Our current culture is fraught with conflict and tension. People often describe “walking on eggshells” or the inability to hold a respectful conversation with others. Disputes arise within communities, the workplace, families and far too often within our church congregations. Situations seem insurmountable and people become intractable. The focus of this class is to prepare …
View course details “Conflict Resolution Jesus Style”

This course focuses on practical and theological foundations for engaging authentically and meaningfully with communities where life experiences, identities, and/or demographic characteristics reveal a social divide that can preclude others (and ourselves) from recognizing their full humanity.  Readings and other course content integrate literature from social science, practical theology, and personal narratives of experience.  The …
View course details “Pastoral Care with Marginalized Communities”

How many of us were told anger is inappropriate? Anger is both an energy and a gift. It is like gas to the automobile -it fuels us to move forward. Anger can be a powerful tool that motivates us to rise to a challenge. The difficulty is when we abuse anger and use it in …
View course details “The Gift of Anger Retreat”

Facilitator: Dr. Betty PriesConflict in congregational life is unique – it mixes organizational dynamics with personality, family history, conflict, theology, and of course, faith. This combination creates both challenges and possibilities. This workshop provides church leaders with an opportunity to consider their role as leaders in this dynamic environment. It provides practical tools and processes …
View course details “Leading the Church Through Times of Conflict and Polarities, Reflecting our Changing Times”

Access to this course is by application only.  Please email registrar [email protected] for information. In Sharing Perspectives, Jews, Christians and Muslims live and journey together as an interfaith community at St. George’s College, Jerusalem. Over eight days the group encounters the land and its people in the past and present, exploring historical, geographical, religious and political …
View course details “Sharing Perspectives in Jerusalem”

With Brian Froese, CMU Professor of History This course will explore what life was like in 1970 to the present and how Mennonites faced changes with respect to topics such as women in leadership, worship, music, education, missions, Indigenous relations, and politics in the context of larger social pressures.  

With Harry Huebner, CMU Professor Emeritus of Theology and Philosophy There are those who say that nothing has challenged their pacifist convictions more than the war in Ukraine. This course will create a forum for expressing thoughts and feelings about the horrors of war and will consider again what Christian pacifism is about.  

Reconciliation is the mission of the Church; and reconciliation is not the absence of conflict but rather the navigation of it. When approached with skill and grounded in Christ’s love, conflict is a healthy process through which we fully encounter our neighbor, we learn about ourselves, and ultimately leads to unity amidst difference. In this …
View course details “Navigating Conflict: Speaking the Truth in Love”

Facilitator: Betty Pries This workshop uses the two lenses of conflict drivers and conflict paradoxes and considers seemingly intractable conflicts and their transformation. Questions for consideration include the nature of intractability, de-escalation strategies, transforming intractable conflicts, and engaging emotions. This workshop builds on Understanding Conflict: Foundations. It is highly interactive, insightful, engaging, and critical for all …
View course details “Understanding Conflict Advanced–ONLINE”

Facilitators: Betty Pries This workshop is suitable for anyone involved in a leadership role in a congregation and is not limited to pastoral staff, in fact bringing some key lay leaders may be beneficial to some congregations. Frequently we hear that people resist change. Does this have to be true? Could we find ways of …
View course details “Leading The Church Through Transformation, Change and Renewal–ONLINE”