Joy in Participation
One of this year’s joys was co-facilitating a training of trainers’ programme in Kenya for a group of 22 Anglican clergy. They showed huge commitment by overcoming a national public transport strike in order to travel to the conference venue. And their enthusiasm for learning insights for transforming tension and conflict was palpable thoughout our time together.
Two things were particularly striking. First, they really appreciated having their experience and wisdom drawn upon as we journeyed with them. Second, they relished the variety of different approaches that we used to keep them engaged throughout the week, expressing surprise at how energised they felt at the end of long days. I was reminded of my own delight at discovering such learning processes back in 1994 on the first conflict transformation course that I participated in.
When it came to learning an informal mediation process, the group members were most struck by discovering that they could shape the process in constructive ways, but they couldn’t determine the outcome: that was up to those in conflict with one another. They grasped the idea of themselves as shepherds of good process, rather than as those who would solve others’ problems. It was a liberating insight.
So I look back with joy at the opportunity to facilitate this learning journey for a wonderful group of Kenyan church leaders. This joy resonated with a phrase several of the group used when sharing in our circle processes: God is good – all of the time; all of the time, God is good.
Revd Dr Alastair McKay, Executive Director
Kenya Peacemaking Training of Trainers
In May this year, 22 experienced leaders from dioceses in the Anglican Church of Kenya’s Mt Kenya region gathered at the Sagana conference centre to participate in RI’s inaugural Peacemaking Training of Trainers‘ residential week.
Since May, graduates of the Training of Trainers‘ week have been delivering training workshops across their dioceses in the Mount Kenya region. Here are a small selection of images of these leaders sharing peacemaking tools and insights that they learned with us. Supported by the RI, this group of trainers are forming a Community of Practice to support and encourage one another in their peacemaking work.
Follow this link to read more about the Training of Trainers’ week.
| The next milestone in Kenya is offering a peacemaking training week for a second cohort of Bishops and their spouses from the coastal Tsavo region of the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK). This will be held in October in Mombasa on Kenya’s east coast. Follow us on social media for more images and videos, and to keep abreast of new developments. |
Reconciling Mission new development
Watch the video below for an update on how the Reconcilling Mission programme is evolving to incorporate practices and insights from the Partnership for Missional Church (PMC) process.
| Alastair McKay, RI director, and Nigel Rooms, who has been heading up PMC, discuss how they are partnering to bring new life to church outreach. |
Reconciling Mission cohort 5: continuing their journey
| Participants from the dioceses of Newcastle and Southwark are continuing their journey with the Reconciling Mission programme through gathering for online Action Learning Groups. These gatherings give a chance to revisit insights from the initial residential. Using a facilitated group coaching process, the groups also offer participants valuable thinking space to process challenges they face in ministry and in leading new missional approaches with their churches. Participants from the dioceses of Newcastle and Southwark are continuing their journey with the Reconciling Mission programme through gathering for online Action Learning Groups. These gatherings give a chance to revisit insights from the initial residential. Using a facilitated group coaching process, the groups also offer participants valuable thinking space to process challenges they face in ministry and in leading new missional approaches with their churches |
Recruitment for a 6th cohort of the revised Reconciling Mission programme will begin in the autumn.
Follow us on social media for the latest news.
2027 Reconciling Mission Conference
Next year’s Reconciling Mission annual conference will take place at the Central Methodist Church in York on Tuesday 16 March 2027. The programme is still being shaped and further details will be announced in due course.
Prayer requests
We welcome your prayers for Reconciliation Initiatives. In particular for:
- Wisdom in revising the Reconciling Mission programme to integrate PMC practices and insights into the process, and in developing new publicity.
- Graduates of the Kenya Peacemaking Training of Trainers‘ course as they share their learning in their local dioceses.
- Preparations for the next Practical Peacemaking training in Kenya in October for ACK Bishops and spouses from the coastal Tsavo region.
- The 5th cohort of participants in the Reconciling Mission programme, as they take forward new missional thinking with their churches.
- A successful relaunch of the Reconciling Mission programme in the autumn, in order to recruit a 6th cohort to begin next year.
Thank you for remembering us in your prayers. May you be blessed as you join us in God’s reconciling work.
Grace and peace to you,
Revd Dr Alastair McKay, Executive Director
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