Conflict in the Church: Entrusted with the Message of Reconciliation

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”  ~ II Corinthians 5:18

This workshop will help you understand . . .

• That conflict need not be bad, but is an opportunity for growth.
• The Biblical basis for conflict transformation.
• Your own style of responding to conflict.
• The communication skills necessary to resolve conflict peacefully.
• Strategies for preventing destructive conflict in the church family.
• A model for working at congregational decision-making in a win-win manner.

The workshop is designed for:

• Church leaders, clergy, lay leaders.
• Anyone interested in improving their ability to handle conflict effectively, whether in the church, the home, the workplace, or the community.

Richard Blackburn is executive director of Lombard Mennonite Peace Center (LMPC) in Lombard, IL. Richard is a trainer and mediator, with broad experience in serving as a consultant to conflicted churches. He participated in Dr. Edwin Friedman’s Postgraduate Clergy Seminar in Family Emotional Process and the Postgraduate Program in Family Systems Theory and It’s Applications at the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family in Washington, D.C.

Registration

The registration fee is $ 30 per person or $ 45 per couple (includes manuals and lunch) if registered by June 12.  Add $10 per person if registering after that date.

Register Online Here 

About the Workshop

Conflict is a normal part of life, even in the church. Understanding this can help church members realize that they should not be surprised or ashamed when they experience conflict in their faith communities. What is important is how the conflicts that inevitably arise are dealt with. The Conflict in the Church: Entrusted with the Message of Reconciliation workshop teaches some basic skills that will help participants manage conflicts within the congregation in a healthier manner.

The goal of the workshop is to help participants gain the understanding and the skills needed to prevent destructive conflicts in the future. We also want participants to see how church conflict can be transformed into an opportunity to learn something new about God’s will for their church.

The workshop was developed by the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center (LMPC), a non-profit ministry whose mission is to “proclaim Christ’s good news, the gospel of peace and justice – and to be active in the sacred ministry of reconciliation.”

To learn more about LMPC resources see: www.LMPeaceCenter.org

Workshop Schedule

Friday, June 21

6:30-7:00       Registration

7:00-8:30      Introduction: The Nature and Role of Conflict

                       Conflict in the New Testament: Finding Renewal in Conflict

8:30-8:45      Break

8:45-9:30      Understanding Your Own Style of Response to Conflict

Saturday, June 22

9:00-10:30    Discovering Your Personal Style Profile for Communication in Groups

Interpreting Your Personal Style Profile: Your Unique Strengths and Potential Excesses

10:30-10:45  Break

10:45-12:00  Interpersonal Peacemaking Skills: Negotiating Win-Win Solutions

12:00-1:00    Lunch

1:00-2:30      Congregational Conflict: The Dynamics of Conflict in the Church

2:30-2:45      Break

2:45-4:00      Congregational Conflict: Managing Conflict in the Church   

Register Online Here