Peace building in a world of conflict (Limited – 2 places available)

Peace building in a world of conflict: 9th – 15th August 2025
Note we have one female and one male space remaining.

“Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me”.  

 The Iona Community is committed through its Members to work for peace within our own communities and in the wider world. This is a challenging but all the more important time to be addressing such issues. During our week together on Iona we will, with experienced peace builders, explore what peace and security means in the local and wider context.  

 We will hear about tried and tested peacebuilding theories, strategies and initiatives in a variety of situations with speakers from the Fellowship of Reconciliation, Rethinking Security, Quaker peace work and Ulster University. This will give us the opportunity to develop practical ideas which we can then implement in our own circumstances and localities. 

In addition to input and discussion sessions, workshops and creative opportunities the week will allow plenty of free time to explore the island.  

Programme leaders

A peace activist, Margery Toller has been involved in protests in London, Glasgow and at Greenham Common, Molesworth, Faslane and Menwith Hill. In the 1980s, she protested in Bonn in response to the USA’s attempt to station nuclear missiles in Germany. Margery has taken part in the Hiroshima day to Nagasaki day International Fast for many years. 

She is the moderator of the Iona Community’s Peace Common Concern Network and the Community representative with XR Peace. Married to a German conscientious objector to military service, her main experience of peacebuilding has been in bringing up their four sons! 

Duncan Morrow is the Director of Community Engagement and a lecturer in politics at Ulster University. He has published widely in the fields of conflict resolution, Northern Ireland politics and the relationship between religion and politics. His research interests include Conflict and Religion, Ethnic Conflict, Northern Ireland Politics and the work of René Girard 

For ten years, Duncan was Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council. He has also chaired the Scottish Government’s advisory groups tackling sectarianism and hate crime.

Joanna Frew is the Outreach Coordinator for Rethinking Security. She has worked in campaigning and academia over the last 20 years, on a range of issues such as trade justice, anti-militarism, globalisation and the history of the British empire, as well as being actively involved in protest and campaigns in a personal capacity. She and her partner run a house of hospitality for refugees and asylum seekers. Joanna also runs a community gardening project at her local Quaker meeting house.   

John Cooper is the Director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FoR). The FoR is a faith-shaped peace, justice and nonviolence movement founded in 1914. Since then branches have grown around the world to form a global network. John leads the branch for England and Scotland.  

With a BA in Politics, International Relations, Third World and Development Studies, John has worked on questions of peace and justice with Christian Aid, the Joint Public Issues Team and All We Can.  He is a lifelong Methodist with a strong commitment to ecumenism and a vibrant global church.  

Outside of work he has a young family, is a long-time trainee local preacher and enjoys coastal walks.  

Rebecca Bellamy coordinates Quakers in Britain’s national peacebuilding programme to develop responsive, creative, transformative and local peacebuilding approaches. This work includes getting alongside those engaged in community dialogue work and larger-scale conflict analysis and interventions. 

Rebecca has previously worked in a variety of interreligious settings locally, nationally and internationally, working with civil society organisations, governments and research institutions.  She also brings experience in devising arts approaches to consider complex issues, facilitate dialogue and strengthen community. 

Costs

6 Nights: £846.00 per adult, £423.00 for reduced rate – see our programme page for more information.