Place For Hope Our Charter

Transcription

1 Place Fr Hpe Our Charter THE NEED WHY WE EXIST HOW WE DESCRIBE THE SITUATION WE RE RESPONDING TO We knw cnflict is part f life and can be bth creative and destructive. We ntice that many peple including thse in faith cmmunities can struggle t find helpful ways t respnd t change, tensin and difference. Sme structures, systems and habits can make it difficult fr peple t hear each ther well and relatinships break dwn. We knw that there is much transfrmatinal ptential in cnflict. Knwing there is help and supprt available can be a great surce f hpe fr thse experiencing difficulties and divisins within their cngregatins and cmmunities. 2. OUR VISION WHAT WE ULITMATELY WANT TO SEE IS BEYOND OUR CONTROL AND WITHIN OUR INFLUENCE Our visin is fr a wrld where peple embrace the transfrmatinal ptential f cnflict and nurture the art f peacebuilding. 3. OUR PURPOSE WHAT WE EXIST TO DO WHAT WE DO TO HELP REALISE THE VISION (OUR MISSION) Place fr Hpe accmpanies and equips peple and faith cmmunities s that all might reach their ptential t be peacemakers wh navigate cnflict well. We want every cmmunity t be a place fr hpe where everyne is able t: ntice brkenness and divisin nurture relatinships and cmmunity navigate cnflict with graciusness nurish whleness in themselves and their cmmunities. As set ut in ur Cnstitutin, ur purpses are: T advance cnflict reslutin and recnciliatin thrugh mediatin as a means t help individuals, grups and leaders in faith cmmunities and the wider cmmunity live mre effectively with difference and diversity; T advance citizenship, cmmunity develpment and peace-making thrugh prmting methds f interactin and dialgue which supprt healthy relatinships and recnciliatin drawing n the wisdm frm Christian and ther religius traditins; T prmte scietal harmny, and prevent cnflict, by prviding trained mediatrs t wrk with individuals and within cmmunities, addressing issues f inequality and divisin; and T advance educatin thrugh the prvisin f training in mediatin and cnflict reslutin, cnflict recnciliatin and cnflict transfrmatin. 4. OUR AIMS WHAT WE RE DOING TO FULFILL OUR PURPOSE; WHAT WE RE CONCRETELY WORKING TOWARDS; OUR AIMS DETERMINE OUR SERVICES, THE IMPACT WE LOOK FOR AND WHAT WE MEASURE. T resurce the church and wider faith cmmunities with peacemakers T accmpany grups navigating cnflict and difficult cnversatins in ur faith cmmunities. 1

2 5. THE IMPACT WE WANT TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE OR CHANGE WE WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS WILL DETERMINE THE INDICATORS WE NEED TO MONITOR Mre peple understand the creative ptential f cnflict. Mre peple are skilled and feel able t hst difficult cnversatins. Places f wrship are experienced as places fr hpe by their members where cnflict, change and difference are navigated in ways that feel bth helpful and respectful. Each faith cmmunity in Sctland and beynd is able t be a recnciling presence in their wider cmmunity. Within ur cmmunities and institutins we mve away frm a culture f unhealthy and cntrlling mdels f behavir and leadership twards a healing mdel f ministry based n service. 6. OUR DISTINCTIVE CONTRIBUTION AND APPROACH WHERE DO WE WANT TO BE DISTINCTIVE AND STRONG WHAT WE WANT PEOPLE TO RECOGNISE FROM THE OUTSIDE Place fr Hpe has its rigins in the Christian faith. Our wrk is rted in and infrmed by multiple expressins f faith. We seek t hnur individuals jurneys and respect ur faith institutins. We recgnize and are familiar with the structures, dynamics and challenges within different faith cmmunities. We are particularly adept at helping large, multi-party grups navigate change and hld difficult cnversatins. We help create circles f trust where peple can listen and be heard. We are flexible and able t deliver shrt wrkshps r wrk with grups ver a lnger perid. We fster a peace building cmmunity by training, caching, supprting and supervising a netwrk f Team Members skilled in navigating cnflict and hsting grup dialgues. Our Team Members always wrk in grups f tw r mre t draw n each ther s experience and wisdm and ffer peer supprt, t guide difficult cnversatins between grups and individuals r where relatinships have brken dwn. We are rted in Sctland and als wrk cllabratively in partnerships elsewhere. 7. OUR SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES WHAT WE DO DAY-TO-DAY WHAT YOU D SEE IF YOU VISITED US SERVICES/ACTIVITIES WE COULD PROMOTE AND POSSIBLY CHARGE FOR Prvide leadership training, wrkshps and resurces fr understanding and wrking with cnflict as well as hsting and navigating difficult cnversatins. Respnd t requests fr help and supprt, including: helping grups and individuals at a time f crisis accmpanying sensitive r difficult grup cnversatins prviding individual caching, advice and supprt hsting and enabling cmmunity dialgues n difficult, ptentially divisive issues Develp and supprt a Team skilled in understanding cnflict and able t prvide mediatin, training and facilitatin. 8. OUR AUDIENCES WHERE WE WORK WHO WE WORK WITH KEY TARGET AUDIENCES OUR CLIENTS WHO WE SERVE We want peacebuilding t flurish and d what we can t help and enable this. We want t strengthen and resurce individuals, faith leaders and grups s that they can be peacemakers within their wider cmmunities. We want t accmpany grups and individuals as they navigate difference and divisin. Our services are tailred t fur grups: Individuals wh want t help thers have difficult cnversatins Faith leaders wrking lcally, reginally and natinally Churches, cngregatins and ther faith grups Cmmunities grappling with differences that relate t a faith cntext. 2

