At my shul, a Conservative shul on Long Island, the main sanctuary is usually too small itself to fit everybody so we usually open up the back doors, behind which are about four rows of extra chairs that are parallel with the rows of pews (I think there are about 8 pews probably each of which can seat about ten people: one set of these approximate 80 seats per side with a division down the middle wherein people may walk or the Torah may process). Except when davenen the Amidah or Aleynu - during which the clergy face the Ark while still standing at their respective stenders (unless they are on the floor during R"H or Y"K's Aleynu) - the clergy generally face the congregation from the bimah, whereupon the rabbi stands at the right (from the perspective of the pew-congregant) with a narrow stender and the cantor stands at the left with a wide stender so as to support the Torah for the Torah reading. The bimah has about four steps that go about the length of the distance between the cantor's and rabbi's stenders to get from the sanctuary's floor level to the bimah. The Ark is built into the back wall of the Bimah - located between the rabbi's and cantor's stenders. The Bimah is in front of the congregation. Behind both stenders are about three chairs whereupon the rabbi and cantor will sit often on their respective sides; they often are joined by those about to participate in the service (for example with an aliyyah) or by board members who may be making announcements or speaking from the Bimah. There is no mechitzah (though there is a non-Egalitarian minyan that occasionally meets in one of the other rooms of the shul: aside from a second chapel [and a makeshift third chapel for yamim nora'im]). I believe that the sanctuary faces the direction of Jerusalem.

I feel that this is a good setup for the sanctuary; however, the congregation is in the midst of redesigning the entire shul, and though I do not know the exact details for the new main chapel I know that the new plan will better suit my participatory community.

We use the pre-matriarch-optional Siddur Sim Shalom, the RA's Tish'ah Be'av Siddur on Tish'ah Be'av, and for High Holidays a 1951 Prayer Book Press Mahzor on which Rabbis Milton Steinberg and Louis Finkelstein worked. Copies of Rabbi Reuven Hammer's Or Chadash are also available for use. Nothing is skipped; however, on Shabbatot and some Yamim Tovim generally the Musaf Amidah is recited in the form of a Heikha Qedusha (as is also the custom for Monday-Friday mornings - which meet in a separate chapel and during which Tachanun is not recited communally [though some individuals do recite it]). The main services at the shul are egalitarian, as we have a female chazan even (and a male rabbi). "A Prayer for Our Country" is recited in English, and on Friday nights, Mizmor Shir Leyom Hashabbat is often recited responsively in English (as are some passages following the Shema). Duchaning only occurs on Shabbat and Yom Kippur. A choir sings for Musaf on the High Holidays and on select occasions during the year (mostly limited though to Shabbat Shirah). The chazan is a professional cantor and a graduate of JTS; there are many lay shelichey tzibbur though who often lead services; however, when the cantor is present, usually the cantor will lead at least one part (and generally more). There are no regularly used musical instruments during services; however, the shul has had a few Kabbalot Shabbat with instruments (clarinet, violin, accordion, piano, and guitar most often) ending after Lekhah Dodi.

My shul is affiliated with USCJ.