Check-ins and check-outs

One of the easiest ways to introduce restorative practices into your congregation is by using check-ins and check-outs.

Check-ins and check-outs can be used with big and small groups.

Check-ins

Use check-ins at the beginning of your time together be that a short meeting or an all-day retreat.

Check-ins provide the opportunity for everyone to:

• speak without being interrupted
• be heard right at the beginning of participants’ time together
• learn to listen without commenting
• feel confident to speak
• get to know each other better
• settle in and begin to focus

Check-ins are not discussion times. Use a talking piece. Only the person with the talking piece speaks. Everyone else is silent

There are hundreds of possible check-in questions. Pick something nonthreatening everyone can answer. Here are a couple of examples:

• What did you need to do to get here today?
• Is there anything you need to let go of to be as present as possible?
• What’s been the best thing in your day so far?
• What’s one significant thing that’s happened to you since we last met?

Check-outs

A check-out allows participants to connect as their time together to an end. Check-outs are not discussion times.

Check-outs provide the opportunity for everyone to:

• be heard one last time
• reflect on the time together
• have a final shared time together

A possible check-out question:

What has been a blessing/hope/learning during this session?

It’s easy to forget about the check-out or just not bother with it, especially if you are down to the wire time wise. Check-outs, however, are an important part of a gathering and help build community.

If you are running short on time ask participants to answer in a word or a phrase. Most will. Some won’t. Nevertheless the check-out should move along quite quickly.