Making Dialogue Effective 3: Effectiveness in Dialogue for Conflict Transformation

Tue, 22 May 2012 18:00 in Discussion Forums

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David Penn

Where: Lindisfarne Centre, St Aidan's College, Durham University, Windmill Hill, Durham DH1 3LJ
Time: 18:00

With: David Penn, Churches Regional Commission

Photo: David Schembri, Holder of St Aidan's Alumni student photography bursary

Abstract

A series of panel discussions examining the question of how to make intercultural dialogue work. Those working with intercultural and interreligious dialogue at the community or professional level face a range of challenges regarding its effectiveness. We are asked, or ask ourselves, such questions as:

Does what we do make or contribute to a tangible difference to society in any way?
Does our work, whether directly or otherwise, reach beyond the sympathetic to those whose attitudes and behaviour are an actual threat to peace and social cohesion?
Are the relationships that our work initiates across cultural or religious boundaries of a meaningful and lasting kind?
Is our work part of something broader that is capable of effecting change on a grand scale?

This series is intended to occasion focused and constructive discussion of such questions among a range of people concerned with relationships between different cultural, religious or social groups, in their professional lives or at the community level.

Findings and conclusions will be published. It is hoped that the series will be replicated at three independent UK branches of the Dialogue Society, allowing us to draw on a wider range of perspectives in collating findings.

Biography of David Penn

I live in Acomb, a village on the Tyne near Hexham and the Roman Wall, with my wife Jane and Amber our dog.

I have three grown up children and five grandchildren. I was born in East Sussex in 1946 where I lived until I left home to study politics at Leicester University. I have been living in the North East of England since 1971 working in higher education management. My last full time job was at the University of Sunderland where I was head of strategic planning and market research. Since 2004 I have been self employed doing research and community development work.

For the past few years I have been working with the Churches Regional Commission, the region’s ecumenical organisation which supports churches’ social action. I am a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). I am a member of the Newcastle Conflict Resolution Network which is a Quaker initiative which addresses the causes of conflict and supports those working for peaceful ways of managing it. I have a special interest in Eastern Europe and I have travelled quite a lot in the area and gained some understanding of the social and economic issues which face countries like the Ukraine which I have visited recently on behalf of the CRC and the British Council.

I enjoy painting, I attend art classes and I am a member of Hexham Art Club.