Wednesday, February 11, 2009

auckland to learn not to speak

Yah. I’m off for 3 days of professional development in Auckland. I am embarking on a Mediation course, taught by David Newton, who is one of Australia’s most experienced mediators.

Resolving conflict has been an increasingly important part of my ministry in recent years, whether it’s working with marriages, among families and in churches. I don’t see that as negative, since reconciliation is at the heart of the gospel. Healthy things grow and that inevitably brings the need of change and resolution. So when I saw this course advertised, I know that although I didn’t have the time, but I needed to make it a priority.

3 days to be a student, to sit and watch and grow. Yah!

Posted by steve at 06:16 PM

2 Comments

  1. our kids are VERY excited about your student-status! x

    Comment by lynne — February 11, 2009 @ 8:43 pm

  2. Steve – I’ll be very interested to hear about your experience with the mediation training. I make my living as a collaborative family lawyer and mediator, in part because I think it is one of the most profound forms of reconciliation ministry I can be involved with on a professional level. The vast majority of marriages still break up, but regardless of whether the marriage ends, reconciliation occurs. This is because the conflict is resolved in a way that heals rather than a way that divides.

    So far, very few ministers seem willing to engage in a frank discussion about reconciliation and divorce. Their concept of reconciliation seems limited to marriages staying together, rather than relationships separating but staying intact. I’d love for the discussion to expand to a point of reality rather than ostrich like denial.

    Comment by Lisa — February 13, 2009 @ 1:02 pm

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