FORWARD: Guidelines for Our Book Club (with a Linkup Option)

We are one week away from the official, January 15th start of our new book club. Today, I thought I’d share some guidelines, to help give us focus in the weeks ahead. If you’ve got questions, this is the place to ask them. As we work through the book together, remember you can always come back here for direction.

The Book: Based on your votes, we’re reading The Yada Yada Prayer Group, Book One. Any version—hard copy, e-book, audio, etc.—works for this book club of ours. And just to be clear, there are two editions of this book, each with a different book cover. If you get either one of these, you’ve gotten the right book:

The Format: Consider this the hub for our book club. I’m the host, and we are each facilitators. I’ve got the front door open, cushions on the couch, and enough space for whosoever will. Each week, I’ll share some words about the section we’re working through and there will be two ways to engage the conversation. First, engage in the comment section. Feel free to use threaded responses by responding directly to someone else’s question or comment in the conversation. Second, I’ll include a link-up at the end of each post. For those of you have blogs, I really hope you’ll consider writing about the book club experience in your own space and then sharing it here with us. Sharing the experience with your readers is one way to move the conversation forward.

The Conversation: Grace is the one and only rule. We don’t have to agree with one another, but we can show one another grace, even when we disagree. We are all in this together. There are no sides. There are no dumb questions. There are no wrong answers. Your journey is your own and you are free to graciously express your impressions, thoughts, and opinions. Remember, the goal is to move the conversation forward.

The Considerations: I doubt we’ll even need to refer to these considerations. I think we’ll be just fine with one another but I wanted to be sure to share these thoughts, just in case. If you feel yourself getting defensive, consider sitting with that feeling a bit. Ask what’s at the root of the way you’re feeling. Of course, you are free engage from a position of defensiveness, but let’s also give one another permission to gently push back, without ganging up on anyone. If you see a conversation unfolding, consider hanging back to see where it leads. One of the best teachers is often the interaction between two people you observe having a conversation about a tough subject. Let’s also believe the best of one another. Let’s believe no one is here to intentionally offend anyone else, even though someone might get offended. Let’s agree to stay at the table long enough to get to the other side of it, if tough questions arise or if opinions surface that ruffle your feathers. It all comes back to grace, which is a beautiful thing.

Now, just one last thing. If you’d like to test the whole linky idea, I’d love to have your participation. Consider writing a post, sometime before we officially launch week. Use the post to introduce the book club to your readers, invite them to join us, or simply explain what it is and why you’ve decided to join. Then, link your post here and I’ll be sure to share it and stop by your place for a visit.

Okay. I think that’s it! I’m looking forward to meeting you here each week, and I really can’t wait to read your thoughts about this first book we’ll experience together. Here’s your assignment for next week:

1. Make sure you have a copy of the book.
2. Write about the book club on your blog and link it up here.
3. Leave any questions about the book club in the comment section, below.
4. Invite a friend to join us!

I’ll see you back here, next week.