In Spite of our Differences - Healing the Hurts of War

The book is my story of working with people in Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina who ‘in spite of their differences’ are living in a reconciling way. Reconciliation is at the heart of my ministry and in 1996 I was led to Eastern Slavonia Croatia, an area which had been torn apart by ethnic conflict. I met groups of ordinary people who were resisting the onslaught of violence and who worked to build bridges across the ethnic divide in a non-violent way. One such person was a school teacher Dušanka Iliċ, who started the BENCH WE SHARE programme in Osijek. Before the war, people of all nationalities would sit on a bench in villages ‘putting the world to rights.’ Fighting came in 1991/2 and the benches became empty. Dušanka strove to bring people back to the bench again.

I worked with Dušanka and after she died, the work evolved into TOUCH OF HOPE, a series of workshops exploring living in a reconciling way. I introduce you to an ethnically mixed group struggling to make sense of the insane tearing apart of their communities. Here there is anger, frustration, argument, tears but also laughter, learning and prayer for healing. The group engages with health and healing, communication, identity, wounds, forgiveness and the search for justice. Each tear shed leads to renewal of body mind, soul and spirit.

As the work has grown, I have struggled with the call to work for reconciliation within the call to be a Methodist presbyter. This has been at times a lonely journey. The reward has been to work with ordinary people dedicated to working for peace. The stories of people who have been transformed by sharing in our work are very moving and humbling. Touch of Hope has led to the formation of Mediation and Community Support, a community conflict resolution service in Warwickshire. In the words of St Luke 4:18/19, Touch of Hope brings ‘good news to the poor, release to the captives and the recovery of sight to the blind.’

Clive Fowle is a retired Methodist Minister living in Nuneaton, Warwickshire with his wife Ann. He is a practising conflict resolution practitioner and trainer with Mediation and Community Support and Workplace Chaplain to National Express buses in Coventry, among other things.

‘In Spite of our Differences, Healing the Hurts of War’ is now available.

(Springview Publications ISBN 9781739865948 )

I welcome this book for its wealth of stories and wisdom from people living and speaking in contexts of war and violence. Their experiences and words speak to our contemporary world and communities facing the challenges of living beside those who are different. The Bench we Share and Touch of Hope show the value of encouraging people to meet and talk with each other. The book outlines stories of hurt and hope, words and workshops that will support peacemakers in their own neighbourhoods and communities. It offers training for non-violence and respectful conversations.

Rev Inderjit Bhogal-past President of the Methodist Conference, former Director of the Corrymeela Community and recipient of the World Methodist Peace Award

Praying for peace is fundamental for most people of faith, but few take an active part in working for it. Clive Fowle and his companions at Touch of Hoppe have taken the extra steps, alongside those who have experienced the horrors of war in the former Yugoslavia. This is Clive’s story, but it’s also the words of those who survived the hostilities and are learning to live with former enemies. It will challenge you to put the same principles into action wherever there is conflict,in your own life, local communities or further afield.

Candy Evans Spring View Publications.