The Diocese of Chelmsford is developing two sets of people with an expertise in conflict transformation to support parishes and local church communities. All are licensed ministers of the Diocese of Chelmsford, or hold Permission to Officiate, and have been trained via the charity Bridge Builders. They are not mediators, and make no promise that they will resolve conflicts, but they are prayerful, supportive and committed to building warm relationships and acting in principled, less anxious ways.
Conflict Transformation Partners
In collaboration with the Lead Adviser for Formation and Wellbeing, Conflict Transformation Partners work indirectly to promote conflict transformation by talking with an Area Dean or Incumbent facing a conflict situation about what approaches they might take. They are available to be a listening ear and insightful conversation partner for Area Deans or Incumbents, allowing them to choose approaches likely to foster clear and grace-filled communication, and fair and safe processes.
You can see their photographs and short biographies below. If you are an incumbent or Area Dean, you can simply approach them - initially, by email, to set up an appropriate time for a call.
Conflict Transformation Facilitators
In collaboration with Archdeacons and the Lead Adviser for Formation and Wellbeing, Conflict Transformation Facilitators act directly to help identified churches have healthy conversations, and prepare agreed written accounts of conflict situations. Sometimes working in pairs, in identified situations with low- or medium low- level conflict, they can be deployed:
EITHER to intervene directly, to help a pair of people, leadership team or whole church community have healthy conversations,
AND/OR to intervene directly in situations with low- or medium low- level conflict, to listen to the parties to a conflict, explore the underlying concerns, and prepare a written account that can be agreed by all parties and will help participants and external decision-makers to understand the situation. This will not amount to formal mediation.
We have not included names, pictures and biographies of Conflict Transformation Facilitators below. This is because they will be deployed by Archdeacons, in consultation with the Lead Adviser for Formation and Wellbeing. If you are aware of a situation of conflict that needs an intervention, please talk to your Archdeacon about it in the first instance.
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Rev Andrew Appiah
Conflict is an unavoidable part of shared life, and leaders often encounter it. Yet when we fail to address it, conflict can wound deeply and leave us feeling alone on a difficult path.
As a trained Conflict Transformation Partner through the Bridge Builders programme, and informed by my own life experience, I believe that having a trusted companion alongside us during difficult moments creates the safety we need to engage conflict well.
Drawing on the Anglican Communion’s rich diversity, I seek to foster healthy conversations and to explore meaningful, safe ways of engaging with the challenges that conflict brings. I am currently the Parish Priest at St Mary the Virgin, Maldon, Christ Church, Latchingdon and St Barnabas, Mayland.
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Rev Noelle Taylor
My church tradition is the catholic side of middle of the road although early years spent in a more evangelical environment have left their mark and colour my practise at times.
I was assistant Area Dean whilst in Harlow, led the MMU when I went to Ongar and a Diocesan Area Ordination Adviser. Having retired I now concentrate on learning to be retired, assisting my Incumbent in my local Church, working with our Open the Book team and accompanying several Spiritual Directees.
I have never been quite sure why God called me to the priesthood (I preferred the certainties that nursing allowed) but as a priest I have a profound desire to enable the people of God to become the people God created them to be, both individually and as a church. I am married with grownup children and a dog.
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Rev Rachel Prior
I am currently serving in a benefice of three churches in the Braintree Deanery that encompasses an Anglo Catholic Church, a Local Ecumenical Partnership and a middle of the road village church. So my church tradition is quite a broad one! I was ordained in 2017, and served my curacy in Saffron Walden. Before then I lived in Bristol, London and Cambridge but I was born and grew up in Essex. I am married to Sam and have two small children aged 5 and 3.
Ministry is full of joys and challenges, and I am delighted to have the opportunity to walk alongside people as they seek to become more fully the person and the priest that God is calling them to be.
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Rev Elizabeth Lowson
I’m an incumbent in north east London; and have a couple of other roles including volunteering part time in hospital chaplaincy, especially in the maternity unit. Theological inclusivity is a key part of my understanding of God’s kingdom, as is being open to learning from those around me.
Before ordination I worked in the third sector, volunteered at different levels with Samaritans and conducted inter-disciplinary research in healthcare and criminal justice.
I’m married; foster cats so usually have multiple furry housemates; and enjoy living near Epping Forest.
Love is at the heart of our faith in Christ. Perhaps that’s because disagreement and conflict happen so often in all human relationships, organisations, and sometimes it seems, especially in the church. Conflict can be lonely and also confusing because some of our familiar approaches may be blocked, inappropriate or rejected.
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Rev Canon Nick Rowan
I am married to Nina and have four children aged 9-19. I am currently Rector of St Marys and Emmanuel Hawkwell and Area Dean for Rochford.
I grew up in Colchester and my parents sent us to Sunday school at the church at the end of my road (St Johns). I always had a sense of belonging in church and came to faith as a teenager. I was encouraged to join the worship group and was also involved in youth and childrens work. I stayed at home for University (studying Economics) and was also actively involved in the CU. At the end of my time at University I was invited to work as a lay assistant in the chaplaincy at the university for a year. I then followed this up by working for a church on a Portsmouth Council Estate as a youth and childrens worker for two years. Over this time I was exploring ordination, and after getting married and a year spent working for Norwich Union, I went to Trinity College, Bristol.I have served in the Diocese for nearly twenty years initially in Rayleigh and for the last seven years at St Marys and Emmanuel, Hawkwell. I have also been Area Dean for Rochford Deanery for the last seven years. My journey and different roles have given me some insight into different sizes, contexts and traditions of church. The one constant (in addition to our faith in Jesus) is that conflict is never too far away.
When facing challenging situations I have greatly valued sitting down and talking through issues with colleagues. Sometimes as you talk, a way through, a next step, or a source of help and support becomes clear. I would be very happy to offer a listening ear to anyone going through a similar experience.
