Emma Crick de Boom introduces herself and what she does as the Diocesan Reconciliation Enabler.
Hi, my name is Emma Crick de Boom (sounds like home with a B) and I am the Reconciliation Enabler. I serve this diocese and the wider West Midlands. I am both part of Coventry Diocesan staff team and part of Archbishop Justin’s reconciliation ministry team.
My role is to help enable the ministry of reconciliation across all our parishes and Christian groups - inside as well as outside churches. To extend a reconciliation charism, or core-vision if you like, drawing on the spiritual heritage of the cathedral story, building on the shoulders of giants. I encourage local-grassroots ownership of a reconciliation vision, which can’t help but be expressed in a myriad of ways.
In your own manner you might already be doing some good work, by who you are and how you are in the spaces that you live and work in.
It is a privilege really, because I spend a lot of time with people, of which some are lay and clergy leaders, and we talk about what it means to follow Jesus as a Reconciled Reconciler. In everyday life, in everyday spaces, like; home, work, church and on the road going places. What does it mean to be a reconciling presence? Why does it matter? And what difference could it make?
These reflective spaces impact everyday practice as I ask about people's communities - how they observe them to be places of peace and how they are not. What are some dividing habits and experiences and how we can we move toward reconciling habit? As some of you might know, a large part of my brief is to work with the Difference course and this is a resource that helps people to find a way of being a reconciling presence, wherever they might be. Particularly through the framework of the three reconciling habits;
to be curious, be present and reimagine.
Practicing these habits focuses how we hold ourselves and influences the culture in the groups that we belong to. It contributes to a missional imperative, showing and messaging that the church can and be good news, where people on the verges or on the outside of our communities can see an ability to cross divides and that builds a place of peace. We, as Church, are active, engaged and not ignorant. Raising our awareness of ourselves and the other. This can be linked to how well we can engage with society’s pressing challenges.
As a diocese we have a vision for a Reconciliation to be at the heart of local Christian communities, mission and ministry. To carry our shared purpose through the lens of reconciliation “To worship God, make new disciples and transform communities.” Focusing our efforts in restoring relationships, it will directly impact and release the mission and ministry of the church.
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:18
There is still a lot to be done, but my role is here to support and this is why I am sharing this with you now. Inviting you to get in touch if you want to share your story of being a reconciling presence, or perhaps, to explore how we can increasingly move away from dividing habits, to reconciling habits.
Click here to find out more about the Difference course and how to get in touch with Emma.