Archive for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation

The Best Time to Plant a Tree is Twenty Years Ago

by Amanda Box   As I was scrolling through social media, I noticed a post that asked, “What is one skill you wish you had developed earlier in your career. Well over half of the 66 responses were underneath the communication umbrella, with conflict at the top. In a similar post, I saw a list […]

Conflict: Our Story

by Amanda Box and Jerry Neill   Ahhhhh, conflict on a ministry team, the unexpected team-building exercise nobody signed up for, but everyone has to survive; because even people who agree on eternal salvation can disagree about continuing to print a bulletin or going entirely digital; when two or more are gathered in His name… […]

An Effective Template for Conflict Resolution

by Jon Anderson   Conflict is a natural part of human relationships, even among people of faith. Whenever two or more individuals care deeply about something, differences in perspective are bound to surface. What matters most is not whether conflict arises, but how we choose to handle it. Too often, we slip into power struggles […]

Handling Conflicts with Grace: Leading by Example

by Greg Anderson   Several years ago, a church member asked to meet with me. We scheduled a time and sat down in my office. I didn’t know the reason for the meeting. Our interactions had always been positive—so I had no reason to expect what came next. After a few minutes of exchanging pleasantries, […]

The Best Time to Plant a Tree

by Amanda Box The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the next best time is today. Many of us grew up in a church environment where people weren’t allowed to disagree, question the status quo, or offer a different perspective. When people have structures, language, and strategy to handle each other […]

Facilitating Mediation: Understanding The Peacemaking Possibility

by Jon Mullican Most people work hard to avoid conflictual situations. Conflict creates discomfort. Conflict means to most that someone wins, and someone loses; to avoid losing or losing relationships, we sidestep the issue, the conversation, and the confrontation. Churchgoers follow this pattern well. Who wants to fight at church? Who wants to get into […]

How Old Are You – 12?

by Amanda Box Research shows that during conflict, people revert to their behavior from about age 12—sad, but true. Since I happen to have a 12-year-old daughter, I have an up-close-and-personal daily view of what this looks like. It’s not pretty. It’s all about the win/lose, deserve/earn with her. I most definitely have my work […]

Healing After Conflict

by Shane J. Mushonga Conflict is like an unwelcome friend on life’s journey arriving uninvited; and it lingers if left unaddressed. How do we rid ourselves of this unwanted companion? Consider these three steps to choose healing as a better travel companion: 1. Be Intentional in the Process While conflict is common, healing requires an […]

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