For Bishops and senior staff looking to sponsor a group in the Reconciling Mission programme

How can we envision and equip Christians and churches to be agents for reconciliation in divided communities and societies? How can local churches be engaged more deeply with their neighbourhoods, building on the gifts and strengths within the community?

If, as a bishop or senior staff person, you’re pondering questions such as these, then you’ll want to consider sponsoring a group to participate in the Reconciling Mission programme.

This continuing formation programme is a distinctive learning process which offers participants vision, capacity and practices for leading in mission and missional change: 

• as a journey towards God’s preferred and promised future in reconciling all things,
• marked by public engagement in mission with local communities, 
• drawing on the principles and practices of both the missional church and asset-based community development (ABCD). 

What would I be committing myself to?

If your diocese sponsors a group, you and your group will be committing yourselves to the following:

• Identifying and investing in a diverse group of six to eight participants;
• Meeting with your group in advance and to clarify hopes and expectations.

During the initial Reconciling Mission residential week, the group members will develop a provisional plan for implementation in their own parishes or ministry contexts, in partnership with a small group of lay people.

Over the following 18 months, there’s a process of follow-up coaching and reflection:

• Participants provide regular short video updates, to enhance accountability;
• Participants join online gatherings, at regular intervals, with a group from another Diocese;
• Groups meet on a rotational basis to allow dialogue with all groups in the cohort;
• 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.

You can also expect that you or one of the senior staff will meet occasionally with your team to discuss their progress; and that one of you will accompany your group to the day conference at the conclusion of the programme.

After the conclusion, your group members will also be able to be part of an ongoing community of practice, the Reconciling Mission Network.

Who should I sponsor as participants?

Your participants will be clergy in parish ministry, of diverse theological traditions. The programme will especially suit those in the early years of a new ministry, and those who are not already part of a larger ministry team that meets regularly.

Your group should be selected against criteria such as:

• A mix of genders;
• Leaders of emotional maturity;
• Collaborative leaders, who welcome working in partnership with others;
• Participants representing the diversity of their Diocese, including ethnic diversity;
• Participants in pairs or threes of relative geographical proximity, to facilitate mutual encouragement.

Once you have identified a group of six to eight participants, please contact our director, Alastair McKay, at [email protected]. Then invite each group member to read the relevant pages of this website and to complete the application form.

What’s it going to cost my diocese?

The proposed contribution for the Reconciling Mission programme beginning in May 2027 is £1,250 per participant.

This contribution gives full participation in the programme, including the residential learning week, the ongoing group coaching sessions, and two day conferences.

Travel expenses for the initial residential and the day-conferences, and accommodation and an evening meal for the day-conferences, also need to be covered by the participants’ Diocese or their parishes.