WHAT our STUDENTS ARE SAYING:
“My personal life and ministry have been transformed!”
““Our goal isn’t to simply understand conflict, but to resolve it. I believe that’s what differentiates this program from other degrees – – that you don’t only study peace, but you are equipped to be a peacemaker.””
““The program becomes a life-formation process, not just classroom education! The mentoring aspect of the program was excellent... As we take what we’ve learned and apply it, it will be powerful for our organizations.””
““I appreciate the learning community and network of international relationships... [The new friendships] are really valuable. I did not expect this in a doctoral program.””
Vision & Values
We envision the global church becoming spiritually and relationally healthy, effectively resolving conflict in a faithful and God-honoring way. The result will be a radiant church more effectively fulfilling its calling to the ministry of reconciliation: reconciling people to God, to each other in community, and to each other between communities.
Resolving conflicts is not the ultimate purpose of our efforts, though that is an important step of obedience! We envision a growing movement of men and women, who will, as servant-steward leaders, practice, motivate and train their church communities in the skills of building a biblically based, Christ-centered culture of peace.
- Centrality of Christ – Genuine peace comes from living reconciled relationships through the truth, justice and grace found in the cross of Christ.
- Calling of the Church – A transformed church has a transforming presence. True Christ-followers live reconciled relationships, growing to become peacemakers, impacting surrounding communities.
- Necessity of Biblical Counseling – Conflict involves material matters tied to relational heart issues. Conflict resolution includes dealing with destructive desires of our hearts that affect others.
- Authority of God’s Word – The Bible speaks with universal principles to conflict issues. Various insights, often discovered through sensitive dialog, help guide wise application of God’s truth to all of life.
- Model of Leadership – Servant leaders compassionately serve God and people, fulfilling kingdom purposes, and giving an account for the truth, people and opportunities entrusted to them.
- Dynamic of Learning Environments – Program participants are valued as adult learners whose life experiences and interaction enrich classroom, field, and mentored learning environments.
- Balance of Program Elements – Program participants are developed in the knowledge, character and skills needed for effectively practicing and equipping others in biblical peacemaking.
Our Peace Studies Curriculum
Peace Studies Course Descriptions
The courses on Negotiation, Conflict Coaching and Mediation are the staple of the second year curriculum for Peace Studies (along with Comparative Peacemaking Systems, not discussed here). The desired outcome is that participants will have an integrated, biblically-centered way to think about and practice these separate, yet closely related, disciplines.
By the end of these courses each participant will have an integrated, biblically-centered way to think and practice negotiation, conflict coaching and mediation. Participants will understand the strengths and weaknesses of secular approaches to these disciplines and be able to demonstrate how biblical insights strengthen and deepen each model.
These course are presently taught as part of the Peace Studies Doctoral Program at the International Graduate School of Leadership in Manila, Philippines. To learn more about this unique academic program, click here.
negotiation
The Negotiations course presents two traditional models: the competitive, or “distributive,” model of negotiation and the cooperative, or “integrative,” model. We examine the theory behind both approaches in light of biblical norms and use role-play simulations to gain firsthand experience.
In addition, we look closely at the front end of negotiation. Negotiation theories focus primarily on process, “how I get what I want.” Christian negotiators must also examine each element of the “what I want” equation that proceeds any negotiation: the “I” in terms of identity in Christ; the “want” in terms of heart desires; and “this” in terms of stewarding God’s creation.
Detailed Instructor's Notes for this course are currently available. Please contact Chip Zimmer if you would like to receive a copy. A course syllabus, including Instructor's Notes, case studies, discussion questions and other resources, should be available early in 2019.
conflict coaching
The Conflict Coaching course focuses on how to work effectively with people in conflict, helping them become capable, biblically-focused negotiators. In the last few years, Christian coaching has become a field unto itself, distinct from counseling and mentoring. We examine the philosophies behind all three disciplines, then build and practice a coaching model that includes the best practices of each.
Since course participants come from different cultures and traditions, we also examine relational norms in various cultural settings and discuss how they impact the coach’s role. Each participant role-plays multiple coaching scenarios.
Instructor's Notes are being updated and should be available in early 2019. A full course syllabus will be available later next year.
mediation
The Mediation course incorporates all of the insights and training of the Negotiations and Conflict Coaching courses. The focus is on the mediation process itself and how third-party intervenors can create structures that help people in conflict work through their differences. The course emphasis is on reconciling troubled relationships as the preferred first step toward negotiating substantive disagreements.
We examine common problems that arise during a mediation, such as handling emotions and moving from competitive to collaborative thinking. We fold into the course differences in cultural practices and expectations. Each participant practices what they are learning in realistic role-plays.
This course is under construction and should be available later in 2019.
Other Course Offerings
We have developed other courses as well. We are currently updating them and hope to have them available soon, including:
- Basic Peacemaking for Micro-Finance Projects
- Basic Peacemaking for Oral Learners
- Basic Peacemaking for BA and/or Master's Level Students
