PURPOSE AND APPROACH OF
RECONCILIATION PANELS
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WHAT A CCS PANEL TRIES TO HELP DISPUTING PEOPLE DO
DISCOVERY: The panel learns facts, feelings, pains, and dislocations caused by the dispute; they explore the causes. The panel then reflects what it is learning to the parties, since some of it will be unknown to them.
PROCESS: LISTENING, REFLECTING
RECOGNITION: The panel helps parties recognize how things have gone sour, how they fall short of what they could be; also, how things could be if the issues were resolved. The panel helps each see how their mistakes and imperfections are contributing to the conflict.
PROCESS: GUIDING PARTIES IN THEIR OWN DISCOVERY
VALUING: The panel helps parties desire a better relationship, desire a peaceful environment, desire good things for the other side.
PROCESS: LEARNING TO LOVE
AFFIRMING: The panel helps parties say to one another how they value and accept each other no matter how they felt or what they said about each other before. They help the parties see their own part in the conflict so they can confess their role in causing the conflict, and repent by expressing contrition for the pain they have caused and their genuine intention to avoid causing pain in the future. Then they help each party express their forgiveness for the other, and their willingness to open the doors of trust to each other and be vulnerable to future failures.
PROCESS: DIALOGUE BETWEEN PARTIES
ACTING: The panel helps parties discover ways to right the wrongs that can be righted, and avoid committing new wrongs. Parties are encouraged to initiate solutions, but may be helped with suggestions.
PROCESS: PROBLEM SOLVING
COVENANTING: The panel helps parties embody their new relationship and agreement in a written document for them to sign.
PROCESS: STATING THE AGREEMENT, COMMITTING TO IT
CELEBRATING: Parties may find a way to rejoice over their mutual victory, inviting all the affected people to join them.
PROCESS: THANKSGIVING, PRAISE, WITNESS, HAVING FUN WITH AND ENJOYING ONE ANOTHER
These stages may run together and backtrack at places, but by the end they should all have occurred.
READ: Caring Enough To Forgive, by David Augsberger / Tell It To The Church, by Lynn Buzzard and Laury Eck
TIPS FOR PANELS
A. PANELISTS MEET FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR BEFORE MEETING WITH DISPUTANTS
1. Focus on goals of CCS panel, especially important if there are any outside panelists.
2. Plan panelist roles of responsibility:
a. Leader - keeps session focused, time keeper.
b. Secretary - keeps records of meetings in case file.
c. Someone to notify participants of meetings.
B. MEETINGS
1. Set up next meeting at end of each meeting.
2. Can use postcards filled out by participants ready to be sent out by person responsible for meeting notification.
C. HELPFUL IDEAS
1. Use Readiness for Reconciliation workbook information to look for commitments.
2. Use Scripture to draw people back to God's ways of handling life.
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