Denver Seminary

2024-2025 Student Handbook 53 going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be recon ciled to him on the way . . ." C. Make the paramount goal in any conflict the restoration of righteous relationships rather than the winning of a "legal victory." • Matthew 18:15 "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother." II. Commit to Positive Dispute Resolution While harmony, consensus and tranquil relationships are desirable goals, peace at any price is not a desirable goal. Conflicts or problems are inevitable. Where there are people, there will conflicts or problems. Since we are a called-out group of imperfect people in the process of becoming perfected while seeking to do the perfect work of Christ, there will be conflicts or problems. The question is not whether we have conflicts or problems, but when they come, how will we handle them? The Seminary desires to embrace conflicts or problems as an opportunity for growth and drawing closer together, rather than as a negative demonstration of inherent incompatibility leading to animosity and alienation. The offended party (which is usually both parties to the conflict) should view the offense first as an opportunity to remove the "logs" of bad attitudes, resentments, pride, and sins of the flesh and grow in the graces of patience, longsuffering, understanding, gentleness, etc. If all parties' purpose ahead of time to walk with a teachable and humble spirit, conflicts will produce growth, positive character development and more secure relationships, rather than tension and dissention. To experience this growth, however, the Seminary must embrace the pain of any conflict rather than take the path of least resistance which is pulling back and avoiding the conflict or problem. III. Commit to Reconciliation It is the goal of the Seminary to produce reconciled relationships through our ministry, employees, and students. The Seminary cannot effectively ministry what we are not practicing. Recognizing that litigation and an adversarial legal system tends to produce adversaries rather than reconciled relationship, it is the policy of the Seminary to favor and promote a biblical approach to dispute resolution such as an informal Matthew 18 process or if necessary, Christian Conciliation in lieu of litigation. IV. Commit to Resolve Disputes Quickly All employees and students are encouraged to resolute disputes quickly. This should be done first on a personal basis between the offended parties. If this is unsuccessful, or if for whatever reason it would be inappropriate, the matter should be brought immediately to the employee's supervisor, the Director of Human Resources, the Dean of Students, or to a member of the administration. V. Commit to Agreements As much as possible and under biblical standards, this commitment to restoring relationships over winning legal disputes will be implemented in all of the Seminary's agreements.

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