Teaching: National reconciliation seminar set for Los Angeles May 23-25
Episcopal News Service. April 17, 2007 [041707-01]
In compliance with resolution A039 from the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church which urged all bishops and their dioceses to take formal training in the skills and methods of faith-based reconciliation, the Diocese of Los Angeles' reconciliation ministry, Reconcilers.net, will host a seminar May 23-25 at St. James' Church, in Los Angeles, California.
'Reconcilers.net' is a growing movement of Episcopalians working to impart faith-based reconciliation as both a spirituality and a moral vision for living together in the Episcopal Church.
Themed "Finding the Third Way: A National Training Event in Reconciliation," the conference will use the present conflicts in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion as raw material, and introduce to the eight core principles of faith-based reconciliation: Pluralism; Forgiveness; Inclusion; Healing; Peacemaking; God's Sovereignty; Social justice; and Finding Peace with God.
The premise being that once a common understanding of these principles is reached, they become a system of shared values, a framework for analyzing the conflict at hand and thus participants learn a more useful way to understand conflicts and broken relationships. The hope is that along the way, they will learn to recognize the spiritual forces that aggravate conflict, and invoke the help of the Holy Spirit to forgive and heal relationships.
The conference also plans to emphasize the importance of listening and listening skills. Short presentations will alternate with small and large group exercises, and plenary sessions, culminating in a Service of Reconciliation.
Woven into this process is a Learning Conversation; a supported and facilitated dialogue which explores intractable identity-based conflicts. This approach consists of five steps:
- Sharing life journeys and building common ground
- Sharing perceptions of the conflict or problem
- Engaging in a problem solving approach using a reconciliation lens
- Sharing where each has experienced and caused offense to the other
- Sharing each community's narrative of history and perception of historical wounds
Conference Goals
The overall goals of the conference are to empower individuals as reconcilers; provide the training called for by General Convention '06 resolution A-039; assist dioceses in setting up their own reconciliation teams; and generate creative approaches to the challenges of staying in communion.
Cost of the three days is $195, which includes meals and materials but not lodging.
For more information e-mail Leslie Smith at ctk8@verizon.net or call 805-964-9966. For registration visit the website.