Conflict Navigation Intensive

On February 19 and 20 the candidates for ministry and Phase 3 ministers participated in an excellent two-day workshop with Michael Wood (openspacecoachingandfacilitation.com) on Conflict Navigation. The workshop could also have been entitled ‘Peacemaking’, as Michael focused partly on establishing healthy communication patterns in relationships – developing curiosity and refining how capacity to ask open questions, as well as deepening our knowledge of neuroscience, the body and conflict. It was a stimulating time of inter-active learning and community building. Michael led us through an exploration of conflict itself (what is and isn’t conflict), how it emerges in all our life contexts, including the church, within and between groups and individuals, and in wider society. We were exposed to self- awareness practices that involve both boundary setting, Restorative Practices, and establishing relationship for peaceful communication. To bed-down the learning, the candidates will follow up this workshop with sessions throughout the semester.