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Living Reconciliation
This book is intended as a platform to enable people to engage with and understand the Archbishop of Canterburys thinking on and methodology for reconciliation. Emerging from the Anglican Communion in collaboration with the Lambeth staff, the book has a strong focus on the indaba process which marked the 2008 Lambeth conference, on drawing lessons from practical stories from around the Communion, and on tying the process to the Bible at every point.
194 pages, Paperback
First published September 18, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 30, 2017
Gifted this book some time last year, I was determined to complete it before an event this weekend which I'm helping to lead, an event with the theme of "reconciliation." I'm grateful to be able to check that box!
More importantly, I'm grateful for the insights that come from this review of the use of "indaba" across the Anglican Communion ...in congregations and dioceses, and between triads of dioceses. Many stories included names that I recognized, or situations that were familiar to me. All helped to bring clarity to my conviction that the work of reconciliation must be a deep and lasting commitment of the body of Christ. The work of reconciliation, as it is presented in this book, engages individuals and communities in a different way of living and being. It won't be for all, but for those seeking to understand that there is "a more excellent way" in the midst of this world's polarities and adversarial approaches to life, faith and politics, this little book offers some good and practical insights.
It will all be in the doing, though, as these insights must come off of the page and into our lives! I'll need to digest this a little to determine whether this book will simply be another useful resource in a toolbox full of resources, or whether it will become an impetus for me to more deliberately offer the sort of leadership "that places trust in God and the community" rather than in our inherited structures which too closely mimic those of the world around us.
More importantly, I'm grateful for the insights that come from this review of the use of "indaba" across the Anglican Communion ...in congregations and dioceses, and between triads of dioceses. Many stories included names that I recognized, or situations that were familiar to me. All helped to bring clarity to my conviction that the work of reconciliation must be a deep and lasting commitment of the body of Christ. The work of reconciliation, as it is presented in this book, engages individuals and communities in a different way of living and being. It won't be for all, but for those seeking to understand that there is "a more excellent way" in the midst of this world's polarities and adversarial approaches to life, faith and politics, this little book offers some good and practical insights.
It will all be in the doing, though, as these insights must come off of the page and into our lives! I'll need to digest this a little to determine whether this book will simply be another useful resource in a toolbox full of resources, or whether it will become an impetus for me to more deliberately offer the sort of leadership "that places trust in God and the community" rather than in our inherited structures which too closely mimic those of the world around us.
July 29, 2016
A useful book in simple language outlining the meaning, process & value of the Continuing Indaba concept. It was first introduced & utilized among the Anglican/Episcopal bishops of the world gathered in 2008 at the Lambeth Conference. At the suggestion of Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa, Indaba was embraced as an alternative to the usual, and during this time polemical, parliamentary style of debating issues. Makgoba described it as "a gathering for purposeful discussion."
The pain & violence in all our societies globally has pressed a good number of people into the realization that none of us can regard others' situations as "not my problem". The authors note: "The truth is that the world is changed by ordinary people living in a new way." Living Reconciliation is a process, a journey really, sometimes quite extended, risky, and painful; definitely not easy, on which people can come together face to face as diverse, different, varied human beings, and learn to communicate civilly & appropriately in telling the truth. Honest sharing, where all sides, all constituencies, have an equal opportunity leads to understanding, building relationships, friendship, community, but, at the same time, not necessarily a change of personally held convictions.
The Indaba journey is always uncertain, uncomfortable, because no one knows ahead of time what changes might be effected, both in lives & in structures of power. The process doesn't necessarily end conflict, but enables people to confront conflict face-to-face in healthy ways. But it makes possible for people a new way of being, one that holds out hope.
The pain & violence in all our societies globally has pressed a good number of people into the realization that none of us can regard others' situations as "not my problem". The authors note: "The truth is that the world is changed by ordinary people living in a new way." Living Reconciliation is a process, a journey really, sometimes quite extended, risky, and painful; definitely not easy, on which people can come together face to face as diverse, different, varied human beings, and learn to communicate civilly & appropriately in telling the truth. Honest sharing, where all sides, all constituencies, have an equal opportunity leads to understanding, building relationships, friendship, community, but, at the same time, not necessarily a change of personally held convictions.
The Indaba journey is always uncertain, uncomfortable, because no one knows ahead of time what changes might be effected, both in lives & in structures of power. The process doesn't necessarily end conflict, but enables people to confront conflict face-to-face in healthy ways. But it makes possible for people a new way of being, one that holds out hope.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews