The first years of ordained ministry are a good time to develop confidence in facing conflict. Bridge Builders' training can help to build a firm foundation for future ministry.

Contact us if you have responsibility for organising initial ministerial training. We recommend a day of training as the necessary minimum. If it can be two days, and residential, there will be more than double the value, because there will be more time to build trust and face up to personal challenges.

The training gives new ministers a chance to reflect upon the reality of conflict in concrete situations, and to learn practical skills for building Christian communities that can work at peace-making.

A typical programme covers at least some of the following:

• Our experience of conflict
• Conflict patterns in the church
• Jesus' call to reconciliation
• Personal styles of approaching conflict
• Careful communication
• Resolving conflict
• Escalation of congregational conflict
• Personal disciplines as a leader

But there is not one "standard" programme, and we will work with you to make sure that the training takes account of the way things work in your context.

"Excellent, relevant material, well presented, with attentiveness to individual characters and needs."

Revd Andrew Tawn, IME Officer, Diocese of Bradford

"It is often in the first few years of recognised ministry that the theory and hope of what ministry may contain are not always matched by the reality. This course supports ministers in those first few years, accepts the reality and gives significantly professional models and theories within warm and flexible training methods. We welcome it as a key element in our whole Education for Ministry Phase 2 programme."