Welcome to the Peacebuilding & Conflict Transformation certificate track — we're glad you're here. This track pairs theological grounding with practical tools for conflict analysis, de-escalation, and circle process, alongside the inner spiritual practices that sustain this work over time. Complete all four units at your own pace.
Click any lesson below to open it in the video player. Readings for each unit are listed below its lessons. Take it at your own pace — your access doesn't expire.
Final Assessment
15 questions · 70% or higher earns your certificate.
01
Unit 1
A Theology of Conflict and Contemplative Practice
12 Lessons
A theological foundation for conflict work, moving through contemplative practice and scripture's own account of conflict, disruption, and transformation.
A Theology of Conflict and Transformation
Lesson 1
Voices in Contemplative Practice
Lesson 2
From Fear to Awe: Contemplative Practice Through the Phases of Conflict
Lesson 3
Theological Claims About Conflict
Lesson 4
Four Theological Claims About Conflict and Change
Lesson 5
Theological Texts and Conflict: Starting with Scripture
Lesson 6
Scripture's Warning: Conflict as Moral Failing
Lesson 7
The Syrophoenician Woman and the Disruptive Jesus
Lesson 8
What Our Communities Teach About Conflict
Lesson 9
The Being and Doing of Conflict Work
Lesson 10
The Tree of Practice for Conflict Transformation
Lesson 11
Courage, Joy, and Wonder in Conflict Transformation
Lesson 12
Readings for This Unit
Ellen Ott Marshall — Conflict, Transformation, and Religion
Lesson 1
Howard Thurman — Prayer
Lessons 2–3
Andrew Dreitcer — Living Compassion
Lessons 2–3
Data Set for Theological Investigation
Lesson 4
Wendy Farley — Practice
Lessons 10–11
02
Unit 2
Power, Truth-Telling, and Non-Violent Communication
6 Lessons
Non-violent communication and hard questions of power, harm, and courageous truth-telling in the way of Jesus.
Non-Violent Communication: Intro
Lesson 1
All Power to the People
Lesson 2
Identifying Violence, Power, Harm, & Conflict
Lesson 3
Imitatio: Courageous Truth-Telling in the Way of Jesus
Lesson 4
Apophasis: The Unknowing of Paradoxical Curiosity
Lesson 5
Impediments and Opportunities for Encountering God in Conflict
Lesson 6
Readings for This Unit
Alicia Garza — The Purpose of Power
Unit 2
Marshall Ganz — Public Narrative, Collective Action, and Power
Unit 2
03
Unit 3
De-Escalation, Conflict Analysis & Circle Process
10 Lessons
Practical tools for de-escalation and conflict analysis, plus a deep dive into designing and holding a circle process.
Why De-Escalate
Lesson 1
Tools for Conflict Analysis
Lesson 2
Designing Process
Lesson 3
Introducing Circle Process
Lesson 4
Elements of a Circle Process
Lesson 5
The Purpose
Lesson 6
The Guidelines We Set
Lesson 7
The Questions We Pose
Lesson 8
The Ways We Listen
Lesson 9
Recap and Conclusion
Lesson 10
Readings for This Unit
Marshall Rosenberg — The Surprising Purpose of Anger: Finding the Gift
Lesson 1
Tools for Conflict Analysis
Lessons 2–4
Peacebuilding: A Caritas Training Manual
Lessons 2–4
Schirch & Camp — The Little Book of Dialogue for Difficult Subjects
Lessons 2–4
The Indigenous Origins of Circles (and How Non-Natives Learned About Them)
Lessons 5–7
Circle Keeper Handbook (2017)
Lessons 5–7
LJP — Essential Elements of Circle
Lessons 5–7
de Wolf & Geddes — Circles, Touchstones, and Values
Lessons 5–7
The Active Listening Skill Set
Lesson 8
Cool Tools for Hot Topics (p. 49–76)
Lesson 9
Kraybill, Evans & Evans — Listening Skills
Lesson 9
Lederach — "Keep Silent and Listen" (Acts 15)
Lesson 9
04
Unit 4
Vocation, Prayer & the Inner Work of Conflict
9 Lessons
The vocation of the conflict worker and the inner spiritual practices — examen, centering prayer, imaginative prayer — that sustain this work over time.
The Vocation of the Conflict Worker
Lesson 1
What Is Vocation?
Lesson 2
Impasse: Fight, Flight, Freeze Response to Conflict
Lesson 3
The Examen as a Conflict Practice
Lesson 4
What Is Apophasis? Unlearning to Take Time for Conflict
Lesson 5
Centering Prayer as a Conflict Practice
Lesson 6
Jesus's Harsh and Dreadful Love
Lesson 7
Introduction to Imaginative Prayer
Lesson 8
A Concluding Interview
Lesson 9
Readings for This Unit
The Vices and Virtues of Conflict
Unit 4
Pray with Your Imagination
Unit 4
Parker Palmer — Let Your Life Speak
Unit 4
My Grandmother's Hands
Unit 4
John Paul Lederach — On Simplicity and Complexity: Finding the Essence of Peacebuilding
Unit 4
Constance FitzGerald — Impasse and Dark Night
Unit 4
Compassion Practices for Yourself
Unit 4
Final Certificate Quiz
When you're ready, take the 15-question final assessment. A passing score of 70% earns your certificate of completion — you can take it as many times as you need.
Unit 1
Introduction
Reading
Final Assessment · Peacebuilding & Conflict Transformation
Certificate Quiz
15 questions. You need 70% or higher to earn your certificate of completion.
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