Do you want to be able to share with others some of the new insights about conflict that you have encountered through your training with Bridge Builders? If so, then this is the Training of Trainers course you have been waiting for!

Since 1996, Bridge Builders has led dozens of introductory workshops and courses throughout the UK for a wide variety of church groups. Training of Trainers, held at the London Mennonite Centre (LMC), will draw on that experience to equip others to lead a day-long workshop. The course is aimed at those who have completed one of Bridge Builders’ week-long foundation courses. Along with offering a trainer’s manual, the course will provide guidelines on how to lead elements of a workshop using Bridge Builders’ workshop manual. The course will also enable participants to explore how the materials might be adapted to their own church and denominational context.

Bridge Builders’ vision is to help Christians and the church to learn to handle conflict, deal with our differences, engage respectfully with one another, and make decisions in collaborative and consensual ways – so that we can live out the gospel that Jesus revealed. Our expectation is that this will transform the church’s witness and outreach to the world. Come and learn how to help spread this vision for the church.

The course will include teaching, group work and practice. Practical in focus, the sessions will seek to demonstrate Bridge Builders’ active approach to education and learning. Each day will include times of prayer and worship. The course is intensive, so evening commitments are best avoided.

Presenters

Alastair McKay is director of Bridge Builders at the London Mennonite Centre, providing training, mediation and consultancy services to churches since 1996. Alastair is studying for a Doctorate of Ministry, and has contributed to the books Making Peace With Conflict (Herald Press, 1999) and How to Become a Creative Church Leader (Canterbury Press, 2008).

Colin Patterson 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.

Venue

The course will be held at the London Mennonite Centre, 14 Shepherds Hill, London N6 5AQ. The LMC is five minutes walk from Highgate tube station in North London, just off the A1. Please note the 9:00am start on the first day: you may want to stay in London the night before.

Meals and Accommodation

Lunch and refreshments will be provided each day. Participants will need to arrange their own accommodation, breakfast, and evening meal. Contact the London Mennonite Centre if you need help in finding accommodation.

Cost and Application

The cost for the course is £375 (with an early bird rate of £325 if booking by 31 May 2010). If you are on a very low income, then please contact us to see whether a bursary may be available. The course is aimed at those who have completed one of Bridge Builders’ week-long foundation courses. Precedence is given to applicants sponsored by their church or organisation, and who may be in a position to offer subsequent training for its benefit. Two training manuals, and a master copy of a manual for copying, are included in the price, as are refreshments and lunches.

Spaces are limited to a maximum of 16, so do apply early. To apply, download the flier 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 full fee is owed if a place is cancelled within six weeks of the course start date (i.e. from 5 October onwards).

Provisional Programme Overview

Tuesday 16 November (9:00am-5:30pm)
• Introductions • Establishing the Environment and Setting the Scene • Using the Human Rainbow • The Story of Two Congregations • Moving from Divided by to Bound Together by Conflict

Wednesday 17 November (9:00am-5:30pm)
• Personal Styles Inventory and Presentation of Styles • The Call to Reconciliation: Drawing on Biblical Resources • Conflict and Communication: Deliberate Listening • Conflict and Communication: Centred Speaking

Thursday 18 November (9:00am-4:00pm)
• Resolving Conflict: Exploring Positions and Interests • Challenges, Methodology and Practicalities • Designing Learner-Centred Training
• Conclusion and Review

What some past participants on this course have said:

An excellent introduction to training others in addressing conflict and a great encouragement to run short courses.
Rev John Wood, Anglican priest and CME tutor, Swanage, Dorset

A necessity for teaching on dealing with conflict. A safe place to learn, grow, develop and explore. The skills learnt provide the opportunity to share them with others.
Rev Maureen Wilson, URC minister and tutor for ACORN, Nairn, Scotland

The course is inspiring: the leaders have real authority so that the atmosphere is safe but challenging. Other participants bring a wealth of knowledge and experience. Transformative.
Rev Mary Judson, Anglican priest, Hartlepool, County Durham

I cannot recommend this course highly enough. It offers an invaluable resource which all denominations should embrace. Thanks!
Rev David Barker, Methodist superintendent minister, Harrogate, North Yorkshire

This course is transformational: I go away affirmed, enabled, equipped and challenged to work creatively and positively with conflict – as a person and as a trainer.
Rev Helen Thorp, Anglican priest, County Durham

A course where you experience both being trained and being the trainer; opportunities to make the material your own, and equipping you to facilitate your own workshops.
Jane Franklin, Anglican reader, Clapton, London

The course gave me the confidence to want to go and run training events. It was affirming of skills and knowledge and very permission-giving. Thank you very much.
Sue Clements-Jewery, Baptist lay leader, Huddersfield, South Yorkshire

The course offered a very useable toolkit and content, led by excellent trainers who were responsive, flexible and with a wealth of knowledge and ideas.
Lesley Trenkel, URC synod pastoral consultant, Walthamstow, London

The course is full of ideas and skills, excellently modelled and shared. I found it inspiring and motivational.
Liz Holdsworth, Anglican diocesan adviser, Diocese of Peterborough