CONGREGATIONAL RELATIONS TEAM TO START CONFLICT RESOLUTION LIBRARY

With the support of the UCE Endowment Committee, the Congregational Relations Team will be developing a lending library for the congregation of books and videos related to conflict resolution and the promotion of healthy relationships.  The goal is to provide an additional resource to the UCE community to help members handle conflicts or difficulties between them in ways that are consistent with our Covenant of Engagement. The lending library will be kept in the hallway outside of the church office/ Rooms 1-3, along with our other lending libraries.  It will include books and materials for all ages, including some books for parents and teachers.  To support this project, CRT is  requesting donations from congregants of any books on conflict resolution or healthy relationships that you have found helpful, and/or suggestions of books you recommend which the team will review for possible purchase.  Our thanks to George Monical who has already recommended some helpful videos and we look forward to more suggestions.  Please send them to Carla Leone, Chair of the CRT at Carla.leone10@gmail.com and let her know if you have books  or other materials to donate to the library.

 

A quick word for those who aren’t sure what the CRT is or what we do:  The Congregational Relations Team was established in 2011, shortly after the congregation adopted our Covenant of Engagement, as a way of supporting our efforts to keep to this agreement.

The team offers three main services:

1) Education and Prevention – programs and workshops designed to promote constructive use of conflict and healthy relationships; including our annual workshop “We Can Work it Out: Conflict as Part of Healthy Engagement;

2) Early Intervention/Consultation – private consultation to one or both parties to a problem or conflict between members of the UCE community, in which people are advised or supported in their efforts to resolve problems directly with the other party; and

3) Facilitated Conversations  – in which CRT members meet with both parties to a conflict or relationship difficulty and help them discuss the issues constructively.

The team is happy to present workshops, provide materials or offer consultation regarding constructive conflict and healthy relating to any church group or committee upon request. Please contact any member of the CRT to request assistance:  John Casey, Trudi Davis, Jean Durkin, Carla Leone and Mike Takada.  Contact information for them is available on the membership roster and through the church office.