Making Peace with ConflictPractical Skills for Conflict Transformation edited by Carolyn Schrock-Shenk and Lawrence Ressler |
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"Making Peace with Conflict will provide fruitful reading for individuals ready to move beyond wondering how to deal with their conflicts to learning new skills for changing how they live and how they perceive their world." --Nancy Heisey, Eastern Mennonite University, in the Introduction
"Several years ago I was preparing to teach a Pendle Hill course on 'Conflict Resolution for People of Faith.' I knew I would have to draw on a variety of resources for the 'faith' part of the course, but I wanted to find a single book that would provide a practical overview of the variety of communication, cooperation, negotiation, creative problem solving, reconciliation and other practices commonly taught under the rubric of 'conflict resolution.' To my suprise, I could not find any current book that was broad enough in scope, reliable in content, and addressed to the adult layperson. Finally I called Mennonite Conciliation Service and asked Carolyn Schrock-Shenk whether I might use an audio resource developed by their staff a number of years ago. 'Are you sure you want to use it?' she asked."
"I had my own doubts. While the resource met all my criteria, it was dated and a bit hokey. 'Can you recommend anything else?' I responded. After a pause she said, 'I'll send it to you.'"
"So imagine my delight to see that the same Carolyn Schrock-Shenk is one of the editors of a newly-published book that goes right to the heart of what I was looking for. Making Peace with Conflict is addressed to Mennonite readers, but on every page it speaks to the condition of Friends. Its short chapters, written by conflict resolution professionals, deftly delineate the essence of the skills needed to cope with conflict constructively. The practical techniques are grounded in the context of a progressive Christian perspective, liberally illustrated with Biblical passages."
"The authors are vigorous in their representation of conflict as an important part of our spiritual journey calling on us to respond with open, prayerful hearts and with a willing and faithful practice of our best abilities. Spiritual and practical concerns are never far apart in the pages of this book, which begins with a personal look at our individual experiences and slowly expands to look at conflict in social relationships, families, congregations, and global peacemaking, including a section that examines the role of power in those relationships. I urge Quaker readers not to skip (as I almost did) the chapter on 'Congregational Decision Making,' thinking it will not apply to Friends' processes. It does."
"I believe the well-stocked Meeting library should include this book as the cornerstone of a small collection of classics in the different conflict resolution skill sets (including any of Gordon Thomas' 'Effectiveness Training' books on communication techniques and Fisher and Ury's 'Getting to Yes' on win-win negotiation). But for the library with a small acquisition budget, Making Peace with Conflict is the single essential purchase in this category, offering the most comprehensive, most relevant to Friends, and overall best non-academic conflict resolution overview available within a single cover." -From a review prepared for Friends Journal by Chel Avery
Does conflict still surprise and often overwhelm you? Do you wish you had a better understanding of how to transform life’s inevitable conflicts from problems to opportunities? Do you wonder what power has to do with conflict?
Here is a practical guide to understanding and transforming conflict based on biblical and Anabaptist principles. Over 20 noted authors shaped by many experiences and cultures tell of lessons taught by walking conflict’s holy ground. Some insights will be familiar, some new—and some able to trigger new conflict!
Study questions continue the conversation begun in each of 17 chapters and will help highlight the common ground as well as differences readers may have with authors and each other.
Making Peace with Conflict is a project of Mennonite Conciliation Service, a program of Mennonite Central Committee U.S.
About the Editors
Carolyn Schrock-Shenk, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is Director of Mennonite Conciliation Service as well as a mediator, trainer, consultant, and editor. Lawrence Ressler, North Chili, New York, is Professor of Social Work and Associate MSW Director at Roberts Wesleyan College.
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