![\"Conflict](\"https:\/\/johnmark.net.au\/ps\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Conflict-Process-4.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Open up the conflict
\n<\/strong>The second key phase (green in the diagram above) is to open the conflict through exploring the issues, understanding the needs, interests and values of each side and looking at all of the contributing factors.\u00a0 This is a great time to complexify the conflict.\u00a0 A natural response is to look for a quick fix solution to reduce the tension.\u00a0 This is rarely successful.\u00a0 It is better to understand all of what has contributed to this and get it mapped out.\u00a0 Let all parties work on this together.\u00a0 If the space has been created and can be maintained, this is a key step towards finding a creative way forward.<\/p>\nBegin the process of Narrowing Down the Options
\n<\/strong>Only when some time has gone into understanding the issues and needs of all involved can the process of generating and evaluating the options begin (Blue in the above diagram).\u00a0 Work on some creative ways to get these options out in the open without necessarily making people commit to them in the process.\u00a0 People need time to think these through.\u00a0 Get as many options up as possible.\u00a0 The take some time to agree on what the criteria for evaluation will be.\u00a0 Once this is done, a preliminary evaluation can take place.<\/p>\nYou may need to cycle this process a couple of times
\n<\/strong>This third step usually throws up some new insight into the issues, needs and values of the parties involved.\u00a0 It is not uncommon to have to cycle through the green and blue areas several times.\u00a0 This does not have to take time but it is worth people being aware that this is what is happening.<\/p>\nFinally there needs to be a Decision made
\n<\/strong>In all conflicts and the management of polarities in organisations, there have to be decisions made about how things will proceed.\u00a0 There does come a time when the authorised decision making processes of the organisation need to be used to reach an outcome.\u00a0 This needs to be done with a much consultation with all involved as possible.\u00a0 If there are communal processes of discernment available for use these can be wisely used at this time. When a decision is made, it needs to be implemented with thought and care, especially with understanding of the needs of those who disagree.\u00a0 There may need to be a pastoral process of healing and restoration in some situations.<\/p>\nOther resources on this site are referenced on the diagram.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
There are several key steps to action in conflict scenarios.<\/p>\n
Create Space
\n<\/strong>After a conflict has erupted the first thing to do is to create space to deal with it well.\u00a0 Negotiate a cease-fire.\u00a0 In this space spend some time agreeing to how to proceed.\u00a0 We call this \u2018negotiating process\u2019.\u00a0 Agreement can be around the use of ground rules, covenant commitments, or a shared set of core values to honour in conflict. It may be a good time to do some teaching if the situation is not too volatile and tense.\u00a0 Although if the pastor is personally involved, it cannot be the pastor who teaches this.\u00a0 The second key element of creating space is reconciling hurt relationships.\u00a0 It is essential to make sure relationships are put right if there were hurtful events in the initial flare up.\u00a0 This reconciliation doesn\u2019t solve the conflict, but it does create the spiritual and psychological space in which the conflict can be worked on.<\/p>\n Read More<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[11],"class_list":["post-145","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-church-conflict","tag-conflict-process"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/johnmark.net.au\/ps\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/johnmark.net.au\/ps\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/johnmark.net.au\/ps\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/johnmark.net.au\/ps\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/johnmark.net.au\/ps\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=145"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/johnmark.net.au\/ps\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":252,"href":"https:\/\/johnmark.net.au\/ps\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145\/revisions\/252"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/johnmark.net.au\/ps\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=145"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/johnmark.net.au\/ps\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=145"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/johnmark.net.au\/ps\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=145"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}