Self-Help Option (You do it, I assist)
The benefit of this approach is that the church receives personalized, expert guidance from me at significantly less cost than if I am the primary person engaged in and conducting the peacemaking process.
The Board Appoints an In-House Peacemaker
(a) The board will identify a person in the church who is capable and willing to serve as a peacemaking mediator and has the trust of the disputing parties. (I can provide guidance on how to select the best in-house peacemaking mediator).
(b) I will advise and assist this individual every step of the way using the Judeo-Christian Model of Peacemaking.
(c) Early on, I will provide the in-house peacemaker a copy of:
(i)
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the outline of the process
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(ii)
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the written questionnaire participants complete
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(iii)
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the ground rules
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(iv)
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guidelines for the first face-to-face meeting
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(v)
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other educational handouts
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(d) At the end, I will assist the in-house peacemaker to write the memorandum of agreement. This document is produced at the end of the process and contains the blueprint the parties have agreed upon for the future.
To Get Started
The board should participate in a live, interactive webinar with me. Questions can be asked and answered to give you a fuller understanding of what to expect. Call to explore this option.
Direct Help
There are occasions when conflict is so divisive or involves so many people throughout the church that anything short of direct, expert help is insufficient. I will engage in a free, exploratory phase with you to discuss if this is your best course of action. Click here to review the overall process.
In a serious conflict this may be your most cost-effective option. It is often overlooked that if just a few regularly contributing families leave the congregation and go elsewhere because they are wounded and weary, your church will lose more income than the cost of receiving the expert help I offer. Moreover, the conflict will still be unresolved and the number leaving may not stop at just a few. One church, for example, said they had lost $80,000 in annual revenue because their long-standing conflict was not getting resolved. Family after family departed and were still departing. When nothing else has worked, why not invest in an alternative approach that may be (a) the church's best hope for resolution and healing, and (b) its best investment in terms of return on its money.
Call me at 301-253-8877 to learn more
