10.0.0 Conflict Resolution & Peacemaking
Conflicts are a part of everyday life – they form in our close relations, at a societal level, and on an international level. All too often we see conflicts leading to aggression, hostility, and war. But conflicts can also be stepping stones leading to change and wisdom; if we learn to handle them constructively. Focusing on God is the key to resolving conflict constructively. When we remember his mercy and draw on his strength, we invariably see things more clearly and respond to conflict more wisely. In doing so, we can find far better solutions to our problems. At the same time, we can show others that there really is a God and that he delights in helping us do things we could never do on our own.
All too often Christians simply imitate the world’s approach to resolving conflict. When we do, we deprive ourselves of the heart-searching, life-changing, God-honoring process that is revealed to us in the Bible. Conflict always provides an opportunity to glorify God, that is, to bring him praise and honor by showing who he is, what he is like, and what he is doing. The best way to glorify God in the midst of conflict is to depend on and draw attention to his grace, that is, the undeserved love, mercy, forgiveness, strength, and wisdom he gives to us through Jesus Christ. As you live out the gospel and make the Lord’s priorities your priorities, you can turn every conflict into a stepping-stone to a closer relationship with God and a more fulfilling and fruitful life.
All too often Christians simply imitate the world’s approach to resolving conflict. When we do, we deprive ourselves of the heart-searching, life-changing, God-honoring process that is revealed to us in the Bible. Conflict always provides an opportunity to glorify God, that is, to bring him praise and honor by showing who he is, what he is like, and what he is doing. The best way to glorify God in the midst of conflict is to depend on and draw attention to his grace, that is, the undeserved love, mercy, forgiveness, strength, and wisdom he gives to us through Jesus Christ. As you live out the gospel and make the Lord’s priorities your priorities, you can turn every conflict into a stepping-stone to a closer relationship with God and a more fulfilling and fruitful life.
10.1.1 Section 1 Objectives
By the end of this topic, students should be able to:
- distinguish between disagreements and conflicts, understanding the duality of dealing with both an issue and a relationship.
- identify the steps of conflict escalation and understand how conflicts evolve and escalate.
- analyze conflicts using the five dimensions of conflict: structural, instrumental, interest, value, and personal.
- map out conflicts by identifying the parties involved, their roles, and the relationships between them.
- understand the different strategies for dealing with conflicts, including flight, fight, and openness.
- apply the steps of conflict mediation, including opening, describing the issue, finding consensus, generating possible solutions, negotiating, and reaching an agreement.
10.1.2 Section 1 Content
- Definition of Conflict
- How Conflicts Escalate
- The Dimension of Interest
- The Dimension of Value
- The Personal Dimension
- How We React to Conflicts
- Flight-Fight-Openness
- Working Towards Conflict Resolution – The Methodology
10.2.1 Section 2 Objectives
By the end of this topic, students should be able to:
- explain why the lack of conflict might be a sign of a problem in a team.
- identify the healthy and unhealthy sources of conflict within a team.
- analyze when conflict is beneficial and when it is detrimental to a team.
- evaluate how the impact of conflict varies depending on the type of team.
- describe the different approaches to conflict resolution and determine which approach is best for a given situation.
- develop strategies for teams to prepare for conflicts and create integrative solutions.
10.2.2 Section 2 Content
- Sources of Conflict
- Healthy Sources of Conflict
- Unhealthy Sources of Conflict
- Impact of Conflict
- Conflict in Work Teams
- Conflict Resolution Approaches
- Managing Team Conflicts
- Preparing for Conflicts
- Facilitating Conflicts
- Negotiating Conflicts
10.3.1 Section 3 Objectives
By the end of this topic, students should be able to:
- define conflict and understand its characteristics, including perceived differences and negative evaluations.
- explain the difference between conflicts of needs and conflicts of beliefs, and how these underlie many disputes.
- identify the positive and negative consequences of conflict and how it can lead to growth, effectiveness, and enhanced relationships or result in negative outcomes.
- describe the five basic strategies for conflict management: collaboration, compromise, accommodation, controlling, and avoiding, and when each is appropriate to use.
- apply the principles of conflict management, including defusing strong emotions, achieving mutual understanding, and working towards resolution through negotiation.
- utilize the mindset of interest-based conflict management, which includes respect, integrity, resourcefulness, and a constructive attitude.
- What is Conflict?
- Needs and Beliefs
- Conflict Resolution
- Principles of Conflict Resolution
- Respect and Integrity
- Rapport
- Resourcefulness
- A Constructive Attitude
- Our Conflict Resolution Processes
10.4.1 Section 4 Objectives
By the end of this topic, students should be able to:
- understand the biblical principles of conflict resolution and the importance of focusing on God to resolve conflicts constructively.
- identify and explain the three basic ways people respond to conflict: escape, attack, and peacemaking responses.
- recognize the differences between personal peacemaking and assisted peacemaking, and when each is appropriate.
- describe the concepts of overlooking an offense, reconciliation, and negotiation as methods of personal peacemaking.
- explain the roles of mediation, arbitration, and accountability in assisted peacemaking and how they help resolve conflicts within a community.
- analyze the trends and outcomes of different responses to conflict, and how moving from personal to public and voluntary to forced solutions affects the resolution process .
10.4.2 Section 4 Content
- Conflict Provides Opportunities
- The Slippery Slope of Conflict
- Escape Responses
- Attack Responses
- Peacemaking Responses
- Reconciliation
- Negotiation
- Mediation
- Arbitration
- Accountability
- A Biblical View of Conflict
10.5.1 Section 5 Objectives
By the end of this topic, students should be able to:
- trust God in the midst of conflict by relying on His grace, mercy, and wisdom rather than their own understanding.
- obey God’s commands during conflicts, demonstrating His goodness and dependability through their actions.
- imitate God by showing Christ-like humility, mercy, forgiveness, and loving correction in conflicts.
- acknowledge God’s work in their lives by giving Him credit for their ability to handle conflicts effectively.
- serve others in conflict situations by helping opponents understand their interests and finding mutually beneficial solutions.
- grow to be more like Christ by recognizing and overcoming sinful attitudes and habits revealed during conflicts.
10.5.2 Section 5 Content
- Trusting God
- Obeying God
- Imitating God
- Acknowledging God
- Serving Others
- Growing to Be like Christ
- The Four G’s of Peacemaking
- Stewarding Conflict
10.6.1 Section 6 Objectives
By the end of this topic, students should be able to:
- understand the importance of being a person of prayer and how it relates to peacemaking.
- appreciate the necessity of loving and studying the Word of God to be effective peacemakers.
- identify the significance of thinking rightly and how it influences their peacemaking efforts.
- recognize the value of working with the skills God provides and the importance of being willing to serve as peacemakers.
- understand the need for vulnerability in peacemaking, inspired by the example of Jesus Christ.
- apply wisdom in responding to conflicts, embodying the qualities described in the teachings of James and other biblical texts.
10.6.2 Section 6 Content
- Characteristics of a Peacemaker
- Guiding People Through Conflict
- Summarizing the Four G's
- Opportunities of Conflict
- The Principles of Restoration
- The Principles of Reconciliation
- The PAUSE Principle of Negotiation