Events
Bridge Builders Team
Introduction
Conflict is normal and inevitable – but Christian leaders often feel ill-prepared to handle conflict in the church. The Skills Training Course for Mediation and Facilitation for Senior Church Leaders is designed to equip leaders with practical skills for responding constructively to conflict. This acclaimed five-day course explores conflict within us, between individuals and within the church. The course aims to raise self-awareness, to develop understanding of conflict and to teach methods to facilitate resolution and transformation of conflicts, particularly through the development of mediation and facilitation skills. Although focussed primarily on the church setting, the skills learned are transferable to other areas of life.
Dr. David Augsburger
Wood Green Mennonite Church
Join us for a presentation and a café discussion with free drinks & snacks
Crypt Café
st marys church, upper street
islington, london, n1 2tx
Angel or Highbury
buses 4, 19, 30, 43
parking on single lines or side street possible
Richard Blackburn
(Course fully booked)
This course in Church Leadership and Family Systems at the London Mennonite Centre is designed to enhance the ability of participants to function as mature leaders within their churches. It will provide a safe forum for processing challenging situations in ministry, while also facilitating reflection on a way of thinking about the human condition which has implications for all aspects of life. Following a successful course in 2005, Bridge Builders is pleased to welcome the return of the course in 2006.
Since the publication of Generation to Generation: Family Process in Church and Synagogue, by Dr Edwin Friedman, church leaders have found an understanding of Bowen family systems theory a valuable tool for understanding congregational systems. Dr Murray Bowen understood families as emotional systems impacted by two key factors: the level of anxiety within the system and the level of differentiation of family members. As a student of Bowen, Friedman saw the relevance of Bowen’s ideas for congregations and their leaders.
Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer
The Bible is diverse and complex but it is dominated by violent images of God, violent story lines, and violent expectations and explanations of history. The Exodus involves genocide and ethnic cleansing but is understood within the tradition as a story of God’s liberating violence. Exile stories explain the people’s horrible historical plight under one crushing empire after another as a consequence of their sin and God’s punishing violence. Prophets promise that repentance and right conduct can lead to another round of liberating violence, historical reversals in which God “saves” Israel by crushing Israel’s enemies. Apocalyptic writers and prophets, including John the Baptist, portray violence as part of a cosmic struggle, with historical consequences, between the forces of good and evil, with hope rooted in God’s vindicating violence at the end of history as we know it. The Gospel writers offer competing and arguably irreconcilable portraits of Jesus: Jesus who loves enemies and calls us to be peacemakers; and Jesus who will return as violent, apocalyptic judge.
Bridge Builders Team
(Course fully booked)
Conflict is normal and inevitable – but Christians often feel ill-prepared to handle conflict in the church. The Skills Training Course for Mediation and Facilitation in the Church is designed to equip Christians with practical skills for responding constructively to conflict. This five-day course explores conflict within us, between individuals and within the congregation. The course aims to raise self-awareness, to develop understanding of conflict and to teach methods to facilitate resolution and transformation of conflicts, particularly through mediation. Although focussed primarily on the church setting, the skills learned are transferable to other areas of life.
Wood Green Mennonite Church
This is the 6th Subversive Church event and we're taking advantage of the beautiful weather to try a radically different format.
Bring enough food for yourself and some to share if you like – and a game too, if you have one!
parking on Shepherds Hill possible
more info: Sue Haines, 020 8808 9042 suehaines@tesco.net
Vic Thiessen (for Walter Wink)
***Due to serious illness Walter Wink is unable to attend, but the seminar is still going ahead with Vic Thiessen presenting Wink’s lectures and leading discussion on their content. Please contact the LMC for further information. 22/08/2006***
It is a special privilege to announce that Professor Emeritus Walter Wink, internationally-renowned speaker, Biblical scholar and author, will be our special guest for this seminar, which elaborates on material in his most recent book: The Human Being: Jesus and the Enigma of the Son of the Man (Fortress, 2002). Walter does workshops and lectures aimed at encounter with the biblical text that will be transformative for participants. His lectures are designed to be accessible to everyone, regardless of their previous biblical knowledge.
