July 28, 2009

Godly Play Foundation

Trainer Retreat

Jerome: “Never Underestimate a Godly Play

Trainer.”

Amazing Trainers

Depth of wisdom vast array of experience

articulate
Talent experience with children, adults,
churches courage
Imagination love of children, God, each other
wit
Joy openness faith
Intelligence spirit of play
honesty
Integrity determination
Shared language history-..”from a shoebox to the whole
world”
Commitment to the children of the world
Shared common experiences with GP, children, adults (power of the
stories)
Jerome-writings, visionary

• Listening without making judgments, lean in softly with a willingness to

change.
• Speak only to improve on silence
• Space
• Fully attentive/present
• Abundance-we will get what we need
• Not about us—stories—children
• Different needs—different truths
• Respect
• Using “I” statements
• Check intentions
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 • Tragic gap
• Group wisdom—honoring individual gifts

➢ Community
➢ Conversation
➢ Communication

What is expected of a trainer? RTC?

1. Role clarity 2. Honor and compensation

Replacement pieces/singles
-Story set—all you need—Vol 2-4 especially
-You can get individual pieces—maybe different than 6 years ago, that you
cannot get—ie.roof of ark.
-Pedagogy of material has not changed.
-In process-website development is complicated.
-Need prints.
-Volume on how to make your own materials in process.
-CD rom of patterns
-CSRS-helping them know what folks need to have and where to go.
-trainers
-consultants (different roles/relationships)
-Material bundles—with training
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WEBSITE:
1. One place
2. Fix map
3. Add contact person for trainings
4. Still lots of placeholders
5. Tracking those who have been trained-where are they now—data base
6. Building and continuation of relationships
7. Linda C.’s process of keeping in touch with those who have been
trained.
8. GodlyPlay.org takes you to information about the foundation.
9. GodlyPlay.com is where you can order from the catalog.

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FEEDBACK TO:
1. Foundation@godlyplay.org training foundation
2. lpoland@cpg.org Laura—materials box

MATERIALS:
• Some are getting crappy—these are being corrected.
• Losing the theological pedagogy.
• Has to be beautiful.
• Need for blue Advent cards.
• Prints
• Paint your own kit.
• Administrative Support
• Decrease in church’s using GP –How do we get them back?
Promotional material?
• Affordable materials.
• Options for making materials for those w/o money.
• “Recycle Shop”—the closet materials.
• Environment—the “Perfect GP Room” resource of photos to show there
are many ways to do GP—show the richness and creativity tool for
trainers.
• Fundamentals—sacred space and honesty of materials.
• Shelving design—where to put stories? Correct dimensions.
• Website photos.
• Creativity and simplify.

• Database—who is doing GP? Excel Format?

• Spirit of welcome for people of all faiths—not just Episcopalians.

○ What is the common ground?
○ Denominational nuances to rework stories that fit.

• Training Policies:
○ training trainers.
○ mentoring trainers.
○ self-correcting process—evaluation and reflect.
○ trainer gatherings.

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• Marketing so we can do training.
• Standardization with flexibility.
• What may have worked 2 years ago may not now
• Everyone’s area is different—ie. TX and CA.
• What are the core principles?
• Being able to “play” with others who have been playing—entire group
needs the benefit of everyone’s knowledge, struggles and experience.
• Coming to these in fear that if absent, will miss something and never
get to know about it.
• Recording and sharing—doing in person is so important.
• Regionally—quarterly/nationally—annually/Cost? Time? Affordability?
Abundance—how we make this happen? Virtually—frequently—grant
funding.
• Support needed—we have full lives, do we hire FT Trainers? Heath
care? Where to fit in Corporate?
• Trainer website—password protected. “The Notebook” build on this—a
receptacle. Handouts.
• Need group process training.
• New younger generation of storytellers and trainers and men.
• Ideas to be developed and dispersed—we “have” it—get it out.
• Process of dialogue—what do we need?
• Move than the circle wider—more than one or two making the
decisions.
• Regional leadership.
• Collecting the wisdom of the group. How do we do this orderly and
productively?
• Schedule next gathering now.
• Council of Elders.
• Willingness of Larger Organization that acts on the wisdom given.
• Flow of information---Foundation—Trainers—CPI—Field Teacher.
○ Process for sharing
○ Consistency across the country. (world?)
○ What can if be? What will it be? Stand in the gap.
• Having the literal materials (scripts) for training.
• Being a Professional, prepared trainer.
• Sharing of plenary materials—exchange and growth—cross pollination.
• Support teachers going forward.
• Information for CE/DRE who don’t “do” GP.
• Intros/Post—consistent fee structures. Flexibility ie: location.

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 • More Jesus stories.
• How are new stories/materials tested before being tested?
• Learn and embrace what is going on all over the world.
• Support after giving a training that may not go well.
○ Who sends info to the hosts/coordinators?
○ Training materials/story scripts—grey books.
○ Coordinator materials.
• Where are documents housed on-line?
• Who is the keeper and sender of documents?
• Training sites? Booking? Policy?
• Clarification—what records should be kept? Who do these go to? Who
are the regional coordinators?!
• Incentives to follow up on our own questions and desires—good
intentions but….
• Tools to go deeper theologically (not how-but why).
○ Deeper own knowledge so we can deepen underpinnings at
trainings.

PARKING LOT:
• What stories do you know that are “floating around?”
• What kind of worships do you do for churches who have had GP for
several years but who need to re-embrace GP?
• Concern: How we keep the ecumenical diversity that has been such a
HUGE strength through the years. (GP is being perceived by some as
just for Episcopalians.)
• More male brainers/teachers and people of color.
• How can I (Sharon) support YOU in your ministries?
• Sharing partnerships with APCE, CEF, ADCE, NAECED, LACE.
• Stories for Core Training—Are we now copying?
• How do we address “rogue” GP training??
• Am I the only one not-fluent with the new stories? (Cyndy)
• What have people done with v. 6/7?
• Let’s discuss a password protected trainer’s only website/forum to
share and discuss training issues.
Supporting trained teachers---How for Training Enrichment?

CORE CONTENT OF TRAINING:

1. Dawn
2. Carol H.
PLAY:

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 1. Lynn
2. Rosemary
3. Mary Gardner
TRAINING POLICIES:
1. Rosemary
2. Emily
TRAINING SITES:
1. Barbara Sears—New Orleans, LA
2. Lynne Jensen—Willimington, DE
3. Linda Clapp--CT
4. Sharolyn Browning—Austin, TX
5. Mary Gardner White--Georgia
6. Susan Mallison—St. Paul, MN
7. Di Pagel—Oakland, CA
8. Becki Stewart—Annadale, VA
9. Jennifer Sanborn—MA
10.Caryl Menkhus—Portland, OR
11.Laura McGuire—Baltimore, MD
12.Lois Howard—Lexington, KY
13.Emily Griffin—New Jersey
14.Kathleen Capcara—Baltimore, MD
15.Kim McPherson—Denver, CO

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