Cultivating hope

By Bindy Taylor
Communications Manager and Editor-in-Chief, Uniting Church SA

Posted Nov 13, 2015 in News

“Stories of Hope.” This is the theme for UnitingWomen 2016, a conference for Christian women from across Australia. Over the course of the four day event, many women will share their own stories of hope with others – through messages and workshops, and in community space.

One speaker who will delve into hope in a different way is Katheryn Curnow, a Senior Consultant responsible for Leed Consulting’s ‘Women Who Leed’ program.

In this professional role, Katheryn creates the space for people to speak openly about the vision for their life (and/or the life of their organisation), to challenge assumptions, and to ask pointed questions that create a shift in thinking regarding where they want to be and what might be holding them back.

Katheryn has a unique ability to enable women to push through any blockages that may be preventing them moving forward in their life - she will take a similar approach when presenting and facilitating a workshop at UnitingWomen 2016.

Katheryn describes hope as a noun, and as a verb – as something we do, moving collectively towards developing a culture of hope. When we share with one another – as conference attendees will be encouraged to do – we are cultivating a culture of hope. Susceptibility to hope relates to past experiences, environment, and a variety of other personal factors – in some cases, individuals may need to determine what factors or other circumstances are hindering their opportunities.

Katheryn spoke briefly, but compellingly, to some of these points at a UnitingWomen Devonshire tea held during the recent Presbytery and Synod meeting at Adelaide West Uniting Church.

In her UnitingWomen 2016 workshop, Katheryn will ask attendees to focus on ways they can tap into stories of hope they have experienced or witnessed. She will encourage women to focus on areas in their lives requiring growth, on their strengths, and on active reflection.

The workshop will look at the process required to find hope in life; this will involve planning and clear goal setting. Those attending will be part of a group coaching session focussing on how to be open to hope.

Through Katheryn’s workshop, and the many others being offered at UnitingWomen 2016, conference attendees will be encouraged to think about hope in a wide variety of ways and to share stories of hope with one another.

UnitingWomen 2016 is being held from Thursday 28 April to Sunday 1 May, 2016. The conference will be hosted by Wesley Kent Town Uniting Church (27 Grenfell Street, Kent Town, SA). Workshops on Friday and Saturday afternoon will be held at Prince Alfred College (23 Dequetteville Terrace, Kent Town, SA).

For more information, please visit unitingwomen.org.au

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