The past three Consultations [with Charles Van Engen (1997), Parker Palmer (1999) and Dallas Willard (2000)] have taught us that the consultation format works well but that the two-day time-frame is too limited to allow for commitment to planning and organized pursuit of specific action.

We have resisted the suggestions that the Ward Consultation become yet another formal professional association.  It seems that the particular value of the Consultation is the opportunity it provides for participants to dig deeply into a focused issue of contemporary concern. However, two days in one year is clearly not sufficient. The need for a sustained rhythm of dialogue and thought, shared planning, and reflection on action taken has prompted a change in the format of the Ward Consultation. Themes will continue to be chosen for their contemporary significance and each theme will be dealt with in a three-year series to allow for significant thought and action. Each year one or more specialists with significant intercultural and/or educational experience related to the theme will facilitate the session.

The enclosed brochure gives details for the first year of the theme chosen for this new format. Reconciliation is an issue of enormous significance in a world increasingly torn apart by hatred and intergroup and interracial strife. The need for the gospel=s message of reconciliation and the need for Christians to be peacemakers has never been greater. Because of the importance of this theme, the Consultation series will devote three years to its discussion, decision-making, and action.  The specific topics for each year of the Series focus on Reconciliation are:

Year 1, 2001.   Opening the Door to Reconciliation@ Miroslav Volf, facilitator (see the notes under this year for a description of what happened at this Consultation because of the tragic events of 9/11). How do we understand reconciliation as rooted in the gospel? To what extent is the Christian morally and ethically obligated to be involved in the ministry of reconciliation? What are the tasks of the peacemaker? What is the role of the church and other organizations in reconciliation efforts? Miroslav Volf was raised and educated in Croatia, with subsequent doctoral and post-doctoral degrees from the United States, and Germany. His most significant book is Exclusion and Embrace, which proposes the idea of embrace as a theological response to the problem of exclusion. Mary McAleese, the president of Ireland, wrote to Professor Volf in response to his book, There is no better way for our two countries to go forward than pursuing the difficult path of embrace.

Year 2, 2002. This session will “unpack” key issues in reconciliation such as: forgiveness, reconciliation strategy, multicultural issues in building relationships and teams, and other issues identified at the 2001 session. The focus in Year 2 is to initiate or extend existing efforts related to reconciliation within organizations, in creating learning experiences related to reconciliation within Christian higher education, and in helping church leaders to create ways to help congregations to become agents of reconciliation. World Vision Publications gave us permission to upload their 22-session Bible study guide “Reconciliation: Seeking restored Relationships”, edited by Don Posterski and Michael Pountney, to the Ward Consultation web site.  

Year 3, 2003.  At this consultation, participants reported on their experiences. We were particularly concerned with the continuing need to stimulate and support thoughtful action of leaders in the church, the academy, and the marketplace who can be effective in conflict resolution, intergroup or interracial intervention, negotiation, in short, those who can make peace when there is no peace.  The facilitator chosen for 2003 was Daniel Schipani.

Clearly, the Ward Consultation has been distinguished as more than a lecture series. The sessions of the past have been pushing us toward a format that allows for more active follow through. Therefore, in this Series format, we seek to pursue important themes from thought and action.