Partner Support

This component of Plowshares ministry provides a working partnership and seed funds to non-profit organizations around the world that share Plowshares’ mission and objectives.  Plowshares’ service involves consulting and leading workshops at the request of partners, and direct financial contributions.  Both direct service and relatively small grants ($500 to $2,000) provide struggling, “third-world” organizations additional support and expand the organization’s collaborative relationships. These organizations regularly build alliances with participants in Plowshares immersion travel seminars to their regions.

New Zealand: April 2004
Plowshares staff led two workshops on “Building Skills for Conflict Transformation” for Presbyterian religious leaders struggling over the issue of homosexuality and the church.  The first, a basic workshop on Empowering for Reconciliation in Wellington introduced conflict transformation skills to a new group of leaders.  The second, an advanced workshop in Dunedin, further equipped religious leaders who had previously attended prior Plowshares workshops.  Participants are  utilizing skills taught through the workshops such as "deep listening" through "committed conversations" which bring together parties with divergent views to further discuss the issue in a constructive and mutually beneficial manner.

Cuba: March 2004
Plowshares staff led two workshops on “Building Skills for Conflict Transformation.”  The first was with community and church members in the city of Matanzas and the second for civic and political leaders with the Center for Dialogue and Reflection in Cardenas.  These seminars built on earlier consultations and a brief workshop in support of a new initiative on reconciliation between Cubans and Cuban Americans and the future of Cuban-American relations.  These workshops inaugurated the Spanish translation of the Peace Skills curriculum.  

Uganda: July 2003
In response to a request from the Church of Uganda Department of Development and Rehabilitation, Plowshares made a grant to support travel, room and board for Ugandan clergy and community leaders and provided staffing for a case writing and teaching workshop.  This week-long workshop built on previous conflict transformation workshops supported by Plowshares.  The workshop increased the teaching skills of a growing group of trainers and provided them with an effective, multi-use approach to documenting conflict situations and distinctively Ugandan avenues of resolution.