Step 5

The purpose of the Step 5 day is to help participants confront and confess their inventory in a safe and positive environment.

We set out a theology of confession in Appendix 5, and the Group Facilitator’s role in the confession in Appendix 6. The prayer used in the time of Confession is found in Appendix 4. All slides and host script for the session can be found at Appendix 15.

Programme for the day

We offer film material for all the talks needed on a Step 5 day/evening. There are three elements of the Step 5 session: one that focuses on how we perceive God; the next is about the confession; and the final session is about the reality and power of forgiveness.

Whilst being an online course, we would still strongly advise making this a longer session than usual so as to allow participants to take sufficient time and space to process and reflect upon this step.

Running order

We would strongly recommend organising an extended online Step 5 Session, which would typically be on a Saturday. To reduce the fatigue that can happen in online settings, we suggest shortening the session by asking Participants to watch ‘Film 1 – Confession’ in advance, as part of their preparation.

When it is time for people to make their confessions, we recommend using either breakout rooms (putting a Facilitator in each breakout room and sending in participants one at a time), or getting Facilitators to sign off and contact participants via Facetime or other video call. Start with the Group Facilitator(s) and any co-Facilitators making their confessions to one another first (see proclamation of forgiveness in Appendix 4).

If there are multiple groups/large numbers of participants, we would suggest that Facilitators take their confessions to their co-Facilitator in advance of the Step 5 session, so as to ensure the time for Confession/Reflection does not go over the hour.

Whilst participants are doing their confessions, the other participants can use the time for further reflection using the images referred to in the Step 2 film in the Main Room (download this slide below). We have a recorded time of Reflection led by Lars Due-Christensen that you can use during this time. You could also have some live music whilst using the slide for people to reflect.

• Click to download image slide.Download

Once confessions have been done, and after Film 3, give people a chance to write what they want to leave at the foot of the cross of Jesus on a piece of paper, and then together in the Main room you can destroy this together (either by ripping it up, or participants going to burn their confession). You can use any relevant symbolic gesture in this regard.

After the symbolic gesture the Group Facilitators could offer prayer for anyone who wants it. We would typically introduce the prayer by explaining that some of us would just like to end the day by receiving a blessing, and others would like to have specific prayer for a challenging thing that has come up during the day. Others may realise that they are in some kind of spiritual battle and would like prayer to experience the power of God setting them free.

In an online setting we would suggest using breakout rooms again for this prayer (or alternatively arranging Facilitators to call the participants).

Notwithstanding anyone wanting one-to-one prayer at the end of the session, we do encourage the host to pray their own prayer of blessing over everyone at the end of the session to finish (participants can then leave the meeting, whilst those wanting prayer can stay).

Alternative programme for STEP 5 day/evening

Whilst it is encouraged to organise a STEP 5 day, an alternative for evening courses would be to do an extended (2 hour) evening session along the following lines, with participants watching the first Film, ‘Confession’, in advance of the session: