Transforming

Conversation

Vision

A community of inspired and confident people engaging in transformative
conversation about life, belief and faith.

The TC Community is open to everyone who wants to maintain a connection with Transforming Conversation and who has attended training or been involved with TC or its predecessor (Christian Communities in Conversation) or Shoreline (which was foundational in the setting up of CCiC).

Mission Statement

Support and assist people to engage in meaningful communication through the
facilitation of transformational conversation.

Aim:

To create, identify and cultivate communities of people able to graciously hear and
share widely different views that enable change and transformation.

Objectives:

• Be a missional community that empowers and equips participants in using
  transformative conversation in their own context.
•  Provide opportunities for ongoing training and continuing development in
  transformational conversation and reflective practice.
• Raise awareness to the benefits of transformational conversation.
• Facilitate transformational conversation in a range of contexts.
• Provide accessible and relevant resources linked to transformational conversation.
• Support new and existing communities/groups through facilitating transformational
  conversations.

Wednesday 11th March

Among the Earth’s Freedoms

We will think and reflect on some of the images we associate with spring and Easter with – maybe – some consideration of how they inform our living.

Nick

Conversation Summary

11th March

Our conversation focussed very much on awareness, following an activity where we “mindfully” ate something we enjoyed.  There was a general sense of the importance of connecting with ourselves, (as one person put it, “be friendly with yourself”), taking time, being childlike and finding wonder in the small things.  We heard about a child spending ages looking at one, tiny insect and this connected some of us to the importance of nature.

We heard about “tuning into ourselves”, finding rhythm in the day and using mindfulness to lighten the burden of repetitive or mundane “chores”.  We recognised that we were fortunate if we could find the time to stop and be reflective in our thinking – there are many times in life when that can seem impossible – and how it seems even more important in this age of “screens” and 24/7 lifestyles to encourage one another to take “time out”.

Using an activity as part of the stimulus was roundly appreciated.  Thanks to Juanita for facilitating the conversation so well and, once again, to Ruth and Tracey for producing the original conversation stimulus .

Bev

Ed.  It’s been great to have some new facilitators for our recent conversations and we look forward to having them back in the future.  The Wellbeing conversations are available to download or contact Georgia/Ruth if you would like copies to use.  

Growing Through Change and Conflict

We have an exciting offer in this week’s e-news for anyone interested in understanding how conflict develops and improving the skills needed to deal with it and, when possible, diffuse it.  The Positive Working Together programme fits so well with the TC ethos we felt many of us might be interested in doing Growing Through Change and Conflict.  It will be available on zoom but knowing how many of us hanker after another Gathering Day, we may be able to get 12 names interested in doing it in person.  Please see below about getting your name on the list to join on zoom or in-person and why not consider inviting someone not involved with TC as well.  

We have long recognised that good Listening Skills are one of the basic building blocks of good conversation and we have received a number of requests to offer help with these.  So, our Training Officer, Ruth Hartley, is busily working away finalising 2 zoom sessions, which will be available in the next few weeks.   

Our series of Community conversations on Wellbeing continue this week, looking at Doing.  If you are a TC facilitator or someone who has experience of co-facilitating and would like to volunteer to facilitate one of these conversations, using the stimulus resources provided, please contact Ruth on training@transformingconversation.org

Finally, Ruth and I are attending the District Staff Retreat next week, so if you are part of the TC Community (ie in receipt of this e-news!) and are also attending, please do come and introduce yourselves as we don’t know all Community Members by sight yet.  
 
Keep up the Conversations!

Bev
Transforming Conversation Enabler