My mission is to help churches and nonprofit agencies resolve conflicts in a manner that engenders love, joy, and harmony. This web page is an introduction to my services proffered to churches and nonprofit agencies.
When a conflict occurs in either a church or a nonprofit, the focus of the enterprise is diluted from the primary mission until the conflict is effectively healed. Time and energy of the executive director or minister, board, staff and key volunteers are diverted from the mission of the church or nonprofit agency as they try to cope with the disruption.
An outside expert, who is objective, neutral and who will assist in resolving the conflict allows an organization to resolve the conflict more smoothly so it can return to its primary mission with the minimum of negative long-term consequences. Often I can help shift a simmering conflict into a golden opportunity for transformation and re-invigoration.
CONFLICT RESOLUTION FOR CHURCHES
Churches have unique needs that stem from their moral mission, their leadership structure and their great reliance on volunteers. The leaders become involved with their members and others on personal and emotional levels. Fundraising systems and other factors unique to churches seem to collide with moral and spiritual goals when there is conflict in the congregation.
I approach each opportunity for conflict resolution with an open mind and heart in order to facilitate the best possible outcome. Usually, the issue first presented camouflages deeper concerns that, if not expertly resolved, can cripple the growth of a church, or even split a church into polarized factions.
No matter how intense or mild the conflict appears at the onset, I approach each client through the belief that there is opportunity within every conflict. In a similar fashion, no matter between whom the initial conflict has arisen, I believe that the optimum long-term solution is best achieved by system-wide response, and that the opportunity exists for an outcome which benefits the entire church ministry.
As an outside professional with a sensitive approach and a compassionate eye, my role is to listen carefully to all the interested parties -- ministers, board members, paid staff, volunteers and congregants -- to identify the level of conflict and to clarify the concerns. Then working with the leadership of the church, I tailor a conflict resolution process to the needs of the situation, being ever mindful to the bottom line and the costs of my services. I work as a neutral professional to bring about healing through mediation, caucusing, consulting, facilitated encounters and other dispute resolution tools.
I have worked with mega-churches as well as very small congregations, and have a sliding scale fee policy when appropriate.
CONFLICT RESOLUTION FOR NONPROFIT AGENCIES
Almost every successful nonprofit agency goes through growing pains or downsizing that sometimes manifest as conflict. Successful nonprofit agencies can rarely rely on a purely hierarchical approach to resolve friction because of their funding structure and their reliance on volunteers. Poorly handled upsets can result in the departure of key people, hamper fundraising results, and diminish the contribution by volunteers. These outcomes can be avoided by early intervention through professionals skilled in conflict management.
It is especially important in these cases to retain a conflict manager who is sensitive to the needs of the nonprofit agency, and who is flexible in co-creating a resolution process tailored to the agency and the nature of the conflict. No matter how heated the conflict appears at the onset, I approach each case looking for the deeper unmet needs that generate the friction rather than try to superficially "paper over" the problem.
As an outside professional with a sensitive approach and a compassionate eye, my role is to listen carefully to all the interested parties -- board members, paid staff and volunteers -- to identify the issues in conflict and to clarify the concerns of all parties. Then working within the leadership structure of the nonprofit agency, I work as a neutral professional to bring about healing through mediation, caucusing, consulting, facilitated encounters and other dispute resolution tools.
I have worked successfully with large and small nonprofit agencies, and offer a sliding scale for my fees when appropriate.