Restorative Practices for Church Communities: Matthew 18 Conversation from Fear to Forgiveness (Session 3)
We tend to avoid hard conversations for fear that we will either be misunderstood or rejected. And sometimes we just don’t want to face the insecurities inherent to our own positions or perspectives. Jesus presented a powerful framework that invites even a harmed person to initiate conversations directly with the other person in view of diffusing emotions and reaching relational reconciliation. When that proves too challenging, the next level can bring in a facilitator and support people. Altogether, an empowered approach allows “going, listening, agreeing, and forgiving” to help restore people into a church community who might otherwise be afraid to re-engage others. One of the main skills here knowing how to move conversations from the defensive Head-zone to the open Heart-zone.
Church communities are increasingly being challenged by polarizing issues. Meanwhile, new stresses and strains are causing micro-harms and conflicts between church members, resulting in atmospheres of avoidance and mistrust. This workshop is one of four (each can be attended as a standalone) that tap into biblical narratives to offer rich wisdom for how people in church settings can hold space for hard but healing conversations. The power of people telling their own stories and being heard well by others is vital, but this work often requires the help of third-party facilitators. Participants receive an introductory foundation for facilitating processes that help people move from a defensive “head-zone” to an open “heart-zone” so that new life can rise up.
Registration: General $25/ Living Lightly $10/ Student Free
Location: Online/zoom
About Ted Lewis
After being introduced to restorative justice through Mennonite Central Committee workers on Pine Ridge Reservation in the early 90s, Ted has worked in the fields of restorative justice and conflict resolution in Kansas, Oregon, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. His area of specialty is facilitation and training for restorative conferencing that includes harming and harmed parties, along with support people. Ted is the founder and coordinator of the Restorative Church project, and presently works as a restorative consultant and trainer for the Center for Restorative Justice & Peacemaking at the University of Minnesota.
All Workshops in the Restorative Practices for Congregations series (register separately here https://buytickets.at/newcollegeberkeley)
September 14, 2023: Moving from Rivalry to Reconciliation
October 19, 2023: From Clash to Coexistence
November 16, 2023: Conversations from Fear to Forgiveness
December 14, 2023: From the Head to the Heart