Regional Synod of Albany
Mediation Team
We’re church members and Ministers of Word and Sacrament who have completed training by the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center in how to teach healthy communications skills, facilitate difficult conversations and conduct mediations. We have a passion to support our churches and Classes as they seek to speak the truth in love and handle conflict in a growth-producing manner.
Upcoming Training
Lombard Mennonite Peace Center
Mediation Skill Training Institute
Gain skills to deal effectively with interpersonal, congregational, and other forms of group conflict. All are welcome!
May 18-22
Monday 1:00 to 4:30 PM;
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Friday 9:00 AM to noon
Location: Delmar Reformed Church, Delmar, NY
This intensive event is designed to equip church leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to deal effectively with interpersonal, congregational, and other forms of group conflict. It also includes a component on congregational mediation and consultation, placed within the context of family systems theory. Although focused primarily on the church setting, the skills learned are directly transferable to other settings, including the business and academic worlds. Join us and find out for yourself why a previous participant described MSTI as “The best and most thorough model for mediation with individuals and congregations that I have experienced in more than three decades of ordained ministry”!
Conflict is an inevitable part of life, whether in the home, school, community, church, or workplace. Having the skills to function effectively in emotionally intense, conflicted situations is important for all of us, especially those of us who are leaders. Lombard Mennonite Peace Center has trained thousands of church leaders from a wide range of denominations in the skills that are needed to deal with conflict in the church setting through its Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders.
Schedule
The Mediation Skills Training Institute runs Monday through Friday.
Monday 1:00-4:30 PM
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9:00-4:30 PM
Friday 9:00 AM to 12 Noon
Overview
The Institute includes lectures, discussion, and guided practice in role-plays. Active and practical in focus, the sessions emphasize hands-on skills training and real-life role-plays based on the kinds of conflicts faced by participants. A more detailed description of the sessions is available upon request.
Registration Fee
For the Regional Synod of Albany event there is varied fee schedule. $950 for non-RSA Members, $850 for RSA Members, $425 for those considering joining the RSA Mediation team and helping with mediation, and free for current members of the RSA Mediation Team. The registration fee includes five full days of instruction and a hard copy of the MSTI training manual. We strongly encourage you to register at least two weeks before the event begins so that your manual arrives in time.
Trainer
Jay Wittmeyer, Executive Director of the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center, is the facilitator for MSTI.
Meals & Lodging
Daily refreshments will be provided. Participants will need to arrange their own lodging and meals.
What does the Mediation Team
Do for you?
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–Provide educational events for Classes and congregations re: how to have healthy conversations and how conflict can be handled in growth-producing ways
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Facilitate difficult conversations between persons or groups of people that need to happen but have been avoided, or that have so far been handled in ways that have resulted in distress.
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–Plan and lead a mediation process between willing participants (e.g. between two church leaders, between a Consistory and pastor, or within a Classis or congregation divided over a particular issue)
How do we get Involved?
We only enter in when we have been invited – and then only when we believe that we may have the skills to provide support in the ways most needed. Generally such requests will come from a Consistory leader, pastor, or Classis leader or committee liaison.
Please contact the Minister for Renewal, Sherri Meyer-Veen, (renewalminister@albanysynod.org) and we will arrange for a team member to schedule time to discuss the situation you are concerned about and explore with you what type(s) of support might be most helpful.