corporation, partnership, business, shareholder, partner, owner, customer, employer, employee, civil, commercial, employment, workplace, contract, agreement, work, services, job, conflict, dispute, grievance, breach, lawsuit, attorney at law, attorney, mediator, arbitrator, litigation, resolution, restitution, mediation, mediate, arbitration, arbitrate, reconciliation, liability, termination, damages, compensation, personal-injury, liquidated-damages, arbitration contract, breach of contract, breach of contract cases, breach of contract damages, business contract, business contracts, business dispute, business partnership, business partnership agreement, claim compensation, compensation, compensation agreement, compensation claims, compensation contract, contract agreement, contract amendment, contract breach, contract breach law, contract breach letter, contract breech, contract damages, contract dispute, contract disputes, contract drafting, contract employment, contract for employment, contract liability, contract of employment, contract provisions, contract termination, contracts of employment, damages, employee agreement, employee agreements, employee contract, employee contracts, employment agreement, employment agreements, employment contract, job contract, job contracts, legal contract, legal contracts, liquidated damages, non solicitation agreement, partnership agreement, partnership contract, personal injury compensation, services contract, shareholder agreement, shareholders agreement, software contracts, terminate contract, termination clause, termination of contract, tort damages, work contract,
“I have been wronged!”
“Justice must be rendered. I need an advocate and a judge. Restitution is due me! I cannot overlook it.”
“I will hire an attorney as my gladiator and go to war! I will obtain victory and inflict punishment on my adversary. My enemy will be very sorry.”
“But my spirit says he’s my brother… brother-in-Christ that is…and I probably should handle this differently. In fact I recall that 1Cor 6:1-8 prohibits me from obtaining justice as the world does. But how do I obtain justice? And compensation?”
Any individual, whether he is in the role of a customer, employer, employee, businessman, or property owner who is damaged has rights and duties. Believers put duties above rights just as Jesus did. They demonstrate this priority by resolving every conflict, dispute, grievance, or breach without resorting to a lawsuit. They do this because their scriptural duty is to demonstrate right relationships, ie reconciliation, to a lost world.
Believers abhor litigation and seek resolution and restitution through scriptural mediation and arbitration. But where do you find this biblically authorized court?
It used to be handled in the church. But the last vestiges of that forum were surrendered to civil courts over a century ago. Today there is a resurgence of the function of ecclesiastical court in the practice of Christian mediators.
These highly trained individuals coach Christian adversaries with scripture and then mediate or arbitrate substantive issues. The desired result is glory to God through just agreements and reconciliation of relationships. Agreements on substantive issues may be filed as legally binding.
FAQ’s
What is Christian mediation? It is not counseling and it is not legal advice. It does not go on and on. It does not employ psychology. It is firm instruction and coaching in the application of the scriptural promises that deal with disputes and broken relationships. God has ordained it. He has described its processes in scripture. He commands reconciliation and He empowers those who seek it.
Who is trained to do it? Certified Christian Conciliators, graduates of the extensive program of the Institute for Christian Conciliation, division of Peacemaker Ministries.
How much does it cost? Charges average $75 per hour. The total cost depends on the number of preliminary sessions and rate of progress. There is homework for the parties to accomplish between sessions. The speed with which the concepts are understood, and applied determines the course of the coaching. The goal is to radically alter the way in which parties interact. Parties are coached individually. Ideally both are coached concurrently though often the most willing party precedes the other in the beginning. Each individual gains confidence in the scripture and applies it. The crisis then typically begins to abate as God changes hearts. Ultimately both attend a face-to-face mediation in which they jointly before God reach a resolution and new agreements about their relationship in the presence of a peacemaking mediator/arbitrator.
How long does the whole process take? Typically 20 to 90 days, far less time than litigation. The Christian mediation process substitutes for the costly secular alternative dispute resolution required by the courts prior to setting hearings.
Can it be done at a distance? Nearly all of the steps of conciliation can be done between coach and clients over the phone or internet, even free Skype video.
What is the success rate? At CMS we have found that if both parties are believers and both make a serious effort to absorb and apply the scripture, success is 100%.
What is the first step? Read the materials on the CMS website. Then contact us for a no-cost intake session, homework assignment, and to schedule follow-up conferences. http://christianmediationservicesllc.com