from Peacemaker.net

What is a Peacemaking Team Network? This section is an introduction to the concept of Peacemaking Team Networks within the context of individual Peacemaking Teams in local churches. A Peacemaking Team Network Serves Peacemaking Teams Peacemaker Ministries® believes that Peacemaking Teams come to life within a Peacemaking Team Network and encourages teams to form networks in their local areas. Networks are interconnected peacemaking teams that are established as part of embedding a culture of peace within local churches. They are formed based on geographical and/or denominational similarities and are comprised of church-based teams that are registered with Peacemaker Ministries.  Networks are designed to meet on a regularly scheduled basis (for example, over breakfast or lunch) and are able to serve teams in a number of ways: allow teams to share lessons learned in a safe and confidential environment; provide support and encouragement to one another; assist each other in handling difficult cases, including providing advice and possibly sharing of team members; allow for cases to be referred between teams, depending upon the nature and difficulty of the case and the expertise, if any, that a team within the network has developed; provide a safe setting in which teams can practice various role-play scenarios; encourage and help churches who have purchased the Peacemaking Church Resource Set to form a team and join the network encourage churches who have not embedded a culture of peace to do so (including encouraging them to purchase the Peacemaking Church Resource Set); coordinate and host training events; encourage team members to collectively attend training events and the Peacemaker Ministries® Annual Conference; and subject to certain conditions and requirements, be available to receive cases referred to the network by third parties (including Peacemaker Ministries®). How Peacemaker Ministries® Serves A Peacemaking Team Network* Peacemaker Ministries® will continue to provide individual Peacemaking Teams the same level and type of support that it currently offers, whether or not they join a Peacemaking Team Network. Peacemaking Team Networks that are registered with Peacemaker Ministries® will also receive the following support from Peacemaker Ministries®: assistance with the sharing of best practices and case studies within the network and among networks focus on scheduling training in locations and at times that benefit the network coordination of a Network Day with Ken dedicated Annual Conference activities for Networks training designed to enhance Peacemaking Team and Network capabilities offering a dedicated Network Conference *These support items are not yet fully developed, but we expect them to be offered over the next several months, as Peacemaking Team Networks are formed and registered with Peacemaker Ministries®.