Fall 2006/Pasadena
CN506
Augsburger
CN506: CONFLICT AND CONCILIATION. David Augsburger.
DESCRIPTION: Conflict in personal, familial, congregational, and communal life
are continuing problems and possibilities in Christian ministry. This course
offers an experiential, clinical, theological, and pastoral approach to the
management, resolution, transformation, and utilization of conflict in both
personal and pastoral perspectives. As an interdisciplinary approach it will
draw on communication theory, therapeutic process, conflict studies, and
mediation skills.
COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES:
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: The capacity to go beyond survival of conflict to both
transform it and utilize it in creative growth is essential in ministry as a
pastoral counselor, caregiver, mediator, educator, or administrator. All class
participants will (know) develop a cognitive grasp of conflict theory; (be)
integrate affective growth in comfort with and appreciation of conflict
dynamics; and (do) develop skill in coping, recreating, and redirecting
tensions in constructive conciliation.
COURSE FORMAT: An integration of lecture, dialogue, experiential exercise,
sociodrama, small groups, simulations, and class discussion of cases, theory,
and theology will allow opportunity for personal as well as professional growth
experiences to be processed and integrated into pastoral identity. Class meets
once each week for three and a half hours.
REQUIRED READING:
- A minimum of 1200 pages of cases, theory, theology, and practice
including:
- Augsburger, David. Conflict Mediation Across Cultures. Louisville:
Westminster/John Knox, 1992.
- __________. Hate-work: Working through the Pain and Pleasure of
Hate. Westminster/John Knox, 2004.
- __________. Helping People to Forgive. Louisville: Westminster/John
Knox, 1996.
- Fisher, Roger and William Ury. Getting to Yes. Boston: Houghton
Mifflin, 1981.
- __________. Getting Together. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1988.
- Hocker, J. and Wilmot. Interpersonal Conflict. Dubuque: William
Braun, 1978.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Halverstadt, Hugh. Managing Church Conflict. Louisville:
Westminster John Knox Press, 1991.
- Katz, Neil and John Lawyer. Communication and Conflict Resolution
Skills. Dubuque: Kendall Hunt, 1985.
- Mediation and Facilitation Manual. Akron, Penn.: Mennonite
Conciliation Service, 1995.
- Mitchell, Kenneth R. Multiple Staff Ministries. Philadelphia:
Westminster, 1988.
- Tavris, Carol. Anger. New York: Simon & Shuster, 1983.
ASSIGNMENTS: Two written projects will be required, due in the fifth and
eleventh weeks. These are (1) a personal anxiety/anger management study and
conflict style analysis; and (2) a case study of a conflict with analysis.
Details in syllabus.
PREREQUISITES: This is an advanced course restricted to students who have
completed 96 units.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.
FINAL EXAMINATION: The third paper functions as the final exam; an evaluation
process will conclude the final period.