1. CONFLICT RESOLUTION –AVOIDING CONFLICTS: –MANAGING CONFLICTS: –COMMON CAUSES OF CONFLICTS: –GUIDELINES TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS: –MEDIATING TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS: –WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT CONFLICTS:

2. AVOIDING CONFLICTS  EMBRACE DEFINITE VALUES  PREPARE PEOPLE FOR CONTEXT  SET CLEAR GOALS  TEACH CULTURE  BUILD TEAM  CREATE ENVIRONMENT  DEFINE STRUCTURE  BUILD WORKABLE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM

3. MANAGING CONFLICTS  (SEE YWAM DOCUMENT – JUSTICE AND APPEALS PROCESS)  SET UP CONFLICT MANAGEMENT PROCESS  DESCRIBE APPEALS PROCESS  SET UP STRUCTURE FOR RESOLVING ISSUES

4. COMMON CAUSES OF CONFLICTS - 1  PERSONAL INSECURITY  MISCOMMUNICATION  MISUNDERSTANDING  BAD COMMUNICATION  FAILURE TO LISTEN TO EACH OTHER  LACK OF “PEOPLE SKILLS”  FAILURE TO MAKE DECISIONS PROPERLY  POOR LEADERSHIP  IMMATURE OR INSECURE LEADERSHIP

5. COMMON CAUSES OF CONFLICTS - 2  UNCLEAR STRUCTURE AMONG STAFF AND LEADERS  CHARACTER WEAKNESSES  ROOT SINS LIKE PRIDE AND SELFISHNESS  LACK OF PRAYER  CULTURAL INSENSITIVITY  DRIFTING FROM BASIC BIBLICAL VALUES  LACK OF TRAINING FOR ASSIGNED TASKS  LACK OF MENTORING (DISCIPLING)  HIDDEN AGENDAS

6. COMMON CAUSES OF CONFLICTS - 3  COMPARING ONE WITH ANOTHER  COMPETITIVENESS  DISLOYALTY  LACK OF TRUST  LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY  PRESUMING MOTIVES AND JUDGING  SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS

7. GUIDELINES TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS - 1  UNDERSTAND THE OTHER PERSON  CONSIDER THEIR PERSONALITY, MATURITY LEVEL, CULTURE, AND CHARACTER  LISTEN AND HEAR WHAT IS SAID AND WHAT IS NOT SAID  DO NOT RESPOND OUT OF INSECURITY OR DEFENSIVENESS  ATTACK THE PROBLEM, NOT THE PERSON  TRY WORKING OUT FROM UNCONDITIONAL LOVE  TELL CLEARLY WHAT YOU BELIEVE WAS DONE WRONGLY

8. GUIDELINES TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS - 2  FIND UNDERSTANDING OF WHY THINGS WERE DONE WRONGLY  ADMIT ANY MISTAKE OR WEAKNESS ON YOUR SIDE  DECIDING BLAME IS NOT THE MAIN OBJECTIVE  RECONCILIATION IS THE MAIN OBJECTIVE  NOBODY IS 100% TO BLAME (USUALLY)  IF YOU NEED A MEDIATOR, DO NOT DELAY  BE WILLING TO BE PROVED WRONG

9. MEDIATING TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS - 1  JUSTICE IS THE PRINCIPAL THING  BE IMPARTIAL – DO NOT TAKE SIDES  AVOID CONFLICT OF INTEREST – POSSIBLE BIAS BECAUSE OF RELATIONSHIP OR OTHER CAUSE (E.G. FINANCES)  DO NOT DECIDE ISSUES BEFORE HEARING ALL  ALLOW FOR GOOD INTENTIONS – DO NOT ALLOW SUSPICIONS  MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND ALL THAT IS SAID BY EACH ONE  PRAYERFULNESS IS AN ABSOLUTE

10. MEDIATING TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS - 2  WORK BETWEEN THOSE IN CONFLICT AND SHARE POSITIVES  EXPLAIN GOOD MOTIVES WHERE YOU FIND THEM  CLARIFY MISTAKES AS YOU DISCOVER THEM  DO NOT MINIMIZE SINFUL BEHAVIOUR  APPEAL TO FORGIVENESS, TOLERANCE, AND LOVE  DISCOVER GOD’S WAY OF USING SITUATION FOR GOOD  WORK FOR RECONCILIATION  SUGGEST PLAN FOR NEW WORKING ARRANGEMENT

11. WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT CONFLICTS – 1 (A small selection)  Exodus 18:13 to 26 – Jethro gives Moses advice on processing disputes  1 Kings 3:16 to 28 - Solomon and the two mothers (prostitutes)  Proverbs 18:13 – the need to listen before judging in a conflict  Proverbs 18:17 – hear both sides of the story!  Matthew 5:23, 24 – Jesus tells what to do if someone has a conflict with you  Matthew 18:15 to 20 – what to do if you have a conflict with someone else

12. WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT CONFLICTS - 2  Acts 15:19 (see verses 1 to 21) – James settles a conflict in the early church  Romans 14:1 to 3 – be tolerant, don’t judge a person’s conscience in a conflict  1 Corinthians 6:1 to 8 – conflicts should be settled among Christians  2 Corinthians 13:1 – a conflict needs evidence from several people to settle it  Ephesians 4:1 to 3 – humility, kindness, patience, forgiveness and love needed  Philippians 4:2 and 3 – a mediator may be needed

13. WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT CONFLICTS - 3  1 Timothy 5:19 and 20 – two or three witnesses needed against elders  1 Timothy 5:21 – stay impartial; do not take sides in a conflict  James 3:2 to 6 – our words (tongue) create and fuel conflict  James 5:16 – the need to confess our sins applies in conflict situations  1 Peter 3:8 to 12 – the need for sympathy, not retaliation