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A Guide to Intercultural Conversations

A Guide to Intercultural Conversations is a resource for fostering honest and respectful intercultural dialogue. It emerged from the Consultation of Anglican Bishops in Dialogue (“the Consultation”), a multinational group of bishops from Canada, Africa, the United States, England and Scotland, which met annually from 2010 to 2020. The resource includes a brief facilitation guide and a companion video featuring bishops’ reflections, supporting parishes and dioceses in exploring unity, diversity and reconciliation.

The Consultation began following the 2008 Lambeth Conference, to address cultural and theological tensions within the Anglican Communion. Materials draw on more than a decade of dialogue experience, providing practical guidance and best practices for congregations and small groups.

Companion video: We Are One

The video captures some of the changing context, experience and insights of participating bishops during the Consultation. It is also available on Vimeo and as a downloadable video.

Suggested uses

  • Facilitate intercultural dialogue workshops in parishes or dioceses
  • Support adult learning or theological formation sessions
  • Guide small group discussions on unity, diversity and reconciliation
  • Complement parish or diocesan initiatives on inclusivity and mission

Key themes

  • Intercultural dialogue and listening
  • Unity and reconciliation across cultures
  • Storytelling and testimony as tools for dialogue
  • Theological reflection on cultural and social differences
  • Practical guidance for hosting and participating in intercultural conversations

Best suited for: clergy, lay leaders, parish councils, diocesan educators and anyone facilitating intercultural conversations in faith-based settings.

Acknowledging the land and God’s creation

This acknowledgement is crafted in light of the Principles of Reconciliation by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, as we seek to live faithfully in Christ and in right relationship with all. 

We give thanks to the Creator for this land, its waters, forests and all living beings, and for the abiding presence of Christ among us. From coast to coast to coast, these have been cared for and nurtured by First Nations, Inuit and Métis through countless generations. 

We honour the enduring relationship Indigenous Peoples have cultivated with these lands and waters, and the treaties and agreements that reflect these sacred bonds. We acknowledge the harms caused by colonial expansion, through frameworks like the Doctrine of Discovery and structures like the residential school system. We recognize our past failures as a Church, including disruption of connections to the land and suppression of Indigenous spiritualities. 

Guided by the gospel of Jesus Christ, we confess our need for healing. We commit ourselves to seeking truth, pursuing reconciliation and nurturing harmony with all creation. We place our trust in Christ, through whom all things are reconciled to God. 

May God strengthen us to live faithfully as stewards of the Earth. Let us walk in love, justice and reconciliation, joining in God’s work to restore all creation.