Leadership Training to Transform Conflicts and Restore Relationships
In recent years, many congregational leaders have faced mounting tension and deepening division within their congregations, not to mention their wider communities. This has pastors and laypersons alike asking how exactly to lead in such a time as this and how to respond to the harms they and their people are experiencing.
The Shalom Collaboratory at Eastern Mennonite Seminary is developing new training programs for theologically informed conflict transformation skills.
In these workshops, webinars, and short courses, participants will learn how to implement an adaptive leadership approach to transform conflicts in the creative spirit of Godly imagination, incorporate strategies for trauma awareness and resilience into their congregational practices, or take up other practical approaches to the troubles our congregations now routinely encounter.
Fall 2023 Online Training Opportunities
The Shalom Collaboratory at Eastern Mennonite Seminary is hosting a series of online training sessions geared toward pastors and lay leaders. Skilled facilitators not only present theoretical frameworks for understanding conflict but invite experimentation with practices for peacebuilding and conflict transformation and promote spiritual formation for wise, real-time engagement.
[bullet points are fine, but let’s use tiles if we can:]
- Nov 2: Becoming Resilient Leaders with Trauma-Aware Practices (Beverly Prestwood-Taylor) [image]
- Nov 9: Mobilizing the Church for Justice in the Wake of Christendom and White Supremacy (Drew G. I. Hart) [image]
- Nov 14: Leading in an Age of Polarization (David R. Brubaker) [image]
- Dec 12: Migration Trauma: Displacement in the Bible and Today (Saulo Padilla and Elaine Zook Barge) [image or image]
[Register today – button, link to registration form]
These non-credit webinars and workshops are offered via Zoom video conferencing software. Participants are expected to read messages from facilitators in advance of the workshop, engage any suggested readings or other preparatory work, and attend the synchronous online sessions ready to contribute to a virtual learning environment with others striving to create a peaceful, just, and inclusive world.
You won’t receive a grade, but readings, discussion, and activities are comparable to college-level work, and facilitators assume you have critical thinking skills and some previous academic study. Connecting to an online training requires a computer or tablet with reliable, high-speed internet access. Our training works best when the participant wears a headset. This is not mandatory, but doing so helps to eliminate feedback and distortions.
Spring 2024 offerings coming soon!
Past On-Campus Workshops
Past Online Workshops
Custom and On-Location Trainings
If you or your organization is interested in custom-designed online or on-location training for organizational leaders, community members, employees or volunteers, please use this form to start the conversation:
[Request Custom Training Information – button, link to custom form]
We are happy to collaborate! Unsure of what type of training you might need? We’re ready to listen and help assess your needs based on what we have to offer with no obligation.
Upcoming On-Location Trainings
- Learning to Navigate Tough Conversations at Bon Air United Methodist Church (October 2023)
- Moral Formation: Adaptive Leadership in Situations of Conflict at The Episcopal Diocese of Texas Clergy Conference (October 2023)
