A three phased approach to peace for a church family

Phase 1-Teaching Bible Principles of Reconciliation
An ARS conciliator will lead the congregation through the "Responding to Conflict Biblically" seminar. Each participant may use their personal 32 page study guide. No local issues are discussed during this seminar so you may invite inactive members and interests to participate in this study of Bible principles. Professional color advertising is available to increase attendance.

Phase 2- Assessment of Issues
ARS has several confidential tools for collecting data from your church members. Your ARS conciliator will assess the information and identify the major issues of conflict in your church. He will give a preliminary report to the church board and if the church board chooses, he will begin the reconciliation phase of the program. Your church leaders must support the process from beginning to end.

Phase 3-Reconciliation
Your ARS conciliator will meet with the primary parties involved in the issues and attempt to reconcile them. Following this period of personal visitation the church family meets to share their experiences in peace making. The ARS conciliator leads them through a process to bring closure to their issues.

How Successful is Congregational Conflict Intervention
The success of the program in your church depends on the support and participation of your congregation. Every church family ARS has worked with has been thankful for the service. ARS is happy to provide specific references.

Professional SDA Conciliators
Conciliators recommended by ARS have received professional training in dispute resolution by the Institute for Christian Conciliation. Conciliators recommended for church disputes have had additional training in working with congregational issues.

How does ARS Charge?
The services of ARS are based on a daily consultant's fee in addition to travel and lodging. Conferences often share the expense with the local church.

Meet the President of ARS
Elder Charles R. Brown, B.A, M. Div., is a graduate of Walla Walla College and Andrews University. He has served 20 years as an SDA pastor in Oregon and Washington. He also served the British Columbia Conference as Ministerial Director for 13 years. He is certified as a Christian Conciliator with the Institute for Christian Conciliation, Billings, Montana.

Elder Brown has trained more than 1000 pastors throughout Canada and the United States. He is the creator of ARS "Congregational Conflict Intervention" Service and has led numerous churches successfully through this peace making approach. When you call ARS you will be greeted cheerfully by Charles' wife, Marjorie who serves as office manager.

What others have said...

"Praise God, that we have an SDA resource to offer our churches that are in severe conflict."
Conference President

"We never asked for ARS to come to our church until after we had a group leave. However, we still learned how to prevent some of the same things from happening in the future. We still learned to recognize inappropriate conflict responses and how to address them."
Pastor, Idaho

"ARS is providing a service to use when we are not perceived to be neutral."
Conference President

"ARS handled the reconciliation in our congregation professionally and privately. Individuals chose what things should be shared publicly."
Local Church Elder, Oregon

"Our church was split so badly that one third of the congregation was worshiping separately. Thanks to this program, we are worshipping together again."
Pastor, British Columbia

"Every church would be benefited by the 'Responding to Conflict Biblically Seminar'. It is the basis of the ARS reconciliation program."
Pastor, Alberta

"The Congregation Reconciliation Service helped me to see where I had made mistakes and how to make them right. Without it I would have needed to move to another church."
Pastor, Arkansas