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A small group analyzes their conflict style related to one of the "conflict animals"--a koala--as part of a workshop on family conflict transformation
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A participant speaks about issues raised during the conclave on science and theology with a theme of peacemaking and ecology
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Dan Buttry presents two tools for analyzing conflict situations and developing constructive strategies to address those situations
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The beautifully carved wooden symbol of the Baptist Convention of Eastern Cuba
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Dan Buttry with students from the Cuban Baptist seminary outside Santiago where he spent a day teaching Bible-based conflict transformation for pastoral settings
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Dan Buttry with IM missionary colleague Sue Hegarty and her husband Ramon at their home outside Santiago
Journal
Santiago, Cuba—May, 2010
“I’m enchanted!” That’s the first time I’ve ever had someone say that about one of my conflict transformation workshops. It was said by an older woman from the Second Baptist Church in Santiago. I was leading a workshop for the congregation on transforming family conflicts.
At that point we were identifying different approaches we personally take toward conflicts in our families with symbolic animals: a turtle, a koala, a rhino, a fox or dolphins. Participants gathered in groups around the animal symbolizing the “conflict style” that was closest to how they were dealing with a particular conflict that concerned them. In the groups they would reflect on what was helpful and what was damaging or limiting related to that conflict style. The energy in the room was incredible as people eagerly explored in a safe and fun way how they handled conflicts.
What makes such teaching “enchanting?” I think the woman was expressing both relief at not having to sit through a long presentation, even if it was well-crafted and energetically presented and excitement to be engaged herself in the learning process. People remember more of what they discover for themselves than what they have told for them. Just think of being told “don’t touch that,” and yet we do. We have to check things out for ourselves. Elicitive education methods allow the teacher to be a midwife to the birth of new learning for the participative student.
I had been invited to Cuba to participate in a two-day “Conclave” organized by the Bartolome G. Lavastida Center for Service and Capacity-Building which is currently housed at Second Baptist Church. Co-pastors of the church and co-directors of the center, Elmer Labastida and his wife Gisela Perez Munoz, are ecumenical leaders with a vision for the church reaching out into the broader society. For this year’s conclave the topic was peacemaking, especially in relation to issues of ecology. I delivered an opening lecture (which was not so elicitive, but I’ll be glad to send to anyone who requests it by e-mail). I closed the conference with a plenary workshop on two tools to help analyze particular problems in a way that can move us toward constructing a specific strategy and agenda for action. That part of the conclave was more participatory as I presented the Esther 4 story as a case study in addressing a community problem and had participants use two analytical tools to unpack the change processes and community organizing done in that episode.
I got back from Cuba on this past Sunday. Next Sunday I take off for the Philippines. At least my wife Sharon will be with me on this trip. Hopefully more people will make some enchanting discoveries about how to transform conflicts, especially as we go down to the southern island of Mindanao where there has been some severe violence running down Christian/Muslim lines of division.
Meanwhile I’d like to appeal for your prayerful consideration of how you can support and enable this mission work to go forward. We are coming up on the closing week of a matching challenge grant fund-raising campaign. This is for individual donors willing to commit to $1/day for a year to enable my work to continue (if you are already giving on a regular basis for my support—thank you so much!!!—but it won’t be matched). If you commit $1/day, or $30/month or $360/year, your commitment will be matched at 50% from a special fund to support International Ministries' missionaries.
This particular fund-raiser has to be done on-line at the International Ministries website, so here’s how to do it. Go to my page at the website: http://www.internationalministries.org/missionaries/110. You can read other missionary journals about my work, and you can make a gift or indicate your commitment for the year.
Of course, you can give more than $30/month or $360/year. That's just the number for the matching gift. I rejoice in the partnership of any who join in enabling my peacemaking work to continue! And for those of you already giving regularly—what can I say other than I carry you with me in my peacemaking missions. Without you I wouldn’t be doing this! Blessings on you!
Peace,
Dan
Santiago, Cuba—May, 2010
“I’m enchanted!” That’s the first time I’ve ever had someone say that about one of my conflict transformation workshops. It was said by an older woman from the Second Baptist Church in Santiago. I was leading a workshop for the congregation on transforming family conflicts.
At that point we were identifying different approaches we personally take toward conflicts in our families with symbolic animals: a turtle, a koala, a rhino, a fox or dolphins. Participants gathered in groups around the animal symbolizing the “conflict style” that was closest to how they were dealing with a particular conflict that concerned them. In the groups they would reflect on what was helpful and what was damaging or limiting related to that conflict style. The energy in the room was incredible as people eagerly explored in a safe and fun way how they handled conflicts.
What makes such teaching “enchanting?” I think the woman was expressing both relief at not having to sit through a long presentation, even if it was well-crafted and energetically presented and excitement to be engaged herself in the learning process. People remember more of what they discover for themselves than what they have told for them. Just think of being told “don’t touch that,” and yet we do. We have to check things out for ourselves. Elicitive education methods allow the teacher to be a midwife to the birth of new learning for the participative student.
I had been invited to Cuba to participate in a two-day “Conclave” organized by the Bartolome G. Lavastida Center for Service and Capacity-Building which is currently housed at Second Baptist Church. Co-pastors of the church and co-directors of the center, Elmer Labastida and his wife Gisela Perez Munoz, are ecumenical leaders with a vision for the church reaching out into the broader society. For this year’s conclave the topic was peacemaking, especially in relation to issues of ecology. I delivered an opening lecture (which was not so elicitive, but I’ll be glad to send to anyone who requests it by e-mail). I closed the conference with a plenary workshop on two tools to help analyze particular problems in a way that can move us toward constructing a specific strategy and agenda for action. That part of the conclave was more participatory as I presented the Esther 4 story as a case study in addressing a community problem and had participants use two analytical tools to unpack the change processes and community organizing done in that episode.
I got back from Cuba on this past Sunday. Next Sunday I take off for the Philippines. At least my wife Sharon will be with me on this trip. Hopefully more people will make some enchanting discoveries about how to transform conflicts, especially as we go down to the southern island of Mindanao where there has been some severe violence running down Christian/Muslim lines of division.
Meanwhile I’d like to appeal for your prayerful consideration of how you can support and enable this mission work to go forward. We are coming up on the closing week of a matching challenge grant fund-raising campaign. This is for individual donors willing to commit to $1/day for a year to enable my work to continue (if you are already giving on a regular basis for my support—thank you so much!!!—but it won’t be matched). If you commit $1/day, or $30/month or $360/year, your commitment will be matched at 50% from a special fund to support International Ministries' missionaries.
This particular fund-raiser has to be done on-line at the International Ministries website, so here’s how to do it. Go to my page at the website: http://www.internationalministries.org/missionaries/110. You can read other missionary journals about my work, and you can make a gift or indicate your commitment for the year.
Of course, you can give more than $30/month or $360/year. That's just the number for the matching gift. I rejoice in the partnership of any who join in enabling my peacemaking work to continue! And for those of you already giving regularly—what can I say other than I carry you with me in my peacemaking missions. Without you I wouldn’t be doing this! Blessings on you!
Peace,
Dan