Local chapters
Start where
you live.
Two or three people are enough to begin a local chapter of The God Within.
A regular place to read, listen, and put what you discover into practice. Each chapter belongs to the people who meet there.
Download the starter manual PDF · 19 pages · by Larry ShillerKeep it simple
enough to do.
Find two or three willing people.
Start with people who want to meet regularly and practice honestly. You do not need a large group, a teacher, or permission from a central office.
Choose a room and a regular time.
Look for somewhere accessible, affordable, and reasonably private: a library, community room, or simple meeting space. Choose a local chapter name that describes the place or meeting, rather than a person.
Agree on how you’ll meet.
A short reading, a little silence, and time for each person to speak is enough. Meet once to agree on the format, privacy, voluntary contributions, and how you will make decisions together.
Share the responsibility.
Someone facilitates, someone keeps basic records, and someone accounts for any contributions and expenses. Rotate these jobs. They are acts of service, not positions of authority.
Keep coming back.
Give the first ninety days a steady rhythm. Welcome newcomers, keep the same time and place, and review how things are going after thirty, sixty, and ninety days.
An hour
together.
You can adapt the format to your group. This sixty-minute outline comes from the starter manual.
Choose a reading- 0–5 min
Welcome
Introduce the purpose and the ground rules. Remind everyone that contributions are voluntary and that people speak from their own experience.
- 5–10 min
A reading and a little silence
Read a short teaching, then sit quietly for a minute. Offer a question for the conversation: “What truth in me is ready to become action?”
- 10–40 min
Listen to one another
Let each person speak for three or four minutes without interruption. Leave room for everyone. No one has to share.
- 40–50 min
Make room for newcomers
Welcome anyone who wants to introduce themselves. Share chapter announcements and, if needed, invite voluntary contributions.
- 50–60 min
Choose one honest action
Pause to consider what each person will carry into the week. Close the meeting, and leave time afterward for questions and conversation.
Make room
for each person.
Speak from your own experience. Listen without interrupting or trying to fix someone. Respect each person’s choice about what to share.
Protect privacy. Do not publish names, photographs, or personal stories without permission. A chapter is a peer fellowship; it does not provide therapy, medical treatment, or crisis care.
There are no required dues. Keep voluntary contributions and expenses transparent. Keep the meeting free of sales, recruitment, and pressure to adopt anyone’s beliefs.
If someone’s behavior threatens the meeting, address it. Privacy is not a reason to ignore danger. The full manual includes guidance on boundaries, disruption, and safety.
Read the full manualA few things
to agree on.
Use this as a starting point. The manual has sample readings, scripts, announcements, and a fuller checklist.
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Thinking of starting one?
Write to Larry with your area and any questions. Sharing your meeting details is optional. A chapter can begin without registering, and it remains independent.
Talk about a local chapter A few questions about the practice