Conversation not confrontation: strengthening relationships and navigating conflict in churches

Revd Jo Williams (Co-Director of Reconciliation, The Blackley Centre) and other members of the Churches Restorative Practice Networking steering group share practical examples of how to have good conversations both inside church congregations and in outward looking work within our local communities. She equips us with ideas of how to have conversations in restorative ways which will strengthen relationships while addressing issues that occur. She points us towards the theory and theology of restorative practice and how this is relevant to those in church ministry.

This event marks the launch of the newly established Churches Restorative Practice Network, which seeks to draw together church leaders and members in the UK who are interested in developing the use of restorative approaches in churches and equipping and supporting church leaders to build the skills needed to bring about healing and reconciliation in their congregations.

Revd Jo Williams is Joint Minister of Blackley Baptist Church, and Co-Director of The Blackley Centre for Peace and Reconciliation in West Yorkshire, doing both alongside her partner, Andy. Jo is an accredited mediator of the College of Mediators and has been mediating primarily within community, faith and workplace conflicts for over 25 years. Alongside doing mediations, The Blackley Centre trains mediators for community mediation services nationally, as well as training people within the church in restorative practice and mediation. She supports clergy and ministers in transforming conflict. Jo has created training courses on Hate Crime for Young Offenders, and the RAFT training programme addressing hate related incidents for the English Football League. The exciting initiative of Young Peace Ambassadors, training primary school children in mediative and restorative practices, now takes up a lot of her time!

This is a recording of an online event held by The Mint House on 12 November 2025. More information can be found here: https://www.minthouseoxford.co.uk/eve...

If you are interested in joining the Churches Restorative Practice Network please contact us via our website.

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To find out more about The Mint House and our other events and workshops, please visit: https://www.minthouseoxford.co.uk/