Faith and Peacemaking

For many people, conflict contains a spiritual component. I know it does for me. Conflict touches what we believe about justice, mercy, forgiveness, and how God is at work in the world.

SanctuaryADR exists in that space. SanctuaryADR humbly serves people of any or no faith, and does not require anyone to share a particular set of beliefs. At the same time, my work is deeply shaped by a Christian vision of peace: people are made in God’s image, peaceful resolution is a function of truth-telling with the potential for healing. Simply put, how we treat one another matters.

This page is for those who want to understand that dimension of the work more clearly.

Why faith belongs in the conversation

For many clients, especially in families, churches, and faith-based organizations, resolving conflict is about calling, conscience, Scripture, and communities that matter deeply. Jesus calls peacemakers blessed. He recognizes that conflict exists, and that peace can be made.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes faith does not provide easy answers. It does provide a bigger frame.

How faith shapes the approach

Faith does not show up here as a shortcut or a slogan. It shows up in the way peacemaking is practiced…a very useful framework.

A few examples:

  • Every person has value. Each person is treated as someone with real stories, real agency, and real dignity, regardless of role, title, or behavior.

  • Truth and grace belong together. Hard truths are not avoided; they are pursued with the aim of clarity and, where possible, restoration.

  • Power is taken seriously. The presence of formal or informal power is named rather than ignored, because power affects safety, voice, and choice.

  • Process is part of formation. The way people move through conflict shapes them. The goal is not only to “get a deal,” but to walk in a way that feels consistent with conscience and calling.

These commitments are not imposed on my clients. I wanted you to know these commitments in the spirit of transparency and service, to help you better understand me and my approach.

For Christian clients and communities

If Christian faith is central to your life or community, you may want a process where your faith does not have to be checked at the door. Here, you are free to:

  • Name the Scriptures, practices, and convictions that matter to you.

  • Wrestle honestly with the tension between justice, accountability, forgiveness, and restoration.

  • Ask, “What does faithfulness look like here?” without being rushed into simplistic answers.

That may mean:

  • Pausing to consider not only “What can we do?” but also “What should we do?”

  • Exploring options that attend to both accountability and mercy.

  • Making room for lament, confession, or blessing when appropriate to your context.

SanctuaryADR is not pastoral (or non-pastoral) counseling, and it does not replace the role of pastors, elders, or spiritual directors. It is a dispute-resolution and coaching space that simply takes your faith seriously.

For those who do not identify as Christian

You do not need to share Christian beliefs to work with SanctuaryADR. Many clients do not.

For those who do not identify as Christian, the practical experience of the process is still:

  • Respectful

  • Calm and structured

  • Focused on safety, clarity, and constructive outcomes

The faith dimension is not used to pressure anyone. It is a source of grounding and guidance for me, and an optional resource for clients who want it named.

What this means for you

If you come to SanctuaryADR with a living faith and a hard conflict, you can expect:

  • Space to be honest about both.

  • A process that honors your humanity and the humanity of those you are in conflict with.

  • A commitment to pursue peace that is not easy: harm, responsibility, and real limits are taken seriously, while still looking for doors for mercy and repair.

If that sounds like the kind of help you are looking for, you are welcome to reach out and begin a conversation about what working together might look like.

“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”

Romans 12:18 (ESV)