Wood Green Mennonite Church
This is the 7th installment in our subversive church series and we're doing some experimenting. We're inviting you to join us to watch a film and discuss it.
6:15 screening of Little Miss Sunshine (cert 15, 102 mins)
Programme starts at 6:15, film itself starts no later than 6:34/6:35
Tickets cost £8.90. (Advance booking via Cineworld website or 0871 200 2000, 55p booking fee)
Meet in foyer before (6:10) or straight after to be shown way to discussion after film in Cafe Trocadero, bottom floor of Trocadero on way into Piccadilly Circus tube station
With questions or to ask us to look out for you there, contact Sue Haines, 020 8808 9042 / 07866 087 697 or suehaines@tesco.net.
Lesley Misrahi
Event cancelled
How does a Christian live out an ethic of public service and speak truth to the powers that be within today’s public services?
Many Christians go into education, the health service, local government, the civil service or other public organisations because we feel we have a vocation to serve. How do we do the job when ideologically-driven change and centrally-dictated bureaucracy seem to make things worse? How do we continue whole-heartedly when politicians and the media constantly say that we’re not doing well enough and that the private sector would do better? How can our faith help to transform the ‘powers that be’ in which we serve?
Bridge Builders Team
Conflict is normal and inevitable – but Christians often feel ill-prepared to handle conflict in the church. The Skills Training Course for Mediation and Facilitation in the Church is designed to equip Christians with practical skills for responding constructively to conflict. This five-day course explores conflict within us, between individuals and within the congregation. The course aims to raise self-awareness, to develop understanding of conflict and to teach methods to facilitate resolution and transformation of conflicts, particularly through mediation. Although focussed primarily on the church setting, the skills learned are transferable to other areas of life.
Colin Patterson
Bridge Builders Assistant Director Colin Patterson will be giving a seminar on Thursday 19 October as part of the Christian Resources Exhibition. Colin's main theme will be 'How to Grasp the Nettle and Help Congregations Walk the Path of Reconciliation.'
Church leaders and members across the North of England will head for Harrogate from 19-21 October to discover a huge range of key resources for Christian ministry. Northern Christian Resources Exhibition (CRE) provides specific help for those with practical responsibilities in the local church.
For more information, visit the CRE website.
Dr Chris Hewer
In a world experiencing growing tensions between Christians and Muslims and in a country where a rapidly-growing percentage of the population is Muslim, it is vital that Christians understand Islam and learn about the issues involved in Christian-Muslim relations.
This seminar, led by Dr. Chris Hewer, will begin with an introduction to Islam in its own terms, looking at a Muslim world view and exploring key concepts such as prophecy, revelation, beliefs and practices. In the afternoon we will explore issues in Christian-Muslim relations, a combination of theological and practical issues that touch our lives as Christians in relation to Muslims.
Gareth Higgins and Vic Thiessen
Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski and German director Tom Tykwer are two of the most important European filmmakers of the past 25 years. While not all of their films have been unanimously embraced by critics, there is a spiritual element to their films that makes them fascinating for those interested in the relation between film and theology.
Bridge Builders Team
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 course you have been waiting for!
We invite you to help us celebrate this Season by singing carols, creating ornaments and decorating the tree. We hope you join us in meeting friends and neighbours of the Centre over traditional Christmas goodies and drinks.
RSVP – 020 8340 8775 or hosts@menno.org.uk
Wood Green Mennonite Church
Join us for reflection and discussion, with free drinks and snacks
Address:
Crypt Café at St Marys Church, upper street Islington, London, N1 2TX
Angel or Highbury
Transport:
Buses 4, 19, 30, 43
Parking on single lines or side street possible
More info: Sue Haines, 020 8808 9042 suehaines@tesco.net
Kathy Thiessen and Dora-Marie Goulet
In November/December 2006, two members of the London Mennonite Centre staff, Kathy Thiessen and Dora-Marie Goulet, joined a Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) delegation to Israel/Palestine. CPT has had a team in Hebron since 1995, working with Palestinians and Israeli peace groups to develop action campaigns that expose the face of the Occupation, training in nonviolence, reporting on human rights, visiting families involved in the Campaign for Secure Dwellings and accompanying children to school.
