Hosting difficult conversations

Family, gender, sexual identity, marriage and relationships are all sensitive topics to discuss in a youth work or wider setting. Everyone will have their own unique perspective and lived experience, including you as the facilitator of the conversation. Below are some tools to help you in navigating some of the issues - encouraging open dialogue and a safe space for all to engage.

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You may want to have a look at the resources produced as part of the Methodist Positive Working Together initiative, exploring conflict and conversation.

Produced by ROOTS for the Methodist Church, Challenging conversations: A worship resource to support Living with Contradictory Convictions might also prove useful in shaping a conversation where people have different theological perspectives and lived experience.

It's important, if talking about sexual orientation with a group, to make sure they are aware of when conversation might crossover from simply being about differing convictions and into using homophobic language. The Methodist Church Definition and Guidance on Homophobia is a useful document.

The NSPCC talking about sensitive issues with children is a useful place to start thinking about how to ensure a safe space. 

Our colleagues in the Yorkshire Plus team of the Methodist Learning Network produced a tool that uses the Methodist Quadrilateral to explore how we make decisions based on the Bible, tradition, our reason and our experience.
Download Seven approaches to using the Bible