5. Scripture Search in the Community: Using a Gender Lens

Objectives

(Estimated Session Time: 1 hour and 20 minutes)

Session Flow and Description 

Introduction - 10 minutes

Plenary Group Presentation - 15 minutes

Handout 2.5a, Using Scripture Search in the Community

Small Groups: Using Scripture Search - 30 minutes

Give small groups copies of Handout 2.5a and Activity 2.5a

Instructions for Activity 2.5a: Present a role-play situation in which Scripture Search and Galatians 3:26-28 resolve a conflict.

Plenary Group Debriefing - 20 minutes

Discussion Questions

Post-Session Assignment: Becoming a Gender Equity Witness - 5 minutes

Materials

Handouts and Activities

Facilitator Preparation

Using Scripture Search in the Community

World Vision Philippines developed the Scripture Search methodology as a tool for assisting communities in integrating Scripture into the Transformational Development process.

The Scripture Search process extends the traditional use and scope of the Bible in the following ways:

Traditional use of the Bible

Scripture Search use of the Bible

Primarily addressed to individuals

Primarily addressed to the community

Primarily about spiritual things

Addresses all spheres of life, including the spiritual

Primarily about the world to come

Primarily about this world, and by extension, the world to come

Primarily written from the divine point of view

Primarily written from the divine point of view, but includes the view of the “least of these”

Assumptions of the Scripture Search methodology

Scripture Search is undertaken as part of an action- reflection-action process by which a community guides its own development. The same community group that is organising and carrying out other development activities can utilise Scripture Search.

Within this learning cycle, the Bible is used to illumine the past and guide the future. Scripture becomes a resource for the community’s ongoing dialogue regarding commitments, values, beliefs and traditions of the community, all of which affect possibilities of the development programme in positive or negative ways. Scripture Search is not something isolated and relegated to the “religious” sphere of life, but part of a community’s holistic and normal development process.

Scripture Search involves a simple two-step process

  1. First, a facilitator comes to a community meeting prepared with a Scripture reading, usually a story or a parable, for use during a time of reflection and experience-sharing. Selection of the passage is based on issues the community is facing. The story or verses are handled like a case study, with open-ended questions. Preaching or teaching from the text is discouraged.
  2. Second, it is up to participants themselves to determine the relevance of the text in their lives, in light of issues with which the group is struggling. Facilitators use a variety of non-directive methods to encourage wide participation and to draw out insights. Three questions tend to be used in most settings:

Resolving Conflicts with Scripture Search Methodology

A Role-Play

Instructions

Within your group, assign the following roles:

Situation

The community facilitator chooses Galatians 3:26-28, and other members of the group are carefully chosen to help work this through.

Walk through the process of using Galatians 3:26-28 with Scripture Search methodology to help resolve this.


Revision #1
Created 10 February 2024 07:31:08 by Pooja Thyagi
Updated 10 February 2024 07:31:55 by Pooja Thyagi