Did You Know?
Several years ago, the Congregation-Ministry Review Board (CMRB) created A Roadmap to Help Members Address Their Concerns about the Church. It’s a 3-page guide designed to help members use healthy communication processes when we have concerns about UCG or experience conflicts with one another.
Here’s how it works:
- Read the introduction.
- Scan the roadmap to find the type of concern that you have.
The guide covers:
- concerns about a church board, committee, or program
- concerns about your relationship with the church
- concerns involving a clergy person, staff member, or church officer
- issues with another church member
- Read thru the suggestions. Then develop your plan.
- As you move forward, return to the roadmap for guidance.
The journey to conflict resolution is not limited to a single route. Let’s encourage one another to choose those paths that lead to mutual understanding. And may we all seek to respect and serve one another with love and empathy.
Perhaps the words of Servant Song say it best:
Neighbor, let me be your servant,
Let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I might have the grace
To let you be my servant, too.
We are pilgrims on a journey,
We are neighbors on the road;
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load.
I will hold the grace light for you
In the nighttime of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you,
Speak the peace you long to hear.
I will weep when you are weeping,
When you laugh, I’ll laugh with you.
I will share your joy and sorrow
‘Til we’ve seen this journey through.
Peace,
Nan Ryan, CMRB Chair
P.S. Click on the title to find a copy of this little gem: A Roadmap to Help Members Address Their Concerns about the Church.