Historically, elections on both a local and national level result in divisions among communities. In an attempt to bridge such gaps, Chaplain Kelly Figueroa-Ray and Interim President Kathleen Murray hosted a “Respectful Conversations” event to promote a civil environment for discussing the presidential election.
Attendees were invited to participate in a structured dialogue with the groups at their tables to encourage the candid expression of their views and to appreciate the perspectives of others. Participants came from across the Hamline community, including students, staff and faculty.
These events have been held at Hamline previously; the series is run by the Minnesota Council of Churches (MCC), which trains Facilitators to lead the conversations and ensure they remain within the agreements presented at the start of the session.
These agreements include speaking for oneself, practicing respect and listening carefully without judgment. This format is intended to deepen understanding and relationships across divisive issues.
After an introduction to the guidelines and format of the conversation, groups were given the chance to respond to three questions, with each member allotted a time of one to two minutes to explain their viewpoint on each one. This time was reserved for individuals to share their answers without responses or discussion from other participants. However, the questions, which included “What are your hopes and fears going forward from this election?”, encouraged attendees to think about their own and others’ answers.
The next segment prompted continued dialogue between attendees, with people encouraged to ask “Questions of Genuine Intrigue” about viewpoints that others had expressed previously in order to promote understanding. According to the MCC, 70% of participants on average report a “stronger sense of empathy” for those with different viewpoints from their own after participating in a Respectful Conversations event.
Given the polarizing nature of the 2024 election, having a space like this for open and constructive discussion across the political spectrum is both unusual and important.