Conflicts naturally emerge in every gathering of human beings. Churches too! While such conflicts naturally feel threatening, they also pose a transformative opportunity: to deepen and enrich our relationships. Last September our church’s Session unanimously approved a set of guidelines for conflict transformation called Living Our Mission. Our congregation will be asked to adopt these guidelines at its January 31st annual meeting.

As part of making Living Our Mission a reality in our congregational life, FPC’s Meditation Team will be teaching an eight week series of classes beginning January 31st during the 9:45 Sunday school hour. The first four classes will be an exploration of individual styles of responding to conflict, designed to help us better understand our own patterns as well as those we live and work with. Because of the interconnected nature of the material, we will ask enrollees to commit to all four of these first practicum classes. The second four class series, in March, will deepen and expand the discussion. 

During the month of January leading up to the classes, you will have an opportunity to examine the Living Our Mission document while Pastor Jim delivers a sermon series on the Biblical principles that undergird it. (See worship schedule on the back of this newsletter.) 

We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to enrich your church, professional and personal relationships. 

- FPCSLO Mediation Team: Bud Beecher, Pat Lindquist, Ann Martel-Corley, Jim Nielsen