Dr Tom Finger
Anabaptists are good at promoting peace theology and critiquing war but few relate this to what many historic Anabaptists called “inordinate attachments to creatures”: the grasping for material goods, power and social prestige which results in the world’s vast unjust inequalities, protected and expanded by violent force or the threat of it.
Jayne Docherty
Have you ever wondered what to do after tragic events like the London Tube bombings, or how to respond to increased tension in your community?
Bridge Builders Team
Conflict is normal and inevitable – but Christian leaders often feel ill-prepared to handle conflict in the church. The Skills Training Course for Mediation and Facilitation for Senior Church Leaders is designed to equip leaders with practical skills for responding constructively to conflict. This acclaimed five-day course explores conflict within us, between individuals and within the church. The course aims to raise self-awareness, to develop understanding of conflict and to teach methods to facilitate resolution and transformation of conflicts within the church, particularly through the development of mediation and facilitation skills.
Gareth Higgins and Vic Thiessen
Gareth Higgins writes: “Going to the cinema can be a spiritual experience akin to worship, which can inspire and convict as well as any sermon.” Discussing films, and the relation between films and theology, is all very good, but there is something magical, and potentially spiritual, about dimming the lights and watching films together before we move into discussion.
Bridge Builders Team
Conflict is normal and inevitable – but Christians often feel ill-prepared to handle conflict in the church. The Skills Training Course for Mediation and Facilitation in the Church is designed to equip Christians with practical skills for responding constructively to conflict. This five-day course explores conflict within us, between individuals and within the congregation. The course aims to raise self-awareness, to develop understanding of conflict and to teach methods to facilitate resolution and transformation of conflicts, particularly through mediation. Although focussed primarily on the church setting, the skills learned are transferable to other areas of life.
Gareth Higgins and Vic Thiessen
Gareth Higgins writes: “Going to the cinema can be a spiritual experience akin to worship, which can inspire and convict as well as any sermon.” Discussing films, and the relation between films and theology, is all very good, but there is something magical, and potentially spiritual, about dimming the lights and watching films together before we move into discussion.
Richard Blackburn
This course in Church Leadership and Family Systems at the London Mennonite Centre is designed to enhance the ability of participants to function as mature leaders within their churches. It will provide a safe forum for processing challenging situations in ministry, while also facilitating reflection on a way of thinking about the human condition which has implications for all aspects of life. Following a successful course in 2005, Bridge Builders is pleased to welcome the return of the course in 2006.
Professor Deirdre Good
This Thursday (31 May) there is a unique chance to engage with Professor Deirdre Good about why the church may be overlooking Jesus and the Gospel message of inclusive community in its quest for 'family values'.
The event, sponsored by Ekklesia, and chaired by Fr Kevin Scully, will take place at St Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace - a couple of minutes' walk away from Liverpool Street Station, from 11 AM
- Midday. Refreshments, and interviews afterwards. Full details here: Ekklesia
Dr Good is Professor of New Testament at General Seminary in New York, USA. Her new book Jesus' Family Values is available now. It argues that Jesus replaced his family of origin with differently configured communities and households.
Alan Kreider and Eleanor Kreider
How do Anabaptists pray? Recent research has explored the profound spirituality of the early Anabaptists. They had ways of singing and praying that were distinctive, and that used the Bible in surprising and creative ways. Christians today are appropriating these ancient Anabaptist practices as they sing and pray. This seminar will explore historic and contemporary Anabaptist song and prayer and will practice them together.
Bridge Builders Team
Conflict is normal and inevitable – but Christians often feel ill-prepared to handle conflict in the church. The Skills Training Course for Mediation and Facilitation in the Church is designed to equip Christians with practical skills for responding constructively to conflict. This five-day course explores conflict within us, between individuals and within the congregation. The course aims to raise self-awareness, to develop understanding of conflict and to teach methods to facilitate resolution and transformation of conflicts, particularly through mediation. Although focussed primarily on the church setting, the skills learned are transferable to other areas of life.
