May 4 @ 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Building Healthy Church Communities
A Residency with Rev Joan Wright Howie
4–8 May 2026 | Western Australia
Join the Uniting Centre for Education and Formation for a series of practical and reflective workshops with Rev. Joan Wright Howie, Uniting Church minister, spiritual director, supervisor, and PhD candidate. Joan’s research explores what spiritually informed care looks like in practice, and throughout this residency she brings these insights into conversation with the real experiences of church communities.
Dynamics of Conflict in Congregational Settings
Monday 4 May at Mount Pleasant Uniting Church
Cost $15 – available online or in-person. Join one session or both.
Session One — 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm – Understanding and Approaching Conflict
Conflict is a natural part of human interaction. It helps us stay safe, make decisions, and establish our identity, but it can also be disruptive within communities.
In this session, you will explore how conflict develops, the different types of conflict that arise in congregational life, and ways to approach conflict constructively within your setting.
Session Two — 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Recognising and Resolving Conflict
Understanding the nature of conflict and selecting an appropriate response provides important tools for addressing difficult situations.
In this session, participants will reflect on what happens within themselves and within groups when conflict occurs. Increasing self-awareness and understanding conflict dynamics can equip you with tools to work toward resolution in your setting.
Registrations
Registrations are available soon.
Members and leaders of Uniting Church congregations across Western Australia are warmly invited to participate in these sessions. Each workshop offers space for learning, reflection, and practical tools to support healthy church communities, pastoral care, and faithful engagement with the challenges of ministry today.
For enquiries contact the Uniting Centre for Education and Formation – [email protected]
About Rev Joan Wright Howie
Joan is a Uniting Church minister with 30 years of experience in congregational leadership, project development and educational settings. She is currently a PhD candidate exploring the attributes of spiritually informed care and developing a model of it. Joan has a private practice and has trained both supervisors and spiritual directors for many years. She lives with her husband, David, in Melbourne and has three independent children. Joan loves swimming in the ocean, gardening and going for long walks with friends.
Joan is a Uniting Church minister living in Melbourne.