THE women in the Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM) are no strangers to peacemaking, be it at home in their own families,
in their communities or for some the experience of a life time during the Solomon Islands Ethnic Tension more than ten years ago.
The workshop provided by the team from Lambeth Palace, UK and led by Mrs Caroline Welby the wife of the Archbishop of Canterbury
was highly commendable as this was the very first time that ACOM women had the opportunity to attend a formal training in the areas
of Conflicts, Peacemaking, Reconciliation, and Restoration.
The two and a half days training begun with retreats from Monday to Wednesday, followed by reflections, sharing and discussions.
A keynote address was also delivered on the first day of training (Wednesday afternoon) by the Archbishop, the Most Rev. George Takeli,
where the women were encouraged to work and be at the frontline in mission for reconciliation.
Canon Rev Sarah Snyder facilitated the workshop with help from the team [Caroline, Keren & Jane].
Topics discussed during the workshop included; – Women in the home as peacemakers – Thinking about; – Otherness [people different for us],
Women as victims of conflict; Stand in the middle [being neutral].
More than twenty women representing the nine Dioceses in the ACOM attended the workshop. The participants included the Archbishop and
Bishops’ wives, other women leaders with in the Dioceses of Central Melanesia (DOCM) and the Provincial Mothers Union office in Honiara.
It was highlighted by participants that the workshop was very inspiring and uplifting through its very strong foundation on biblical and scriptural
underpinnings that challenges our own faith to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ here on earth.
The training was held at Tete Ni Kolivuti (TNK) the Head quarters of the Community of the Sisters of the Church and is located at the eastern
side of Honiara, a few kilometres inland from the main road along the Blackpost road.