In 2024 we began our partnership with Auburn Theological Seminary (ATS), whose mission is to ‘identify and strengthen leaders – from the pulpit to the public square – to build community, bridge divides, pursue justice, and heal the world’.
During two programmes in March and June we shared the Rose Way, working with 36 emerging leaders from across the US. Participants included university chaplains, faith leaders, trainee faith leaders, practitioners, civil servants, community workers, and students. We had a mix of Christian, Muslim and Jewish participants.
Following the two co-delivered pilot programmes, ATS has successfully run its third emerging leaders programme, incorporating aspects of the Rose Way alongside their wider content and pedagogy. We look forward to hearing more about the ongoing impact of their emerging leaders cohorts in 2025.
“Before I did this programme, I was so wrapped up in conflict and the tenuous, flimsy nature of many interfaith relationships. The Auburn Rose Way Programme showed me another way is possible: a practice of hospitality grounded in the hearted recognition of and love for one another and who we really are.” ~ Participant
Following our programmes with ATS, we have been privileged to collaborate with programme participants working in diverse cohorts. Rabbi Jacob Leizman from North Shore Congregation Israel Synagogue in Chicago invited RCF to deliver a workshop to the congregation as part of their conflict transformation series. Together we held space in which difficult conversations could be raised, and different viewpoints expressed. We look forward to welcoming some of the congregation to Rose Castle next year.
Another participant, Liz Turnwald, a Catholic theologian, teacher and facilitator based in Boston, has brought her expertise in the Enneagram to support the RCF team and develop our teaching resources. We are so grateful for this mutual sharing of relational tools.