Schrock-Shenk, Making Peace with Conflict

Share this:

Carolyn Schrock-Shenk and Lawrence Ressler, Editors, Making Peace With Conflict: Practical Skills for Conflict Transformation. Herald Press, 1999.

Referenced in: Understanding the Dynamics of Church Conflict

LifeandLeadership.com Summary

Produced by the Mennonite Conciliation Service, this is a very practical resource on conflict transformation. It draws a distinction between conflict resolution, management, and transformation, and suggests the most helpful relationship patterns, cultural dynamics, communication skills (listening, speaking, dialogue), and problem-solving approaches. It also includes good discussions on forgiveness and healing, systemic power, and issues of race and gender as it relates to power in conflict. It applies these concepts to conflicts in the nuclear family, congregations, decision making, and global struggles.

From the Publisher

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 twenty 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 trigger new conflict!

Study groups will find this an excellent resource. Study questions continue the conversation begun in each of seventeen chapters and will help highlight the common ground as well as differences readers may have with authors and each other.


***For additional information on this resource, including reviews, click the bookstore links. Check the reference at page top or the links below for resource guides on related topics.***


See Other Resources on Church Conflict:

See Resources on Over 100 Areas of Ministry Leadership: