In April this year we will have the chance to learn from an expert about the possibilities of "Talking Circles". The workshops are open to lay and ordained alike - anyone who wants to take Jesus' call seriously to become reconciling communities. There is a limit of 15 people per workshop, so register quickly!

Register Here

Anne van Gend says:

"In my discussions across our region, it has quickly became clear that the most common reason people have left our churches has nothing to do with faith in God. Almost always it is because of some mismanaged conflict, careless words, or - simply - lack of love. All of us make mistakes and mishandle certain situations - that's part of being human. But as the body of Christ, we are to be known by our love. That is a glorious vision to aim for, and workshops such as these are offered as tools for us, as communities of faith, to learn how to love better.

Talking Circles

A Talking Circle can be a highly effective process for a group to establish (or renew) trust and relationships; to explore issues and opportunities around something we about deeply (and sometimes differently); to develop shared commitment and collaborative action.

Our facilitator is Michael Wood, who will be joining us from Melbourne. Michael is an Anglican Priest and Coach who has extensive experience in using and teaching Talking Circles in churches, NGOs, government, education, and community settings around Australia.

Michael is offering two workshops. The first will be a full-day experiential workshop on Wednesday April 17th for church leaders (which is a broad term!), which will not only introduce the practice but equip us to use Talking Circles ourselves in a range of situations. It will begin at 9am and go through to 4.30pm. This full-day workshop will equip participants to facilitate Talking Circles in their own context(s), either local parishes or regional/enabler settings (including complex or conflicted settings). Following the workshop, participants will be invited to facilitate a Talking Circle and then come back together a month later (on Zoom) to debrief learnings.

The second will be a half-day workshop - more of a 'taster" - on Sunday April 21st, from 2pm to 5pm (arrive from 1.30pm). This workshop will provide a ‘taste’ of a Talking Circle by inviting participants to engage with a real topic (to be advised). The afternoon will include a debrief session to reflect on the process, ask questions, and explore potential applications in church leadership.

This workshop is for those who wish to explore the potential applications of Talking Circles in day-to-day church life. For lay people and clergy who want to learn how to regularly facilitate Talking Circles in parish (or regional/enabler) leadership, including in complex or conflicted settings, we recommend doing the full-day Facilitator Workshop on Wednesday 17th April. 

If you would like to find out more, email me, Anne, on enabler@calledsouth.org.nz. 

If you are ready to register for the day, please fill out the short and simple form here.