Bridge Builders has offered many successful mediation skills training courses since 1996. Increasingly people who have attended the courses and been involved in our Mediators’ Network have asked for follow-up training to equip them to work with congregations. This week of advanced training is a response to that demand.
Corruption has become a topic of increasing conversation and debate in recent years. Stories about it range from domestic political scandals such as ‘loans for honours’ and the decision to call off investigations into some of the alleged bribery by BAe Systems, to international concerns about the effectiveness of international development aid and nepotism at the World Bank.
This conference gives an opportunity to hear from senior representatives of some of the main denominations in England on their vision for the use of mediation in the church, what progress has been made over the last 10 years, and on future steps being planned. Participants are welcome from all the churches in England and beyond, with a broad range and rich mix anticipated.
Responding to a frequent request, we are pleased to offer a special day-long workshop on Christian storytelling. The aim of the workshop is to envision people, showing them the many different aspects of storytelling and helping them to see its potential. We would like to release the gifts that God has given each one of us to share God’s story and our own stories. Our hope is that the day will equip and excite people enough to start storytelling or reawaken their gift.
Bridge Builders Team
Conflict is normal and inevitable – but Christians often feel ill-prepared to handle conflict in the church. The Skills Training Course for Mediation and Facilitation in the Church is designed to equip Christians with practical skills for responding constructively to conflict. This five-day course explores conflict within us, between individuals and within the congregation. The course aims to raise self-awareness, to develop understanding of conflict and to teach methods to facilitate resolution and transformation of conflicts, particularly through mediation. Although focussed primarily on the church setting, the skills learned are transferable to other areas of life.
Through the medium of photography, this workshop will explore the importance of visual awareness and the meaning of light as an entrée to meditation and reflection.
Of the four evangelists, Matthew offers the most extensive information about the teaching of Jesus, and so his Gospel is the natural source-book for a life of discipleship. Anabaptists, among others, have studied extensively the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ (Chs. 5-7) and the discourse on community relationships (Ch.18) to find guidance for Christian conduct. From these texts emerge challenging precepts: forgo revenge, love your enemy, forgive without limit, be as little children.
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 course you have been waiting for!
Why are fresh expressions of church emerging in Britain and several other western nations? Are these creative missional initiatives incarnating the church into post-modern and post-Christendom culture? Or are they self-indulgent distractions from the task of mission in contemporary culture?
This is a repeat of the well-received seminar run at the London Mennonite Centre in October 2007. It comes out of Colin’s own study of Matthew’s Gospel, looking for ways in which Jesus can be seen as a living demonstration of the way of life that he taught his disciples. Colin says:
Conflict is normal and inevitable – but Christians often feel ill-prepared to handle conflict in the church. The Skills Training Course for Mediation and Facilitation in the Church is designed to equip Christians with practical skills for responding constructively to conflict. This five-day course explores conflict within us, between individuals and within the congregation. The course aims to raise self-awareness, to develop understanding of conflict and to teach methods to facilitate resolution and transformation of conflicts, particularly through mediation.
Following up on his popular seminar in the autumn of 2006, in which he introduced us to Islam and Christian-Muslim relations, we are pleased to welcome back Dr. Chris Hewer to help us take a more in-depth look at Islam from a Christian perspective.
Mission Statement
Upcoming events
- Prophetic Voices on Saturday, 19 May 2012
- Mennonite Worship on Sunday, 20 May 2012
- Mennonite Worship (Walking Church, Richmond, 10:30am) on Sunday, 27 May 2012
- Mennonite Worship on Sunday, 03 Jun 2012
- Mennonite Worship on Sunday, 10 Jun 2012
- Mennonite Worship (Walking Church, Richmond, 10:30am) on Sunday, 24 Jun 2012
Metanoia Book Service
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