| dc.description.abstract | This project proposes that church congregations can be empowered to offer care and compassion more effectively by learning basic listening skills. Because listening is tied so directly to caring for others, church members must be taught to listen more effectively if the church is truly to become a community of love and grace. By learning to listen more intentionally, members can become more effective leaders, teachers, and lay ministers. In an effort to teach listening skills to as many persons as possible, a brief, one-session training was developed. The target group was teachers of high school students (grades nine through twelve). The training also included information about the students they teach. The teachers attended the training session and then met again after one month to evaluate the effectiveness of the training. The high school students completed pre and post evaluations of the listening skills of their teachers. The teachers completed pre and post evaluations of their own listening skills. The training was also given to a group of deacons in the church, who also completed the pre and post evaluations. The research discloses that a brief training is valuable in raising awareness for the need to listen more intentionally. Those participating in the training became aware of their behaviors which impede intentional listening. If congregations are to listen more effectively, a brief training can be an excellent beginning, but it must be combined with other emphases on listening. The research also underscores for the members the need for listening, when they are not listening, what it means to listen, and how to refrain from giving advice when listening. Even if members do not become experts at using listening skills, they can still convey love, acceptance, and respect as they try to begin caring for others by listening. | |
