Mediating with True Believers

Church congregations are not immune to conflict. Beth Padgett and Alexandria Skinner would argue that conflict is a sign of an active, engaged, and vital congregation. The question is not whether religious communities will have conflict, but how they will respond to it when it happens. Beth and Alexandria will discuss patterns of church conflict, as well as how mediators can invite clergy, staff, and members into trans-formative conversations where firmly held beliefs are part of the conflict and its transformation.

Beth Padgett works as a civil and family mediator. She is the Exec. Dir. of the Community Mediation Center in Columbia. Beth earned two degrees from the University of SC, a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Masters of Education. She also earned a Master of Arts in Human Behavior and Conflict Management from Columbia College. Beth has a background in education, mental health and addiction treatment services, domestic violence counseling, as well as curriculum and program development in these disciplines. Beth can be contacted at lizzieb.padgett@gmail.com

Alexandria Skinner, a mediator in Columbia, SC, focuses her practice on helping parties resolve conflict where future relationships are important.. She is also an IACP certified collaborative divorce attorney, has completed graduate studies in ethics. She views the most fundamental, basic ideals of mediation as being rooted in the same type of compassion and love that religious communities aspire to emulate in their relationships with one another. She volunteers at the Community Mediation Center, serves as Co-Chair of the Program Committee of the Elder Section of the Assoc. for Conflict Resolution, and also serves as Chair of the Peacemaking Committee for Trinity Presbytery..