The current Brave Church cycle is underway! The next cycle will begin January 

Brave Conversations, Confrontation & Conflict Engagement at Church

Every church has both loving people... and interpersonal conflict.

We disagree about hot button political issues... and everyday stuff. We miscommunicate, drop the ball, make each other angry and some people literally NEVER remember when it's their turn for the children's lesson!

We are people of God and we're also human adults who may create unhelpful habits when it comes to confrontation.

We procrastinate until things balloon into bigger situations than they needed to be. We avoid hard situations out of fear, or damage relationships in our overzealousness and anger. 

We desire peace and healthy unity... but the road to get there is paved with hundreds of difficult, awkward and sometimes painful moments that require vulnerability and courage.

In preparation for this program, I interviewed pastors across the country about the kinds of brave conversations they experience. They shared about the Church's role in racial justice work, LGBTQ inclusion, and changing the narrative on mental health support. 

They shared experiences of mediating conflict, sitting in the presence of grief after tragedy, and holding space for the BIG questions of young people... whose parents all hold different opinions and perspectives and may answer those big questions differently.

Mindfulness practice and improvised comedy offer a variety of skills that are deeply helpful for creating environments of love, curiosity and growth: the ideal environment for building trust through these brave conversations. 

Brave Church has been built to share this framework and these practices with pastors and church leadership so they can build, maintain, and/or restore environments of trust and love.

Brave Church Intro

This is a 12 minute video explaining how I - a social worker turned comedian - became passionate about equipping pastors for brave conversations. You'll learn:

• Who I am 
• What Mindful Improv Thinking™ is
• The purpose of Brave Church

Brave Church 5-week live, virtual training program created to equip pastors and faith leaders for brave conversations that hold the power to create true unity and deeper connection instead of deep division, hurt and distraction from our call to be the living Body of Christ.

Brave Church participants will finish the program equipped to:

• Navigate conflict in it's many forms with honesty, clarity and compassion
• Provide accountability and appropriate boundaries when needed
• Facilitate important way-finding conversations within the congregation on divisive topics ​

​This program also provides church leadership with tools and materials to equip their congregants to confront one another with love, speak the truth even when it’s scary and build safe unity when disagreements arise.

​"Do not find fault before you investigate; examine first, and then criticize. Do not answer before you listen, and do not interrupt when another is speaking."
​Sirach 11.7-8

FREE WEBINAR/INFO SESSIONS:

There will be two virtual info sessions on August 8th and 10th at 10am. Both will be live. You will learn more about Mindful Improv Thinking™ and I'll share the Core Five mindful improv skills for initiating and engaging brave conversations. You'll also have an opportunity to ask any questions you have about the Brave Church program.

​Register for either time here.

"So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors,
for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin.
​Do not let the sun go down on your anger."
Ephesians 4:25-26 NRSV

PROGRAM DETAILS

In this program, you'll learn the Mindful Improv Thinking™ framework as it pertains to peace building through brave conversations.

You'll also be provided with handouts and materials you may copy and disseminate to your congregation as desired, or use in a congregational training, small group or Sunday School class.

Program will be offered in five 60-minute sessions delivered live Tuesdays at 10am. Dates for the next cycle starting January 2024 are:
1/9  |  1/16  |  1/23  |  1/30  |  2/6

Recordings will be available if you're unable to join live.

SESSION TOPICS

• Week 1 - Mindfully Improvised Confrontation: you'll learn the basis of Mindful Improv Thinking™ as well as the best practices for initiating and navigating brave conversations accordingly.
• Week 2 - The Role of Forgiveness: we'll explore the differences between forgiveness and reconciliation, and you'll learn my process for doing the work of forgiveness.
• Week 3 - Curiosity in Confrontation: you'll learn how to build habits of curiosity (about yourself AND others) and how to encourage congregants to build this skill as well. You'll learn my Beliefs vs. Values exercise for building curiosity and dialogue, as well as the Confrontational Archetypes for personal exploration.
• Week 4 - Giving Difficult Feedback: you'll learn the 3 primary forms of feedback, and how to choose the appropriate method for various situations. 
• Week 5 - After the Conversation: you'll learn best practices for cultivating trust after a brave conversation as well as the basics of motivational interviewing, a method for behavior change partnership developed by Drs. Bill Miller & Steve Rollnick. You can use these evidence-based tools in counseling sessions with congregants to help them tap into their own internal motivation toward change.

PROGRAM COSTS

Early bird registration:
$450

Registration after 8/31:
$500

Group of 3, early bird rate:
​$1,200

Group of 3 after 8/31:
$1,350

For 4+ members of your church leadership, email andrea@andbeyondimprov(dot)com for individual invoicing. This will be billed at $325 per person regardless of registration date. 

​Pay What You Can pricing is also available!

Program Registration

Click image below to download flyer.

"My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression,
you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness.
Take care that you yourselves are not tempted.
Bear one another's burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
Galatians 6:1-2 NRSV