Alternate Activity 3: Faith Statement Role Plays
Part of A Place of Wholeness
Activity time: 45 minutes
Materials for Activity
- Newsprint, markers and tape
Preparation for Activity
- Clear space in the room so that participants can form two concentric circles.
Description of Activity
Participants practice articulating the Unitarian Universalist identity expressed in their faith statements.
Ask participants to think about questions people have asked them about faith that they have or have not been able to answer from a Unitarian Universalist perspective. Record these questions on newsprint.
When they have finished brainstorming, tell the group that each person has three votes, which they can indicate by drawing checkmarks next to the questions they want to use and try to answer. They can put their votes next to different questions, or all next to the same one. After everyone has voted three times, mark the top five questions and use these for the role-play activity.
Divide into two groups, with one group forming a circle facing outward and the other group forming a circle facing the inner circle. Each person should have a partner, so if there is an uneven number of participants, a leader can participate.
Explain that every person will have a chance to answer every question. Encourage them to speak from their own experience as Unitarian Universalists and from what they have learned, using their faith statements as much or as little as they would like.
The inner circle will begin by answering the first question, and then they will alternate, so the outer circle will answer first for the second question. After the question is posed, they will have one minute to offer their response, and then switch. Let them know when it's time to switch by posing the question again. After the inner and outer circles have answered a question, ask the inner circle to rotate one person to the right. Follow the same process for the rest of the questions.
When the role-plays are finished, let participants go back to their seats. Lead a short discussion with these questions:
- How did it feel to answer these questions?
- Were some questions easier to answer than others? Why or why not?
- How will you use this experience in the future?