Online Conference 09.30 to 16.30 via Zoom

The fee of £30 is redeemable towards the booking fee for Appreciating Church’s training courses starting before 31st March 2024, or one year’s renewal of accreditation of currently accredited Appreciating Church practitioners.

Conference Theme

How might we use appreciative inquiry when addressing the challenges facing today’s church? Experienced appreciative inquiry practitioners drawn from both within and beyond the churches will lead delegates in an exploration of navigating changes and challenges with positivity.

Keynote Speakers

Dan Hodgkiss is the Patient Safety Assistant Programme Manager (Deterioration Lead) for the West Midlands Academic Health Science Network. He is one of the co-authors of Appreciating Health and Care, due for publication in Autumn 2023 which is modelled on the book Appreciating Church and written in partnership with the organisation Appreciating People.

Saiyyidah Zaidi is a pioneering and bridge-building independent practitioner-researcher and leadership coach investigating the intersection of race, gender and religion using conversation as a methodology. She has a PhD in practical theology from the University of Glasgow.

Additional Workshop Leaders

Revd Elizabeth Gray-King is a United Reformed Church Minister with specific experience of facilitating conversations around complex organisational issues, including strengthening safeguarding processes and procedures.

Chris Atherton will offer a workshop based on his Snapshots of Appreciative Inquiry session which he has used with organisations in Wales. This will be particularly useful for people who are intrigued by Appreciative Inquiry without having had much practice in using it.

Revd Fiona Thomas co-edited the book Appreciating Church and is developmentalist for the organisation of the same name. Alongside her work as a freelance facilitator and consultant in strengths-based approaches she is currently in non-stipendiary service in transitional ministry with three small congregations in South London.