Formation and Training for Synodality
How do we listen to each other well? How do we step back from our own agendas to be attentive to where the Spirit is moving? How can we make better decisions about organising ourselves as Christian communities? How do we enrich our parish communal life with enriching conversations?
Our Synodality 101 course has enabled hundreds of people to explore synodality and develop the skills, dispositions and practices that help synodality become a lived reality in the Church. The enthusiasm of participants, together with their reflections and feedback, has encouraged us to expand our offer into a wider pathway of formation and training. We now offer courses that are designed to accompany people at different stages of their synodal journey. This programme will continue to grow and adapt in response to emerging needs and opportunities.
A distinctive feature of our online programme is the opportunity to journey together with people from across the world. Participants consistently mention the richness of sharing experiences, learning from different contexts, and discovering how the call to become a more synodal Church is being lived in communities across cultures and continents.
Together, we seek to deepen our understanding and practice of synodality - growing in the skills, spirituality and confidence needed to listen, discern and journey together as the people of God.
Practical Requirements - All of these courses are online (via Zoom) and so therefore require a functioning camera and microphone. It is also helpful your displayed name is your actual name.
Latest Opportunities:
Find out about each of these formation and training opportunities in more depth below:
Testimonies from Synodality Course participants:
Who is this for?
Those who are relatively new to synodality. It does not presume any prior knowledge. Perhaps you have had a little bit of experience of synodality and want to know more. Or perhaps you are already very experienced in synodality and would appreciate the opportunity to be in conversation with others who are keen to explore synodality.
Outcomes:
A clear and accessible understanding of synodality and its importance for the Church today
Greater awareness of the attitudes and dispositions that support synodal life
Increased confidence to engage in synodal processes in your own context
Connection with others who share a desire to grow in synodality
A good starting point for those who may then choose to go on to do our Facilitating Conversations in the Spirit course (but not a requirement, see more information below).
Who is this for?
Formerly called ‘Synodality 101, this course is primarily intended for those who already have some experience and understanding of synodality and would like to develop their ability to facilitate Conversations in the Spirit. Held over 4 sessions (2 hours each), with a break before the final session.
Each session will include:
Time for prayer, input, discussion and questions
Opportunity to connect with people across the world who are similarly
seeking to enable synodality
A short break within the two-hour session
Methodology
This is an experiential course rooted in learning by doing. It seeks to embody the principles of synodality in its approach. The generosity of participants is encouraged in the sharing of experience and insights while learning about the process of Conversation in the Spirit.
Programme Overview
SESSION ONE:
Foundational synodal principles
Conversation in the Spirit as a tool to enable synodality
Structure and dynamics of Conversation in the Spirit
Participate in or observe a Conversation in the Spirit
Reflect on the experience
SESSION TWO:
The role of the facilitator in the process
Insights from Jesus' ministry on attitudes and dispositions needed
Practical aspects of facilitating
Experience a Conversation in the Spirit with a focus on the role of the Facilitator
SESSION THREE:
Opportunity to facilitate a Conversation in the Spirit
Group debrief, reflection and shared learning
A gap of some weeks follows to allow participants to reflect on and apply learning in their own contexts.
SESSION FOUR:
Shared experience of applying learning in practice
Drawing out situations where Conversation in the Spirit may be useful
Addressing questions and challenges arising from real situations
Looking ahead: sustaining and supporting ongoing practice
Outcomes:
By the end of the course, participants will:
Have a good understanding of the structure and dynamic of the Conversation in the Spirit process
Be equipped with practical skills to facilitate Conversation in the Spirit
Have some understanding of how Conversations in the Spirit can be used in different settings
Participants who attend all 4 sessions will receive a certificate.
Participants will also be invited to join a bi-monthly get together by way of ongoing support (see Synodality Lab below).
Who is this for?
This course is for those who have already completed Synodality 101 / Facilitating Conversations in the Spirit (or have equivalent experience), and who not only want to facilitate Conversations in the Spirit themselves, but who are also ready to support and form others to do so. It will equip participants to train others in the basic skills and dispositions needed to facilitate a Conversation in the Spirit.
It is especially suited to those serving in leadership or coordinating roles - such as diocesan synodal teams, parish or deanery groups, or religious communities - who are working with others to grow a culture of synodal listening and discernment.
Methodology
This course builds on the experiential approach of the previous courses. It is rooted in learning by doing, with a particular focus on how to pass on both the practice and the spirit of Conversations in the Spirit. Participants are encouraged to bring their own experience of facilitating, and to engage generously in shared reflection, practice, and feedback.
Programme Overview
SESSION ONE:
Deepening our understanding of Conversation in the Spirit as a spiritual practice
The role, attitudes and dispositions of the facilitator
Developing confidence in responding to different group dynamics
Practising facilitation in real-life situations and reflecting on shared learning
SESSION TWO:
Moving from facilitating conversations to forming new facilitators
Exploring how people learn and what helps them to embody the process
Understanding the key elements of an effective local training session
Practising how to introduce and teach Conversations in the Spirit to others
Developing a simple, replicable approach for parish, deanery or Diocesan Contexts
Outcomes
By the end of the course, participants will:
Have a deeper understanding of the spiritual nature of Conversations in the Spirit
Be able to facilitate with greater confidence, awareness and freedom
Be equipped to design and deliver training for others in their local context
Have a clear, simple model for forming new facilitators
Be ready to support the growth of synodal practice within their Diocese
Participants who attend both sessions will receive a certificate
Who is this for?
A bi-monthly reflective practice space for those who have participated in our Synodality 101/Facilitating Conversations in the Spirit course (or have equivalent experience). It offers a supportive environment for ongoing formation, where we can learn from one another, share our lived experience, and reflect together on what is emerging in practice.
From time to time, we will invite someone to offer input on a particular theme or challenge, helping to open up conversation and deepen our shared learning. If you have taken part in our Synodality 101/Facilitating Conversations in the Spirit course, you will receive an invitation to join. If you have similar experience and feel drawn to be part of this space, we would be delighted to hear from you.
How to join our courses:
We advise to check our Events page for the latest offerings happening in the next few months, and we also suggest to sign up to our monthly newsletter, where you’ll be the first to know about all of the upcoming School for Synodality news & course dates.
