The Professional Guide to House Meetings
Our Guide to Hosting House Meetings
Our guide to house meetings is informed by comprehensive individual coaching sessions with Fred Ross Junior, delving into the insights of his father, Fred Ross Senior. Renowned as the original architect of the house meeting as a community organising tool, Fred Ross Senior pioneered this approach in the 1950s. His method was instrumental in establishing citizen organisations in overlooked towns across California.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” —Margaret Mead
Small-group strategising in Ancient Egypt
The concept of house meetings, as a tool for collective action and social change, arguably has its roots far back in ancient history. One of the earliest recorded instances dates back to 1157 BCE, during a labour strike against Pharaoh Ramses III. Discontented tomb workers gathered in the temple, planning their strike over delayed rations. This event, documented in the Turin Strike Papyrus, signifies the inception of small-group strategising for collective demands.
Biblical References and Early Movements
In the New Testament, the narrative often depicts Jesus and his disciples partaking in intimate gatherings within homes. These assemblies, centred around religious teachings and strategic discourse, can be viewed as precursors to modern house meetings led by proponents of freedom and democracy in different parts of the world today. Such instances underscore the enduring significance of small, concentrated gatherings as a form of resistance across diverse historical and cultural landscapes. Furthermore, these early gatherings laid the foundational structure for the early church, a model that has been perpetuated through house groups in churches across the ages. This tradition highlights the pivotal role of these small, community-based meetings in fostering freedom of expression and communal growth.
Modern Adaptation by Fred Ross Sr.
In the mid-20th century, the American community organiser, Fred Ross Sr., innovatively adapted the house meeting concept to empower Mexican American communities in California who were being overworked, mistreated and disenfranchised. Over half a million hispanic voters were registered through house meeting drives in the 1950s and early 1960s. Recognising the Mexican-American community’s limited influence in labour unions and mainstream churches, Ross developed an orthogonal approach to organising as an alternative to Saul Alinsky’s “organisation of organisation” approach. This led to the formation of the Community Service Organization (CSO) out of a series of house meetings, from which emerged infamous civil rights movement leaders like Cesar Chavez, who later applied Ross’s tactics in founding the United Farm Workers union (UFW).
Conducting Effective House Meetings
1: Planning and Preparation
Just as one candle can light ten more, and those ten can each light another ten, creating a vast illumination from a single source, effective house meetings have a similar multiplying effect in building power. In this context, each house meeting ignites a spark in its participants. Those individuals, in turn, carry the flame to new meetings, spreading the message and mission further. This chain reaction, much like the spreading light of candles, amplifies the reach and impact of the original gathering.
House meetings begin with meticulous planning. A house meeting should be scheduled at least two weeks in advance, allowing ample time for preparation. A team approach is recommended, with one person hosting the meeting and another leading it. The host's role is to provide a welcoming environment and facilitate the meeting, while the leader focuses on presenting and addressing queries. Together, they should set clear objectives for the meeting, such as recruiting new members or initiating specific actions.
2: Ensuring a Successful Turnout
A successful house meeting hinges on a good turnout. Good turn out comes from coaching hosts appropriately. The host should be coached to act as a mini-organiser. They must learn to invite only the individuals who they know are likely to be concerned about the issue being discussed, or show interest in the organisation's work. They should be taught that it is crucial to confirm each invitee's attendance and follow up with reminders. That strong relationships should always come before tasks. This proactive approach, and the building-up of large numbers of local organisers who lead regular house groups like this ensures a higher likelihood of broad based participation in a community.
3: Conducting the Meeting
The meeting should be held in a comfortable setting, ideally the host's home, to foster an atmosphere of trust and openness. It should last roughly for one hour, commencing with introductions and a witty icebreaker to create a relaxed environment. The leader's presentation should be concise, focusing on the organisation's mission, achievements, and the importance of each member's contribution. Personal stories and addressing the interests of the guests can make the presentation more engaging. Encouraging open dialogue and guest participation are key to an effective meeting.
4: Action Request and Conclusion
The meeting should culminate with a call to action, presented by the host. This could involve immediate tasks like writing to a public official or longer-term commitments like hosting a future meeting. It's important to strike a balance between encouraging commitment and respecting the guests' need for consideration time.
5: Post-Meeting Follow-Up and Evaluation
Fred Ross Sr said that follow up is two thirds of organising. So, after the meeting, the host and leader should form a little huddle, debrief and plan follow-up actions. What Fred called “the critique” that happens after every meeting closes. Contacting each guest for feedback and further engagement is also crucial. Organising individual meetings with those guests who volunteered to host the next meetings is essential too. These future hosts also benefit from receiving coaching. A written evaluation of a meeting helps in refining future strategies and understanding the impact of the meeting.
6: One Good Meeting Leads to Another
Over several weeks, a series of house meetings can unfold in a manner that exponentially increases participation. Imagine the first meeting with ten people. At its conclusion, two volunteers agree to host further meetings, each attracting ten more individuals, resulting in twenty new participants. In the next round, four guests from each of these meetings volunteer to host their own, continuing the pattern. This strategy rapidly scales up, and within a few iterations, over 1000 people could be involved in these small group meetings.
7: Found The Organisation
Once this network reaches a substantial size, the next step is to convene a larger committee meeting, bringing together representatives from all the small groups. This larger gathering serves as a platform to unify the diverse groups, share experiences, and consolidate the movement. At this meeting, formal officers can be elected to provide structured leadership and direction.
8: Training and Capacity Building
The momentum doesn't stop here. Further series of meetings can be planned to continue building power, expanding reach, and addressing more complex objectives. This method not only grows numbers but also strengthens the collective voice and impact of the movement.
Organisations should consider conducting training sessions for members on how to effectively run house meetings. These sessions can serve as a practical demonstration, with volunteers acting as hosts and leaders.
9: Conclusion
House meetings, rooted in a rich history of social movements, remain a vital tool in community organising. Their success hinges on careful planning, engaging delivery, and strategic follow-up. When executed effectively, they can mobilise communities, foster engagement, and drive impactful social change — even serving as the basic building block of larger, civic organisations of dues-paying community members. Effective house meetings function like a candle's flame, sparking a chain reaction of empowerment and change.
Just as a single candle can light many others, each creating further illumination, a well-conducted house meeting ignites enthusiasm and commitment in its participants. These individuals then become catalysts themselves, hosting additional meetings and expanding the network. This multiplying effect rapidly builds a formidable collective power, much like numerous candles brightening a once-dark room.