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:
- One or both parties may receive individual counseling/coaching on how to resolve a dispute personally and privately using biblical principles.
- 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.
- 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