Partners in Transformation

Partners in Transformation is a new project whose aim is to enhance, nurture, and support the capacity of churches and faith communities in their calling to be peace builders and agents of transformation

PIT is a joint initiative of the Irish School of Ecumenics (ISE) and the Mediation Network for Northern Ireland (MNNI). Both ISE and MNNI have been working consistently with the churches for several years to help them to develop their capacity for contributing actively to the ongoing establishment of peace and positive relationships in society. This work has been largely, though not exclusively, targeted at those who are active at grass roots level. There are a number of other significant agencies doing similar or complementary work with various church constituencies.

Their efforts have borne fruit in various ways. It is, however, clear that important as the grassroots activity may be, there is an overriding need for systemic work with churches and faith communities around generating new agendas and strategies for peacebuilding at an executive level that can authorize, support and ultimately sustain grassroots activity. Active peacebuilding needs to become a mainstream concern and not the preserve of an enthusiastic few on the fringes of the churches.

This project, which is scheduled to run for five years, will seek to provide resources for different church constituencies in the area of peacebuilding. It will be targeted towards 'church leaders' by which we mean:

• Executive and middle range leaders of all churches and faith communities willing to participate.
• Local leaders: ministers, elders, members of parish councils, leaders' meetings, synods, vestries, and lay leaders who have an active or influential role in their denomination at local or regional level.

Initiating Contacts and Mapping

Initiating contact with all key executive and middle range leaders and in the course of it to map the peacebuilding initiatives currently taking place and training being provided in each denomination or faith community to build up an accurate picture of what is happening and the gaps that exist.

Reflective Discussions

Creating opportunities, in safe, structured and unstructured ways, for people in church leadership roles at various levels to meet and reflect together about issues concerning institutional peacebuilding.

Curriculum Development and Training

Designing and delivering peacebuilding training modules in basic, follow-up and training for trainers formats for middle-range and local leadership that cover the following themes: conflict transformation, peace-building, group facilitation, moving beyond sectarianism, ministry in a divided society and inter-church issues.

Consultancy

Making available to churches and faith communities the expertise of the project team and associates in order to enhance and support institutional peacebuilding initiatives

Networking

Providing support, encouragement and a channel for sharing of information between those working at the promotion of peacebuilding within different churches and faith communities.

Target Constituencies

Peace-building work will be targeted at three distinct levels:

1. Executive Leadership / Middle-Range Leadership for Reflective Discussions/Workshops
2. Theological colleges, Post-ordination and In-service teacher training for Training Courses
3. Middle-range and Local leadership for Basic, Follow-up and Training For Trainers Courses

Staffing

The Project will have two co-leaders, Doug Baker and Cecelia Clegg, one each seconded from MNNI and ISE. It is anticipated that there will also be an Administrator and two Project Officers as part of the staff team early in 2002. In addition, it is envisaged that the project will attract people as associates on a full or part-time basis for a period of one to three years, to work alongside the project team in order to gain more experience and skills and contribute to ongoing programme activities.

Funding

This project is funded by Atlantic Philanthropies, The Irish Council of Churches special projects fund, and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).