Facilitator: Betty Pries This workshop uses the two lenses of conflict drivers and conflict paradoxes and considers seemingly intractable conflicts and their transformation. Questions for consideration include the nature of intractability, de-escalation strategies, transforming intractable conflicts, and engaging emotions. This workshop builds on Understanding Conflict: Foundations. It is highly interactive, insightful, engaging, and critical for all …
View course details “Understanding Conflict Advanced”

Facilitator: Paul Okoye This highly interactive and educational workshop invites you to consider the building blocks that create conflict and those that assist or detract in conflict’s resolution. The workshop includes reflection, conversation, and exercises as conflicts are studied and models for addressing conflicts are considered. Significant time will be given to skill building for …
View course details “Understanding Conflict Foundations”

Facilitator(s): Betty Pries and Cayla Charles Recognizing that our social structures and personal biases can get in the way of commitment to respecting our colleagues and community members, this interactive workshop will engage themes of prejudice, power, and privilege in a manner that honours all voices in the room while also challenging the biases and …
View course details “Transforming Power, Prejudice and Privilege”

Jesus is clear that it is the peacemakers who are blessed, and this is what his disciples are to be. But Christians have disagreed for centuries as to just what it means to be a peacemaker. Does it mean that Christians are obligated to refuse the use of all violence? Does it allow for participation …
View course details “Violence, War, and Christian Peacemaking”

Civil discourse is a critical part of engaging in our civic life together, as it can help us to bridge partisan political divides, learn from one another, and create better solutions to the problems in our communities. But what is civil discourse? Is it different from civility? Based on the online class created by The …
View course details “Make Me an Instrument of Peace: Civil Discourse Training”

Getting Angry is only the tip of the Iceberg. Anger is a secondary emotion. Understanding the cause of anger is the first step to managing it. This Workshop will identify the causes of anger and explore our own beliefs and patterns of response. Learn how to respond to anger on a day-to-day basis in a …
View course details “The Anger Iceberg”

BTLI is a weeklong intensive continuing education event for clergy and laity for training, worship, and fellowship. The institute is designed for clergy and lay leaders who would like to deepen their thinking and preaching by learning from preeminent scholars of theology and religion. In 2022, BTLI will focus on the theme, Fire in My …
View course details “Fire in My Bones: Womanist Leadership, Activism, and Preaching”

DMIN 83XX Covenant and Treaty in Biblical and North American Indigenous Perspective – In conjunction with the NAIITS: Indigenous Learning Community’s annual symposium from Jun 3–5, this course will focus on the historical and modern notions of treaty in the North American  Indigenous context, with a view to comparing and drawing insight from the biblical …
View course details “Advanced Theology for Ministry Practitioners”

This course will explore the implications of the church’s relationship to residential schools for Christian theology.  We will cover the history of the schools in the Canadian context as well as the role of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and the collection of first-person testimony. Together we will take up questions of theology …
View course details “Theology after Residential Schools”

This course will explore the history and development of race in North American contexts, including the role of Christianity. It will demonstrate the importance and execution of race conversation with children and youth. It will include personal practices to engage children, youth, and adults in productive work toward racial justice. Course will be taught in …
View course details “A Spirituality of Race for Children and Youth (and Those Who Love Them)”