Conflict is normal and inevitable – but Christians often feel ill-prepared to handle conflict in the church. Transforming Church Conflict: A Foundation Course for Leaders is a new training course intended for those in leadership positions in the church, and also for other Christians who want to deal better with conflict. Attend this training course if you want to:

• Develop new skills for handling conflict
• Give time to personal growth as part of a worshipping community
• Be part of a movement that is changing the culture of the church
• Help put the church’s energy to more creative use

This five-day course is focussed on conflict in church settings, and serves as the foundation for further Bridge Builders courses. Held residentially, it builds on our experience of leading similar training since 1996. The course aims to raise self-awareness, to deepen understanding of conflict and to teach methods for transforming conflict. Spaces are limited and early booking is recommended as our courses are regularly over-subscribed. Course participants will be invited to join our Bridge Builders’ Network, of Christians around Britain involved in transforming church conflict.

The course includes teaching, group work and guided practice. Active and practical in focus, the sessions provide hands-on skills training and use role-plays based on the kinds of conflicts encountered in the church. Each day includes times of prayer and worship. The course is intensive and includes some evening sessions; we strongly recommend avoiding any other commitments during the week.

Presenters

The course will be led by Colin Patterson and Sandra Cobbin. Colin is assistant director of Bridge Builders, and an Anglican priest. He has worked as a training officer for the Diocese of Durham, is an experienced adult educator and is author of the Grove booklet How to Learn Through Conflict. Sandra is an independent trainer and consultant, who belongs to the Bridge Builders Network. She works with business and church leaders on management and leadership skills.

Meals and Accommodation

The course is residential, with accommodation provided from Sunday evening to Thursday evening, and with meals provided each day from Sunday evening until Friday lunch time, of breakfast, lunch and evening meal, in single room accommodation at St Chad’s College, Durham.

Cost, Application and Cancellation

The standard cost for the course is £750. A special “early bird” discount of £55 is available if booking by 8 January 2010, giving a reduced price of £695. Precedence is given to applicants sponsored by their church or organisation, and who may use the training for its benefit, or to enhance their own ministry. If you are on a very low income, then please contact us to see whether a bursary may be available. A training manual and a style profile are included in the fee. Spaces are limited to a maximum of 24, so do apply early, as our courses are regularly over-subscribed.

To apply, download the brochure and application form. Print out the application and mail it, with a cheque for £100 made payable to Bridge Builders, to:

Bridge Builders
London Mennonite Centre
14 Shepherds Hill
London N6 5AQ

The balance of the fee is due eight weeks before the start of the course (i.e. by 21 February 2010). Once accepted, the £100 deposit is a non-refundable. The full fee is owed if a place is cancelled within six weeks of the course start date (i.e. from 7 March 2010 onwards).

Course Timings

Sunday 18 April: arrival from 5:00pm for dinner at 6:30pm
Monday 19 and Thursday 22 April 9:00am-6:00pm
Tues 20 and Wed 21 April 9:00am-1:00pm, 3:30-6:00pm, 7:30-9:00pm
Friday 23 April: 9:00am-4:30pm

Course Objectives

1. To increase your self-awareness as a leader facing conflict, so that you become clearer about how others experience you and more confident about some of what you have to offer, and where you may need to grow;
2. To transform your attitude towards conflict and engaging with conflict, so that you are able to face conflict more constructively; and
3. To equip you with practical skills for working with conflict, so that you can engage with conflict more confidently in future.

Course Outcomes

By the end of the course we expect that you will have:
• Developed greater awareness about your own communication style and its impact on others
• Reflected on Biblical resources related to conflict
• Enhanced your skills for communicating effectively in times of conflict
• Practised and learnt skills to facilitate meetings
• Learnt ways of building consensus and working with resistance in groups
• Developed your ability to analyse conflict and to identify what intervention may be appropriate, such as mediation
• Considered ways to nurture a culture of creative engagement with conflict
• Reflected on the type of leadership needed in times of conflict
• Discovered ways that conflict can offer opportunities for growth

What recent participants on this course have said:

Transformational. If churches and church leaders could practise this teaching and ethos, the face of church in the UK would be utterly changed.
Rupert Ward, Community Church Pastor, Edinburgh

Enables a shift in perspective on conflict and on yourself.
Revd Mary Taylor, Baptist Minister, Wakefield, West Yorkshire

An excellent opportunity to explore issues of conflict transformation in a safe and affirming environment.
Revd Andrew Webb, Methodist Minister, Kendal, Cumbria

Come and be transformed to help transform conflict situations. Know yourself better – to better know others.
Revd Sue Henderson, URC Minister, Sanderstead, Surrey

An intensive and accessible engagement with all issues surrounding conflict.
Revd Michael Broadley, CofE Team Vicar, Horsham, West Sussex

If you have any conflict, then you need this course.
Linda Morris, Baptist lay leader, Paignton, Devon

It has given me the tools and awareness to help me pay attention to God and be open to being used to transform conflict.
Revd Selina Garner, Curate, Great Wilbraham, Cambridgeshire

Comprehensive and fun!
Revd Martin Thorpe, Vicar and Training Officer, Warrington, Cheshire