Workshop: Conflict Transformation for Chaplains (New Jersey only)

Conflict is endemic in our society and can often manifest in acute ways in contexts where people are most passionate. This includes the spaces where chaplains often work: in healthcare settings, correctional facilities, military, as well as congregations and houses of worship.

Please note: this event is offered specifically for chaplains living or working the state of New Jersey.

Chaplains and clergy of all faiths face a range of challenges, some as old as the profession itself, and some posed by new phenomenon, such as the role of social media, and in our present moment, the Covid-19 pandemic.

In this workshop, we will begin with a brief discussion about core components of conflict– root/proximate causes and positions/interests/needs – that are common to all conflicts. We will also examine the types of conflicts that are frequently encountered in the aforementioned settings, including the relationships between chaplain, the institutions and administration they work with, clients and more.

Finally, we will engage in a simulated exercise, a scenario custom-designed for this workshop based on stories shared during the Brandeis-Drew Chaplaincy Conversation Circles program. We will use this scenario to conduct conflict analysis while brainstorming various strategies for conflict resolution and transformation.