Conflict resolution, also referred to as conflict management or mediation, is the study of methods and practices for two or more individuals, or groups of individuals, to settle a disagreement or resolve differences. Disputes occur on both the individual level as well as the community level. Pastors, religious leaders, and community organizers are often called upon to mediate disputes or initiate a process toward conflict resolution.
When initiating searches in the library’s online catalog or online databases, the following search terms may be helpful:
Many of the books on conflict resolution in the Schaff Library collection may be found browsing the following call numbers:
- BV 652.9 – section on church management
- HM 1121 – section for general works on conflict (interpersonal, social, ethnic and culture)
- HM 1126 – section on conflict management
- Never Call Them Jerks: Healthy Responses to Difficult Behavior by Arthur Paul Boers, BV 652.9 .B64 1999
- Conflict Management in Congregations edited by David B. Lott, BV 652.9 .C66 2001
- Peace Is Possible: a Study-Action Process Guide on Peacemaking by Shirley J. Heckman, BV 1561 .H4 1982
- Conflict Management and Counseling by L. Randolph Lowry and Richard W. Meyers, BV 4012.2 .L69 1991
- Conflict: Human Needs Theory edited by John Burton, HM 136 .B87 1990
- The Resolution of Conflict: Constructive and Destructive Processes by Morton Deutsch, HM 136 .D39 1973
- Win-Win Approaches to Conflict Avoidance by Arnold Gerstein and James Reagan, HM 136 .G46
- Managing Conflict: a Complete Process-Centered Handbook by Roy W. Pneuman and Margaret E. Bruehl, HM 136 .P75 1982
- The Conflict and Culture Reader edited by Pat K. Chew, HM 1121 .C66 2001
- Promise and Peril: Understanding and Managing Change and Conflict in Congregations by David R. Brubaker, BV 652.9 .B75 2009
- David's Harp: Returning Harmony to Conflicted Congregations by Bill Kemp, BV 4597.53 .C58 K45 2008
- Hope in Conflict: Discovering Wisdom in Congregational Turmoil by David R. Sawyer, BV 652.9 .S24 2007
- Peacemakers in Action: Profiles of Religion in Conflict Resolution by David Little, BL 629.5 .C66 P43 2007
- Conflict and Communion: Reconciliation and Restorative Justice at Christ's Table by Thomas W. Porter, BV 4597.53 .C58 C66 2006
- Getting to Amen: 8 Strategies for Managing Conflict in the African American Church by Lora-Ellen McKinney, BR 563 .N4 M3544 2005
A few website resources on this topic are:
- The Beyond Intractability Project, The Conflict Information Consortium, University of Colorado
- The CRInfo Project, The Conflict Information Consortium, University of Colorado
- Social Psychology Network maintained by Scott Plous, Wesleyan University
- Public Conversations Project
- National Association for Community Mediation