The vast majority of conflicts involve an underlying relationship component in addition to the apparent substantive issues.
Our approach is to deal with both. Our mediation style will be to facilitate effective communication between the parties,
engender understanding between them, draw out the underlying reasons for the conflict by helping the parties get to the root
of what drives their choices, seeking to dismantle any barriers to constructive change, and guide and encourage them toward
resolution. Foundational to our approach are biblical principles concerning individual responsibility for one's role
in a conflict, consideration of the interests of all impacted by the conflict, and the impact of relationship issues in the
existence and resolution of the conflict. The process provides parties the opportunity to achieve resolution and reconciliation
at the lowest possible level of formality and outside involvement. We will consider accepting any case regardless of the religious
convictions of the parties, provided they are willing to respect the biblical principles underlying the process.
Mediation is a voluntary process that allows parties to reach a mutually agreeable resolution with the
assistance of an impartial facilitator (the mediator). Our process adds another dimension, focusing on the root causes of
the conflict. It is conciliatory rather than adversarial in nature, encouraging each party to accept his or her responsibility
for the problem and for its solution. The parties are free to make their own decisions as they are guided through the process.
We encourage parties to identify and deal with root causes of conflict as an essential element in reaching a lasting resolution
of the current conflict as well as reducing the potential for future conflict. However, if all the parties want is basic mediated
settlement or arbitration of their dispute, we do provide that service.
Initially, before
meeting with the parties together, we seek an understanding of each party's perspective and provide coaching on approaches
to resolution. Where only one of the parties is seeking assistance, we can provide in depth individual coaching to assist
them in addressing the conflict.
If a substantive dispute is not resolved in mediation, the parties
can choose to submit the matter to binding arbitration. Parties can also choose to require binding arbitration should mediation
be unsuccessful even before mediation starts by submitting a case to med/arb.
Click a link below to find out more about each process.
