Q:  So, why types of disputes can peace-making be used to resolve? – Almost any kind really.  This includes contract disputes, business/partnership disputes, construction disputes, lease disputes, disputes over family-owned businesses, estate disputes, or disputes over all aspects of congregational matters.  We have assisted in all of these sorts of disputes, and many others. 

[Please note, we do not offer peacemaking in matrimonial or divorce disputes.]

Q:  For what type of Christians do you do peacemaking? – Individuals from all walks of life – some who are business people, some who are siblings, some who are in contractual relationships, and some who are members in the same church.  We have also made peace for congregational bodies, including Boards, elders, deacons, and Christian charities, for internal disputes or disputes between them and individual church members or leaders.

Q:  Why Christian peacemaking? – Because we as Christians are called to avoid and resolve disputes and, especially, to do so in preference to taking them before the civil courts. 

1 Corinthians 6: 1-6 says:“¹
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
² To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:
³ Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
⁴ I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.
⁵ For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge—
⁶ God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you.”

Q:  How is Christian peacemaking different from civil mediation? – Well, in the western model of civil mediation, the resolution depends on the compromise between two or more parties to a dispute over their legal rights – that is why it is referred to as “rights based” mediation.  One side will say, “I have a legal right to this”, while the other side will say, “No, you do not.  I have a legal right to that”.  Ultimately, the settlement of such disputes involves the parties agreeing to disagree, and compromising their legal rights.  Christian peace-making is not at all about legal rights.  It is all about honouring our Lord through the resolution of a dispute, and the restoration of a healthy Christian relationship between the people who were in conflict.  It is God-centered, not law-centered.  It brings about peace.

Q:  How does Christian peacemaking work? – Usually, it starts by the people in the dispute making the decision to either avoid litigation, or get out of litigation that is already before the civil courts, or by wanting to end a dispute between themselves and other Christians, by seeking the help of a peace-maker.  The peace-maker will ultimately have a peace-making session with the parties to the dispute, in a neutral and convenient location.  In that session, the peace-maker will take the parties through a process which leads to the restoration of a Christian relationship, through steps which honour God, acknowledge responsibility, urge forgiveness, and establish sound actions to be taken to resolve the past dispute and avoid disputes in the future.  Typically, peacemaking sessions involve a day of open discussion, prayer, scripture reading, and deep introspection and honesty.  There is often both joy and tears.  The Holy Spirit is invariably present, and the outcomes are wonderful, and sometimes even amazing.