Webinar Themes and Dates for 2026–2027
Christian Social Practice and Money, Power and Financial Sustainability
The international planning group for the CODE Forum webinar series has agreed to develop the theme of Money, Power and Finance. This will include the ways in which pressure can be applied to individual workers, organisations and churches in order to reshape practice. This often creates pressure to adhere to models of practice which deliver services or other pre-planned responses to individuals and sometimes families. There is pressure on diverse working models which have a longer-term perspective and a different perspective on engagement.
The first webinar will explore resistance to pressure on innovative models of practice and the imposition of traditional models of practice. The second webinar will look at the drivers of change, especially finance or reductions or cuts in finance and the imposition of criteria on the work which are often unrelated to specific contexts and values.
Webinar 1, 27th November 2026:
Practice Paradigms
In a time when the pressure arises from funders and sponsors of diaconia to shape diaconia as assistance there is pressure on models which support the agency of local or identity-based groups. The development of diaconia based on relationship building and long-term development as well as working for change tends to be under threat. Models of diaconal action which resist domination or work for change are also called into question. This webinar will examine practices which resist this trend, and which work long term to support agency and change.
Programme / 27th November 2026
Speakers / 27th November 2026
Webinar 2, 23rd April 2027:
Funding & Management Paradigms
The power of donors is said to be affected by partnership models of working but donor agencies still set goals and targets for recipients. In many cases resources come from national churches which also rely on frameworks. In spite of partnership working there is still a tendency to neo-colonial imposition of criteria and models of work. On top of this, donor agencies may rely on criteria set by governmental or international funders. Moreover, in a time when cuts in financial aid are imposed, tightening of criteria becomes stronger. This webinar will present case studies in collaborative work and in the ways in which diaconal organisations and faith-based organisations can ensure that their values are not submerged by donor-imposed criteria.
Programme / 23rd April 2027
Speakers / 23rd April 2027
Notes
Both Webinars will be at the following time:
8.00-11.00 UK /9.00-12.00 CET & SAST /10.00-13.00 EET
The Webinar language is English
It is not necessary to be at the first webinar to join the second in the series.
Zoom link: https://diak-fi.zoom.us/j/68978790188
(No pre-registration is required)
Howspace
The materials, including PowerPoint presentations and recordings from the previous webinars in this series continue to be collected on Howspace. The availability of the recordings and presentations depends on the permission of each presenter and the participants because their name or voice may incidentally appear on screen. The page also includes details of the upcoming webinar.
Presentations may be downloaded and used for educational purposes. The address is:
https://international-diaconia-webinars.in.howspace.com/welcome
Access to this Howspace can be obtained from Ville Päivänsalo ville.paivansalo@diak.fi.
More Information
Information about Webinar web pages and the password for Howspace can be obtained from ville.paivansalo@diak.fi.
If you have any questions about the Webinar series or would like to receive updates, please contact one of these addresses:
Oksana Prosvirnina
oksana.prosvirnina@outlook.com
Tony Addy
praxis@pro-vocation.org
The CODE forum
The CODE Forum is:
an open international network focused on community development (local practice) and diaconia (Christian social practice)
a space which welcomes teachers, researchers, practitioners and students
a dialogical, reciprocal space for sharing and discussing ideas and concepts which inform and are informed by practice (‘we do what we study’)
a research and development network which sets local practice in a wider context
a network which organises a webinar each semester, international projects and a
biennial meeting
The CODE Forum is a recognised network of the International Society for the Research and Study of Diaconia and Christian Social Practice (ReDi).
The CODE Forum international diaconia webinars are jointly organised by Diaconia University of Applied Science and the National Church Council (Finland), VID Specialized University (Norway), the Protestant Theological University (The Netherlands), DWI Diakoniewissenschaftliche Institut (Germany) and Jabok College of Applied Social Studies (the Czech Republic).
Image by permission of Shared Table, Vantaa, Finland