Consulting on Building a Culture of Peace
Peacemaker Ministries' Senior Ministry Consultants (SMCs) are seasoned church leaders who have extensive experience dealing with conflict in the church. They are trained to assist church leaders in evaluating their existing peacemaking culture, and to work together with leaders to develop a Transformation Plan that fits the needs of their congregation. SMCs are available for one-time consultations by email and telephone, or for ongoing consulting with leadership teams through monthly or quarterly meetings that are conducted in person or by telephone conference call.
For information on arranging a consultation, email Jerry Wall at JWall@Peacemaker.net or call him at (406) 256-1583.
Resolving an Existing Conflict
Senior Ministry Consultants (SMCs) are available to assist church leaders in resolving existing conflicts in the church. When workloads permit, they can offer a free initial email or telephone consultation. More extensive assistance to pastors, elders and church boards is available for an hourly fee. This assistance generally involves one of the following services:
- Conflict Coaching is the process of providing advice (often by telephone) to a pastor or leadership team on how to resolve a particular conflict in their church. This process is called "coaching" because the SMC offers advice and encouragement from the sidelines instead of getting directly involved with both parties in the dispute.
- Mediation is the process of meeting with both parties to a conflict and helping them to move toward a voluntary agreement. (The parties are still responsible for deciding on a final agreement.) Meditation usually requires personal meetings, and is appropriate when a conflict involves only a few people in a church.
- Church Intervention is an extensive mediation process designed to resolve a conflict that involves a large portion of a congregation. It usually involves a team of conciliators who visit a church for several days, during which time they meet extensively with all of the individuals and groups of people involved in a conflict. An intervention team has no authority to issue binding decisions, but upon request it can provide a detailed written evaluation and specific recommendations on how to address a conflict.
For information on arranging any of these services see the Get Help with a Church Conflict section of this website. You may also email Annette Friesen at afriesen@peacemaker.net or call her at (406) 256-1583.
Leadership Training
As both experienced peacemakers and experienced churchmen, our SMC's are available for Leadership Training tailored to your church's particular needs. Topics include:
- Building a culture of peace in the local church (broad vision)
- Utilizing the Peacemaking Church web-based assessment tool
- Legal threats to the church
- Implementing biblical and legal safeguards
- Biblical model of discipline
- Specifics of restorative church discipline (corrective and formative)
- Starting a church-based reconciliation ministry
- Formal church membership
- Updating your constitution and bylaws
- Church governance issues
- Using Christian conciliation clauses
- Inspiring and guiding change in the church
- Implementing the Peacemaking Church strategy
- Leaders as peacemakers
- Building community in the church
- Peacemaking on mission teams
- Recognizing and prioritizing current and potential issues in the church
For information on arranging a training event, email Janice Bradley at jbradley@peacemaker.net or call her at (406) 256-1583.
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