What is Christian Conciliation?

Reconciliation and Resolution

Christian conciliation is a process . . .

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men . . .” Hebrews 12:14-15

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18

Christian conciliation typically involves three steps:

  1. One or both parties may receive individual counseling/coaching on how to resolve a dispute personally and privately using biblical principles.
  2. If private efforts are unsuccessful, the individuals may use mediation, a process in which one or more mediators meets with them to promote constructive dialogue and encourage relational reconciliation and voluntary settlement of their differences.
  3. If mediation is unsuccessful, the parties may proceed to Christian arbitration, which means that one or more arbitrators will hear their case and render a legally binding decision.

Types of Disputes in Christian Conciliation

Christian conciliation is effectively used to settle a wide variety of disputes and relational conflict, including contract, employment, family, personal injury, church, landlord-tenant, real estate, creditor-debtor, and professional conflicts. The monetary claims in these cases have ranged from nothing to several million dollars.

Individual/family case examples include:

  • The birth mother of a child wants to reverse an adoption
  • Elders and pastors of a church are locked in conflict
  • A highly conflicted married couple desires reconciliation
  • A family fights over a deceased parent’s estate
  • A husband and wife struggle with an impending divorce
  • A family is frequently disturbed by their neighbors’ barking dog
  • Two ranchers disagree on road right-of-way
  • A divorced couple disagrees constantly over child support and visitation
  • A family is stuck in conflict over a family business

 

Organizational case examples include:

  • A homeowner accuses a builder of doing defective work
  • An employee claims that she was improperly fired from her job
  • The owners of a business can’t agree on how to divide its assets
  • A partner in an oil and gas development venture believes he has been defrauded
  • A patient alleges that a doctor performed surgery improperly
  • An author claims that a publisher had broken a contract to publish his book
  • A company claims that its competitor’s product infringed on its patent

 

Church assistance examples include:”Church assistance examples include:

  • A key church member doesn’t trust a pastor and let’s others know
  • A group of church members want new leadership and takes action to create the desired result
  • A pastor wants a long-term elder to resign
  • A Church Leadership Team (Elders, Deacons, Pastors) is divided over the vision of the church
  • A Congregation-wide conflict has erupted after a controversial issue was discussed in a business meeting
  • A Senior Pastor wants to fire an Associate Pastor
  • The Elders are split over whether to let a Senior Pastor go
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