Facilitator Guidance during Interfaith Dialogue

Interfaith dialogue can encourage learning between members of different religions. Facilitators of interfaith dialogue must support, encourage, and challenge participants to engage with others in dialogue on a difficult and sensitive topic. I present findings from a qualitative case study conducted with an interfaith dialogue group located in the southeastern US. To create a learning community that adhered to seven key values, the facilitators assumed different roles during dialogue sessions. Understanding these roles and their influence on the group’s values could be beneficial for practitioners of interfaith dialogue, as well as scholars and professors of religion.