3 9. OUR PARTNERS T d this wrk, we value and fster relatinship with a wide spectrum f institutins, rganisatins, netwrks and individuals, including: Leaders and key cntacts within different faith institutins Partners invlved in the wrk f peacebuilding Academic institutins and training clleges Ecumenical and interfaith netwrks and festivals Faith-based charities and cmmunities Funders and ambassadrs wh supprt ur wrk We invite everyne we wrk with t be part f a Peacebuilding Cmmunity. 10. OUR VALUES GUIDE OUR DECISION MAKING AND HOW WE WORK INFORM HOW WE RESOLVE CONFLICT Our values are built int every area f activity. They tell the stry f the hpe we carry and seek t enable: Curageus and cmpassinate Being bld and wrking with lving kindness. Challenging and trusting Unafraid t g t the difficult, uncmfrtable places ging there with care, humanity and empathy. Inspiratinal and effective Fstering prphetic and creative vices alngside wrkable appraches Integrity and fairness Hnuring ur differences and diversity and enabling respectful prcesses. 11. OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES THESE BELIEFS AND PRINCIPLES UNDERPIN OUR BEING AND OUR DOING Abut language and faith We hnur the rle f faith in peple s lives. We recgnise that peple express values, beliefs and faith in many ways. We knw that smetimes language r hw beliefs are expressed can cause hurt and trigger divisin. We hpe t be gracius, sensitive and inclusive abut hw we use language while remaining generus and pen t hearing and hlding difference. We knw we wn t always get it right. In the midst f s many wrds, we acknwledge the value f silence, and saying srry when we get it wrng. Abut faith, relatinships and peple We celebrate the gdness and blessing at the heart f humanity, believing there is that f Gd in everyne. We want t cultivate whleness and recnciliatin within urselves, ur faith cmmunities and the wider cmmunity. We respect ur staff, vlunteers, clients and partners and cherish the diversity in all, including any age, ability, gender, race, religin/belief, sexual rientatin and health status. We d this by treating every individual with respect as equals. Abut cnflict, creativity and change We recgnise that cnflict is part f life and we aim t harness its psitive ptential. We want t embrace change, difference and cnflict in creative ways s that we can learn frm them, and be pen t being changed (metania). Transfrmatin and recnciliatin is built n truth, justice, frgiveness and peace. Abut accmpanying peple We knw the pwer and curage t change resides within each individual. It is nt ur respnsibility nr within ur pwer t change anyne. We accmpany peple where relatinships have becme impaired and help them mve twards a place f whleness. Wrking in pairs, we aim t create trusting, gracius spaces s that peple can cnnect with their wn inner wisdm and with each ther. 3

4 Abut always being learners We want t be recnciling peacemakers and s value learning as a lifelng jurney. We are nt alne in this wrk f recnciliatin. Many are n the rad with us and many have gne befre. We want t acknwledge, learn frm and link with thers wh are invlved in this vital wrk. 12. OUR PEOPLE WHO WE ARE AND HOW WE RE STRUCTURED As a cmmunity f practice, we seek t value and enrich the cntributin and gifts f each Team Member. In rder t wrk cllabratively, we recgnise the value f having clear rles and respnsibilities. We strive t perate within intercnnecting circles, where each part f the rganisatin prvides verlapping, imprtant and distinctive cntributins t the whle. Currently: *These are typically vlunteer rles (r delivered as part f an existing paid rle e.g. interim minister where a different rganisatin/institutin prvides the payment/salary) +These are typically paid rles within Place Fr Hpe. 4

