"Help Team" helps congregations and pastors deal with conflict

The Help Team was created  to offer assistance to congregations attempting to resolve difficult situations. The intent is to provide a service unique in its approach, encouraging acceptable solutions to differences while preserving relationships and community.

Confidentiality is stressed by the Help Team, which precludes sharing any spe­cifics about situations in which team members have been involved. What can be shared is the fact positive results have been achieved when the team has been involved. The team has learned, however, that some individuals or congregations still are reluctant to use the service without first having some personal contact with the team.

In response to this need by some pastors and councils to meet a Help Team member before supporting a decision to use the service, the Help Team now is meeting with congregational councils and pastors for informal discussions about the Help Team approach. This “orientation without commitment” already has proven beneficial in two congregations only a few weeks into the New Year.

 If you feel a visit from a Help Team member could be beneficial in deciding how to address a difficult situation, please contact James Telfer at 803/781-1464 to make arrangements. (Such arrangements are intentionally made without involvement of the Office of Bishop.)

 Most often the Help Team is consulted when conflict arises among/between congregational leadership. However, recent experience has shown the benefits of consulting the Help Team in the case of member vs. member disputes when the pastor is not involved and is not the appropriate “mediator.”  When resources outside the congregation are needed to mediate such internal conflicts, the Help Team may provide the solution. In addition to assurance the situation will be handled by individuals who can be trusted, an added benefit is the fact Help Team members carry liability insurance to cover unexpected allegations that may arise in particu­larly difficult situations, such as dealing with custody issues or a possible divorce. Anyone wanting information about this Help Team service or wishing to discuss a specific situation can contact James Telfer at the number listed above.

Download Help Team documents!

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