For far too long, we in the body of Christ have “kicked the can” of confrontation down the road instead of standing for righteousness, healing, and restoration amid the tough times of life. Divorce, healthcare crises, and family conflicts have wreaked havoc on our families, and often church leaders feel unable to lend meaningful, practical help. Mediation is a tool that many churches are now using to lend a healing hand in these difficult situations and to avoid litigation. In mediation, we focus on legacy instead of loss, emphasize restructuring the family instead of dividing it, embrace creative problem solving instead of forced resolution, and look to the future with hope instead of allowing our mistakes and failures define us.

PATHWAY GUIDE

Mike Hill

GUIDEBOOK

Click below to flip through a digital guidebook, view recordings of each session, and explore resources to extend your learning. Additionally, the session videos are accessible in the Summit 2020 playlist on the Siburt Institute’s YouTube channel.

SESSIONS

THE EMOTIONAL AND FINANCIAL COST OF LITIGATION

Mike Hill and Christine Rankin

The court system takes a toll on parties to lawsuits, especially those involving the dissolution of marriage and child custody. Mediation can and does alleviate many of those costs. One of the Center for Biblical Resolution’s goals is to assist parties in resolving matters using biblical principles. Exploring alternatives to litigation in a court setting has numerous benefits to the parties, collaterals, and even the courts.

NUTS AND BOLTS FOR NAVIGATING CHURCH LEADERSHIP CONFLICT

Randall Kinnison

You thought everyone among the church staff and elders would get along, right? We are all mature Christians. Unfortunately, church leadership conflicts can be destructive and costly. This session focuses on simple steps to identify, mediate, and resolve conflict, plus wisdom about when to engage a neutral third party.

WRONG WAY TO RIGHT WRONGS

Paul and Kim Lufkin

For far too long, churches have punted to professionals in secular courts when their members get embroiled in intense conflicts. The good news? It’s much easier for a church to implement 1 Cor. 6:1-11 today. Christ is glorified when we honor the Holy Spirit by obeying what is written in this passage, and the chances for reconciliation are better when conflict is resolved in the church, even when the church mediates a divorce.

MEDIATION Q&A

All Pathway Presenters

All speakers will gather to answer questions concerning their talks, mediation techniques, and conflict resolution.

Speakers and Pathway Guide

MIKE HILL

Mike Hill is the director of the Center for Biblical Resolution and the marriage pastor at Beltway Park Church in Abilene, Texas. He received his 40-hour mediation certification from Genesis Mediation in June 2019. He and his wife, Marsha, are blessed with two grown kids and five grandkids.

RANDALL KINNISON

Randall Kinnison founded Genesis Mediation in 2005. Since then, he has founded more firms, expanded offices, and trained others in mediation and consultation. Through the work of Doctor Peace, he prays over three million people to experience more peace by 2030. He and his wife, Sharlyne, have five children and five grandchildren.

PAUL AND KIM LUFKIN

Paul and Kim Lufkin are members of the Hills Church of Christ in North Richland Hills, Texas. There they recently helped form the Reconciliation Center, a team created to assist the elders in cases involving disputes in the church. Paul and Kim have five children.

CHRISTINE RANKIN

Christine Rankin (J.D.) is an adjunct professor at ACU and an attorney for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). She enjoys teaching classes and utilizes her experiences from practicing both criminal law and family to her courses: Crime and Delinquency, Social Deviance, and Sociology of the Family. She and her son are members of Beltway.