For Reconciling Mission applicants with a sponsoring bishop
We’re delighted that your bishop is looking to sponsor you to participate in the Reconciling Mission programme.
What am I getting into?
Do you long to see the Church being an agent for addressing injustice and effecting greater social reconciliation in your community and society? Do you want to see the local church engaged more deeply with their neighbourhood, building on the gifts and strengths within the community? If you do, then you’ll be looking forward to participating in the Reconciling Mission programme.
The Reconciling Mission process is focused on resourcing you to understand the Church's mission in the context of God's reconciling work in the world; and to equip you with practical tools to enable your parish(es) to engage deeply with local communities and to play a creative role in moving towards greater reconciliation within society, in partnership with others. It also seeks to enable you, as part of a small group, to share learning and approaches with others in your diocese.
You might find it helpful to watch some of the videos from previous programme participants.
“Working alongside and serving ‘with’ rather than ‘to’ means that the church has a humbler place in its involvement with the community. Not talking down and giving prescriptions; but being a listening and supportive partner in what’s already going on. As a humbler listener, co-worker and partner, that will be a much better place from which to be able to share God’s loving, and our faith…This process has driven us deeper into community partnership.”
“I deeply appreciated the thoughtful and prayerful way the initial residential was led and structured. The process fostered reflection, authentic dialogue and meaningful connection, and offered solid input and good group engagement. The leadership created a safe, inclusive space where diverse voices were honoured, and participation was encouraged over passive listening. The conference modelled a Spirit-led, reconciliatory journey rooted in community and theological depth.”
What am I committing myself to?
By participating in the Reconciling Mission programme, you’ll be committing yourself to the following:
- Meeting with your bishop and your colleagues to clarify hopes and expectations, beforehand;
- Attending the initial week-long residential, and during this developing a provisional plan for your parish or context, including a core group of lay people that you hope to bring on board;
- Meeting regularly with your other group members to discuss implementation; and staying in touch with your bishop or bishop's representative;
- Along with your group members, participating in a series of small online video gatherings, with other diocesan groups, at regular intervals over 18 months. These online gatherings are a mixture of action learning groups, using a structured group coaching process, and “balcony-view” groups to reflect on the process of facilitating cultural change. The groups are led by RI facilitators.
- Providing a short video update via WhatsApp, prior to each action learning group, using a simple 3-point structure; and
- Participating in two in-person day conferences each March, usually at Coventry Cathedral, one midway through and one at the end of the programme.
Also:
- Ideally, offering feedback to future programme participants, via a short pre-recorded video interview; and
- Where possible, attending occasional gatherings of programme ‘graduates’, to share stories of impact and learning, and ongoing work.
What are the objectives and learning outcomes?
The overall programme objectives are:
- To introduce a vision for the church’s mission within a wider understanding of God’s reconciling work;
- To offer key frameworks and spiritual practices to enable the church to engage deeply with local neighbourhoods, including drawing on a strengths-based approach;
- To grow the capacity of participants in leading missional change in churches;
- To resource participants for acting in their local context, grounded in listening to the community;
- To identify and develop a small group of allies to affect missional change in the congregation; and
- To nurture collegiality and contribute to a creative missional movement.
The planned learning outcomes for the residential are that participants will have:
- Reflected theologically and located the church’s mission within the arc of God’s reconciling work, connecting with the Five Marks of Mission;
- Understood the value of and be equipped to introduce spiritual practices to their congregations;
- Worked with a theoretical framework for engaging with social divisions and injustices;
- Explored an ABCD model, drawing on a community’s gifts and strengths; and,
- Identified a core small group of lay people to get on board with a new missional approach in their local context.
How do I apply?
Once you’ve been selected by your bishop, please read through the pages of this website, then complete the application form.
Please contact us if you need any further information or have any questions about the application process.