Ken Sande and Peacemaking

I've had opportunity this past week - and in forthcoming weeks - to become acquainted with the work of Ken Sande. I am impressed with the "ease of access" and Biblical models he develops in the books I have quickly reviewed - including The Peacemaker and Peace-making for Families.

I explained to my wife that Ken's work is like a practical, family version of what Walter Wink (and others) would call Jesus' Third Way - neither fight nor flight, but engaging in a new and challenging way toward better outcomes. Ken calls it neither "escape" nor "attack" - but "peacemaking."

Always good - even great - to engage peacemaking practices in discernible ways for families and "real-life" applications "at home and work" - in addition to the larger peacemaking efforts in national and international arenas. In fact, perhaps more peacemaking at home will lead to a more peaceful international diplomacy!

My connection to the work comes out of this opportunity, listed below. As I understand it we are a kind of "pilot group" for new curriculum Peacemaker Ministries has adapted from their church audiences towards business settings, yet to be fully distributed in this new format.

The Zig Ziglar Center for Ethical Leadership is hosting the Oklahoma Business Ethics Consortium as they present “Peacemaking for Business.” Sessions will be held in the Royce Brown building on the SNU campus from 5:30pm-7:30pm on October 12, 19, 26, and November 2 facilitated by Mr. Bill Blew.

Blew is a former Oklahoma District Court Judge and a graduate of Rhodes College and Vanderbilt School of Law with extensive experience in conflict resolution. He is also founder and executive director of The Olive Branch; a non-profit ministry that helps people find peace in relationships by teaching them how to deal with conflict from a biblical perspective.

“Peacemaking for Business” focuses on resolving the central issues of conflict while helping individuals preserve and restore lasting, healthy relationships. The course is recommended for anyone desiring to develop personal skills in the area of conflict resolution and relationship restoration, particularly business leaders, owners and human resources professionals.