get the group back to faith sharing
“Even though we can’t resolve (the issue/complaint), we can grow in our faith by looking at the material before us.”
“I’m glad you mentioned that...it brings us back to the subject we began with...”
“What we can do is get back to listening to how Christ is working in our lives.”
(from “Sowing Seeds” by RENEW International)
Overcoming Issues, Complaints, Tangents in Faith Sharing
When a person strays from the process or says something inappropriate during the Small Church Community meeting, the facilitator can apply the AARR Method to get the group back on track. This simple method presents a win/win situation for all: the individual, the group, and the facilitator. It involves active listening, respecting the person who raised the question or issue, and refocusing. This simple method has four components:
1. Acknowledge what is said
2. Affirm the person
3. Redirect the conversation
4. Refocus the question
ACKNOWLEDGE
Demonstrate that you’ve heard the person
“You certainly feel strongly about this.”
“I can see you’ve done a lot of thinking on this subject.”
“It must have taken some courage to share that with us.”
“You sound very frustrated.”
AFFIRM
Validate the person for who he or she is
“You really seem interested in this.”
“I can see why you feel that way.”
“That’s something we’ve all thought about.”
“Our hearts go out to you and we will pray for you.”
REDIRECT
Show how the issue/complaint cannot and should not be addressed in the faith-sharing session
“At this session we are not going to be able to change the Church’s/media’s/society’s position.”
“We’re not trained counselors/theologians/teachers, etc.”
“After the faith sharing, possibly as a mission activity, perhaps we can write letters to the editor.”
REFOCUS
Get the group back to faith sharing
“Even though we can’t resolve (the issue/complaint), we can grow in our faith by looking at the material before us.”
“I’m glad you mentioned that...it brings us back to the subject we began with...”
“What we can do is get back to listening to how Christ is working in our lives.”
(from “Sowing Seeds” by RENEW International)