5 NURTURING THE PEACEMAKERS NETWORK We want t help cnnect and cntribute t the wide netwrk f peple and rganisatins wh are cmmitted t the wrk f peace building. Anyne can jin ur peacemakers netwrk it is especially rientated twards individuals and rganisatins wh are cmmitted t the wrk f cnflict transfrmatin in their cmmunities, hmes and lives. It includes peple wh: value the skill f grup facilitatin/mediatin and its pwer t transfrm cnflicted situatins want t learn mre abut themselves and learn better ways f handling cnflict acknwledge the damaging ways in which ur thelgy and ur thelgical language have influenced ur cmmn life face up t living with difference within and between ur denminatins, faiths and cmmunities want t help transfrm their lcal place f wrship and/r cmmunities int a place f peace and recnciliatin. 13. HOW WE WORK PROVIDING MORE DETAIL ON OUR SERVICES OUR STRATEGIC APPROACH. This sectin will be incrprated int a regularly updated marketing flyer, infrmed by ur Business Plan. We anticipate that the Plicy Practice Grup will develp a Cde f Practice and Intake Plicy OUR STORY: Place fr Hpe had its genesis in the Church f Sctland in the Reprt n Cnflict in the Church submitted t the General Assembly f An ecumenical cnference was then held in Aviemre in 2009 where the riginal bjectives included: Establish a live netwrk f peple thrughut Sctland cmmitted t the wrk f peacemaking and recnciliatin (prvide the churches f Sctland with a team f Trained Mediatrs wh will be available t help cngregatins deal mre effectively with disputes that might therwise result in the breakdwn f cngregatinal life). Fund a place recgnized as a Centre where resurces in mediatin and recnciliatin can be accessed (establish an ecumenical partnership which will allw the Church t claim its wn grund as a peacemaker and healer in a brken wrld) Initiate a church-wide realisatin f the imprtance f building cmmunities f peace and recnciliatin (reach beynd addressing the church s internal cnflicts and help cngregatins becme peacemakers in the cmmunities they serve) In 2015, with the financial supprt f the Ministries Cuncil f the Church f Sctland, Place fr Hpe was established as an independent charity in Sctland and has embarked n the jurney f becming a resurce fr churches and faith cmmunities in Sctland and beynd. 14. THE INVITATION HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED Help yur cmmunity in crisis: If yu are aware f cnflict r difficulty within yur faith cmmunity, and wuld appreciate sme supprt, please get in tuch t see if we can help. Develp yur skills: Jin ne f ur pen access training curses Strengthen yur cmmunity: Encurage yur church r faith grup t hst a cmmunity dialgue and/r invite us t deliver a wrkshp r training sessin. Stay cnnected: Jin ur Place fr Hpe Netwrk and receive ur mnthly bulletin with infrmatin n upcming events, training and helpful articles. Be a champin and enabler: Please help us prmte peacebuilding and the wrk f Place Fr Hpe. 5

6 15. GLOSSARY SELECTED WORDS REFERRED TO IN CHARTER Cnflict Management: fcus n Prcess/Cntrl - deliberate persnal, scial, rganizatinal tls/skills fr managing cnflict and handling grievances (J P Lederach) Cnflict Reslutin: fcus n Prblem/Cntent; attempts t reslve a dispute r prblem by prviding pprtunities t meet the needs and address the interests f bth sides s that bth can live with the utcme (J P Lederach): Cnflict Transfrmatin: fcus n Peple/Relatinships with an emphasis n building health relatinships, cmmunities and scial structures where there is a radical respect fr difference and nnvilence is embraced as a way f life (J P Lederach) Cnflict Recnciliatin: prcess f transfrming energy f cnflict int that which is life-giving rather than sul-destrying ; includes the energies f truth, frgiveness, mercy, justice and peace. (J P Lederach) Facilitatin: accmpaniment f grups t encurage mre pen dialgue n imprtant r ptentially difficult subjects Mediatin: a prcess where an impartial persn facilitates a cnversatin between tw parties t reslve a dispute where the reslutin is acceptable by bth parties Training: develping knwledge, understanding and skills within individuals r grups Peacebuilding: the lng term cmmitment t reslving vilent cnflict and establishing sustainable peace Peacemakers: peple cmmitted t persnal and systemic transfrmatin in their cmmunity and wrld Metania: a change f mind and/r heart; ften assciated with repentance r a spiritual experience Prphetic: an ability t see hlistically and with clarity, ffering an alternative, creative, visinary way f being and experiencing the wrld Nte: The wrding f this Charter has been influenced by sme f ur funding dcuments, e.g. The 2008 Reprt t the General Assembly n Cngregatinal Cnflict The image f Circles f Trust cmes frm Chapter 5 in A Hidden Whleness: the jurney tward an undivided life. Welcming the sul and weaving cmmunity in a wunded wrld by Parker J. Palmer. The full qute by Jhn Hayne is: if there is that f Gd in everyne, then the mediatr must in all humility seek it. (pp 172 f Mediating Divrce ), incrprating the riginal qute seeking that f Gd in everyne frm the Quaker, Gerge Fx (1656) 6