Provide opportunities for participants to Willing and able to thoroughly prepare for discuss and reflect on both suicide and each workshop death with dignity Effective at speaking, teaching, and Provide practical information about facilitating group process decisions and advance directives Flexible and willing to modify workshop Help participants prepare for their own plans to support the full inclusion of all deaths and those of their loved ones. participants Able to listen deeply and to encourage Leaders participation of all individuals A team of two adults should facilitate these Able to demonstrate respect for individuals, workshops. It is recommended that one leader be a regardless of age, race, social class, gender religious professional or a leader with a counseling identity, ability, and sexual orientation background, because some of the activities and Able to honor the life experiences each discussion may evoke difficult memories or participant will bring to the program. unresolved experiences for some participants. In addition, leaders should understand their Leaders must also seek to form and nurture personal experiences with death, dying, and grief. It community within the group as participants move is helpful if leaders share their own journeys as a through emotionally and spiritually challenging way to introduce themselves to participants. Two territory. Seek leaders who are: sample reflections, written by the program’s Knowledgeable about Unitarian authors, can be found at the end of this Universalism Introduction: Leader Resource 1, Kate Walker’s Committed to the Unitarian Universalist Reflection on Death, and Leader Resource 2, Lee Principles, to the congregation, and to the Ann Reflection on Death. Wester’s faith development components of this Participants program
Provide opportunities for participants to discuss and reflect on both suicide and death with dignity Provide practical information about decisions and advance directives Help participants prepare for their own deaths and those of their loved ones. Leaders A team of two adults should facilitate these workshops. It is recommended that one leader be a religious professional or a leader with a counseling background, because some of the activities and discussion may evoke difficult memories or unresolved experiences for some participants. Leaders must also seek to form and nurture community within the group as participants move through emotionally and spiritually challenging territory. Seek leaders who are: Knowledgeable about Unitarian Universalism Committed to the Unitarian Universalist Principles, to the congregation, and to the faith development components of this program Willing and able to thoroughly prepare for each workshop Effective at speaking, teaching, and facilitating group process Flexible and willing to modify workshop plans to support the full inclusion of all participants Able to listen deeply and to encourage participation of all individuals Able to demonstrate respect for individuals, regardless of age, race, social class, gender identity, ability, and sexual orientation Able to honor the life experiences each participant will bring to the program. In addition, leaders should understand their personal experiences with death, dying, and grief. It is helpful if leaders share their own journeys as a way to introduce themselves to participants. Two sample reflections, written by the program’s authors, can be found at the end of this Introduction: Leader Resource 1, Kate Walker’s Reflection on Death, and Leader Resource 2, Lee Ann Wester’s Reflection on Death. Participants
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