The Annual Conference officers have invited the Ministry of
Reconciliation (MoR) of On Earth Peace to resume its role of presence at
the 2013 Annual Conference. The diverse group of trained volunteers
will be present and attentive, ready to respond where confusion,
conflict, or negative emotions are causing a problem in the gathered
body, said a release.
Identified by wearing yellow lanyards and "Minister of
Reconciliation" tags, team members will be available during worship and
business sessions seated under "MoR Observer" signs, as well as in the
exhibit hall and at other Conference venues through each day and into
evenings. Conferencegoers will be able to contact the team at the On
Earth Peace booth in the exhibit hall, at the Conference Office, and by
phone.
The MoR Team's primary role will be to listen, facilitate
communication, and help navigate misunderstandings. They will be trained
to respond appropriately in the event anyone is feeling or being
threatened, or being harmed in any way (verbally, emotionally, or
physically); to be a peaceful presence in tense situations; to mediate
conflict; and to help make sense of the proceedings.
"Wherever two or three are gathered, conflict and tensions are
inevitable--even healthy," said Leslie Frye, MoR program director. "It's
also inevitable that we need the help of our sisters and brothers to
respond faithfully. Working with the various aspects of the Annual
Conference Ministers of Reconciliation Team last year in St. Louis was
one of the most deeply profound faith experiences of my life and I look
forward to the privilege of continuing this important ministry in
Charlotte."
The Ministry of Reconciliation Team offers a three-way approach to
creating safe space for faithfulness at Annual Conference. It begins
with setting the tone by collaborating with leadership teams throughout
the denomination and providing written resources to be considered before
and during Conference. While at Conference, the team functions in a
deacon role, providing pastoral care for individuals when the majority
of ordained and lay leadership is busy with the needs of the larger
group. In an emergency, the team is trained to play a role much like
Christian Peacemaker Teams, standing in the way of violent words and
repressive actions.
Members of the MoR Team commit to participating in a
training/team-building event before Conference and two conference calls
in the month prior to Annual Conference. For more information, contact
the Conference Office at 847-429-4364 or annualconference@brethren.org or Ministry of Reconciliation program director Leslie Frye at lfrye@onearthpeace.org or 620-755-3940.
Source: 5/30/2013 Newsline
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