In a spirit of discipleship, AIM will be hosting a “Tell Our Story” event (with a frequency to be defined-stay tuned) and we want to hear your story. As a Catholic community and in light of Christ’s call to walk together, we want to learn from each other’s life experiences. We believe that your story has the potential to inspire and help others on their journey. If you feel this is your call, please send to info@allinclusiveministries.org a small blurb (100 – 150 words) of your story, highlighting the main aspects you think you would like to share with the AIM community. You may read this guideline to help you prepare. We will be in touch to define a likely date and time.

Guidelines for Telling Our Stories

for Presenters and Listeners

As a Catholic community, AIM strives to witness to Christ’s call for solidarity, kindness, mutuality and unity in the midst of a diverse world. Like Mary our mother, we respond to our call to discipleship by engaging in each other’s journey. We recognize that each one of us is made in the image of God and each one is the repository of the Holy Spirit. This call to discipleship leads us to learn from each other. With this in mind, we want to invite the AIM community to prayerfully engage the stories of our community members. As a faith- based space for individual sharing, Sharing Our Stories is neither a collective therapy session nor collective spiritual direction. Therefore, no advice or feedback should be expected or provided. We meet to learn from each other, to grow together, to be a community together, to be disciples together. It is in this spirit that we invite you to participate either as a presenter or as a listener. We ask that everyone hold the following guidelines in our minds and especially in our hearts.

 For Listeners (to be read before each story-telling session):

• Anything heard at the meeting stays at the meeting. The privacy and vulnerability of those who share needs to berespected and upheld as sacred.
• The tone of the sharing must be respectful, honouring both presenters and audience, showing compassion, solidarity and kindness towards presenters and fellow listeners.
• Avoid “cross-talk”, which means, do not refer to, negatively or positively evaluate, or comment on anyone’s sharing.
• If a presenter agrees to a question period after their presentation,
  • Think carefully what you are going to ask.
  • Ask questions with sensitivity and that honour the person’s story.
  • Do not ask questions that would make the person feel awkward or vulnerable.
  • Before making a question, ask yourself how would you feel about answering that question? Think whether the question would be triggering to the presenter.
  • Submit your question(s) in writing before the Q&As period to the organizers. Note that
    • Questions will be vetted by the organizers (in consultation with the presenter, when pertinent) to ensure fulfilment of these guidelines, and
    • Live questions during the Q&As period will not be accepted.

For Presenters:

• Please strive to use the words “I, me, my” when sharing your personal experience.
• Presenters may share stories that highlight their religious and spiritual journeys as LGBTQ+ Catholics. They maydescribe how they came to AIM and whether AIM has provided a space for “equal access to worship, opportunities, and resources within the Church”.
• Before you speak, know that:
  • As a community of faith, we believe that your life story can be light to others, and that can be read within the context of a God who loves you and cares for you.
  • Your audience will be mainly AIM members, although it may include non-members. This will help you decide in advance how best to direct your talk.
  • You will have 30 minutes to tell your story, and, if you wish, there will be an additional 20 minutes for questions from the audience (only if you wish to receive questions; please let the coordinator(s) know).
  • Plan what to say.
  • Bear in mind that the purpose of your talk is to share your experience, your journey, your strengths, your struggles, and your hopes. Think about the aspects of your journey that you want the audience to know and build your story around that.
  • Give a brief description of yourself before you came to AIM, focusing on your lived experience (being brought up LGBTQ+ and Catholic or with a family member who is LGBTQ+ and Catholic).
  • You may describe transitions you’ve made over the course of your life’s journey (i.e. if you left the Church, what has brought you back?)
  • Share some detail(s) of the teachings or spiritually uplifting aspects of the Church or AIM that were especially helpful.
  • Say what AIM means to you.
  • Share how AIM is helping, or has helped you in your life. Describe what you are still struggling with.
  • You may draw your story from experiences of homophobia, either in the Church or in everyday life, harmful theological interpretations, lack of or negative pastoral care from priests, nuns or lay members of the Church. You may also draw from positive Church experiences including helpful theological interpretations, community living, sacramental life, prayer, constructive guidance from priests, nuns or lay members of the Church, etc.
• General Speaking Tips
  • Some members find that preparing a brief outline helps.
  • Others use an index card with an opening sentence, some key phrases they can call upon in case they get lost somewhere in the middle, and a closing statement for a graceful conclusion.
  • Try using the technique of looking at a few individuals in different parts of the room, if facing an audience is a problem.
  • Speak so you can be heard in the back of the room.
  • Make it clear that you are expressing your own views and not necessarily those of AIM as a whole.
• Keep in Mind
  • You are interesting—so be yourself and speak from the heart; don’t be afraid to let others know you.
  • You have an important message. Your journey has the potential to help others find consolation as believers and as Catholics.
  • Remember, wherever you go, most people are friendly and receptive.
• If a presenter chooses to remain anonymous (e.g., if they do not want to say their name or if they do not want to appear in front of the audience – presenting from another room), their choice should be respected.
• Provide the coordinator(s) a small bio (one paragraph) highlighting what you want them to say when introducing you.

During the Presentation

• The meeting starts with an Our Father.
• The host welcomes presenter(s) and listeners acknowledging the land we are in.
• The “For Listeners” section of this guideline is read, emphasizing the rules for Q/As
• The host(s) introduces the presenter, reading the small bio provided by the presenter(s).
• The host(s) and members of AIM’s council strive to ensure a smooth development of the gathering.
• The meeting goes into a five-minute pause (after story is finished) to gather and vet questions.
• Meeting closes with a Hail Mary.

After the presentation

• We encourage presenters to provide a copy (or a summary) of their presentation (if available) to be posted on AIM’s website. Presentations will be placed within the resources section of our website to create a bank of stories that serve as resources to help other LGBTQ+ Catholics and their families in their journey.
• All stories will be anonymized before publication (i.e., no identifiers will be included in any published material).
• The “For Listeners” section is to be read at all story-telling gatherings.