“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:18-20)

Purpose

The Reconciliation Team seeks to build within the congregation biblical and theological understanding and dialogue skills for bringing reconciliation when personal, communal and/or spiritual relationships are threatened or broken. The Team initiates, encourages, coordinates, facilitates and oversees ministries that 1) develop and/or offer education for identifying, reducing, and responding to that which threatens, strains or breaks relationships, and 2) developing, training and maintaining “Ambassadors of Reconciliation,” a group of persons within the church equipped to respond to, support and assist individuals and the congregation facing threatened, strained or broken relationships.

Membership & Structure

1. The Reconciliation Team shall begin and close every meeting with prayer, devotion and study as determined by the Team at the onset of each new year.
2. The Team shall number five (5)-  seven (7) persons . The term of office shall be for one (1) year, with the option of renewal. The Pastor(s), the Council representative and Moderators (IPM, IEM) shall be ex-officio members of the Team. Friends of the Team shall be welcome to participate, but shall have no voting privileges.
3. The Team will reach a decision by consensus whenever possible. In the event that consensus cannot be attained, a majority vote of the entire committee, present or absent, shall be taken.
4. The Team shall meet every other month, but not less than six (6) times a year. Times and location TBA.
5. The Team shall select a Facilitator or rotating Team of Facilitators each year. The Team shall select a Recorder who will keep minutes to be filed with the church office.

Responsibilities & Duties

1. Creates a climate and develops reconciliation norms for the church via information, training, strategies, presentations and post-incident assessments.
2. Provides opportunities for reconciliation of differences, from within and without the church, before differences and misunderstandings escalate to levels that are harmful or unhealthy.
3. Creates an arena to improve communication and creates positive, caring and reconciling dialogue in the life of the church.
4. Promotes behaviors and attitudes encouraging transformative attitudes and behaviors that emerge from human differences, thus allowing the church to grow and better understand God’s will.
5. Identify and address conflict, real, potential, and imagined, and prayerfully seek peaceful and Spirit filled reconciliation solutions/strategies that are guided by the Scriptures.
6. Recruits, trains and supports “Ambassadors of Reconciliation.” Ambassadors shall respond to, support and assist individuals and the congregation facing threatened, strained or broken relationships. They will also respond to identified conflict in Section 5 above. Ambassadors of Reconciliation may be, but are not required to be, members of the Reconciliation Team.
7. Provides opportunities for education and disseminates information regarding reconciliation and peaceful alternatives to destructive disagreements and dissension.
8. Re-affirms and communicates the UCC-Congregational, Medina “Safe Church Policy.” (Copies available at the Church Office or by visiting uccmedina.org.)
9. Pursues outside resources and training for the “Ambassadors of Reconciliation” and to assist with the ongoing efforts to educate, disseminate, and foster reconciliation skills within the church and among its members.
10. The Team shall be deliberate in creating dialogue between the three (3) worshipping communities.
11. Upon request and recommendation of the Team Facilitator, “Ambassadors of Reconciliation” will provide reconciliation assistance and resources to the various Purpose and Resource Teams.
12. Explores Biblical traditions that affirm peace and reconciliation values.
13. Collaborates with Pastoral Relations and Purpose and Resource Teams to support peaceful alternatives to conflict, reconciliation of differences and other mutual endeavors.
14. Request budget representation in the annual Operating Budget. The Budget request will be filed in a timely manner with the Finance Team.
15. Develops and provides an in-service opportunity annually for the “Ambassadors of Reconciliation” and all team members.