The Peacemaker [antikvár]

PrefaceMy interest in peacemaking has grown considerably since I became a lawyer. When I first began to practice law, I was excited about the prospect of helping people solve problems and settle disagreements. Before long, however, I learned that our courts are not equipped to deal with the personal side of conflict. The adversarial process is designed to resolve legal issues, not to reconcile people or help them change the attitudes and habits that lead to conflict. In fact, lawsuits usually drive people further apart and often ingrain the beliefs and behavior that lead to controversy.Wanting to avoid these problems and to help people find more complete solutions to their conflicts, I began to work with Peacemaker Ministries in 1982. This ministry helps people resolve their disputes out of court in a cooperative rather than an adversarial manner (see Appendix E). The conciliation process is designed not only to solve legal issues but also to promote genuine peace by restoring broken relationships and helping people change in constructive ways.As a conciliator, I soon discovered that the personal aspects of conflict often are more complicated than the legal considerations. Interpreting a contract can be challenging, but it is nothing compared to dealing with the attitudes and emotions that lead to and grow out of conflict. Finding little help in contemporary textbooks, I was forced to dig deeper into the one book that consistently provided me with reliable guidance: the Bible. As I applied the peacemaking principles presented in God's Word, I discovered that they are remarkably effective in today's complicated society. As a con-