<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Jason, my life became a living hell for more than six months last year because of this program. I plan to write about it over time in a more organized fashion, but it essentially boiled down to this: I became aware of problems managerially and legally with the pastor of my former church, I followed the basic, Biblical peacemaking steps to deal with it (yes, even the ones Peacemaker would advocate), and the pastor used the materials of Peacemaker Ministries to justify character assassination, telephone harassment and more. Not only to me, but, since it was the family church for generations, he and other leaders in the church did the same to my mother as well.<div><div><br></div><div>It culminated in a systematic attempt to get me thrown out of seminary on trumped up charges as well as hugely slanderous charges against my mother.</div><div><br></div><div>I agree these things are not consistent with Peacemakers' principles, but the simple matter is that by mixing legally binding documents with prooftexted Scripture, elders and pastors are given a massive upper hand. I never signed informed consent documents, though I was under massive pressure to do so. To their credit, Peacemakers themselves told me to get a lawyer to advise me. I did. I found out that the boilerplate documents from the organization can be used to legally compel people into Peacemaker approved mediation and/or legally binding arbitration.</div><div><br></div><div>I find no justification in Scripture for giving elders and pastors legally binding authority over people. Just imagine if it had been that way in early NT times. Peter could not have boldly declared he would follow God rather than men in Acts 5. The basic principles are OK, though I think they are oversimplified. </div><div><br></div><div>But mixing the law and Scripture is a dangerous attempt at pseudo-theocracy. If the elders are not slandering, they ought not fear the law. But when broad and unnecessary legal protections are given, broad abuses <i>can</i> happen. I've heard others' stories in recent times too. The program has such potential for abuse, I can't justify supporting it even if 95% of the time it does great things. For in those other times, it destroys lives.</div><div><br></div><div>Oh, and the pastor and leaders that aren't following the spirit of the program? The pastor is a founder of a major regional Peacemaker endorsed mediation/counseling organization and the Peacemakers "Certified Christian Conciliators" at that organization were the ones advising him on what he did. The church even hosts major, directly endorsed Peacemaker Ministries events.</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>-Tim<br><div><div><br><div><div>On Jan 9, 2010, at 12:37 PM, Jason P. Franklin wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">That's an interesting article. While we are in unity on most topics, Tim, I stand in disagreement with your description and conclusion. I commented on the OFB site itself, so I won't rehash that here. Suffice it to say that I think you've painted an incomplete picture.<div><br></div><div>I'm wondering, though, what your experience has been with program that would leave such a bad taste. From my experience with the model (I've helped several churches adopt some form a peacemaking model/system) I would say that if something as you described happened from a so-called "Peacemaking Church" then they were not staying true to the model but had perverted it for their own ends. The covenants, if properly administered, hold the leadership as accountable, if not more so, than the average member. </div><div><br></div><div>As for the PDC thing... the two have nothing to do with each other. That accusation (if there is anything to accuse of) is something of a non-sequitor. </div></div></blockquote></div><br></div></div></div></div></body></html>