• Be honest: Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to
his/her neighbor (Eph. 4:25).
• Do what is just and merciful: And what does the Lord require of you? To act
justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8).
• Accept responsibility for your actions and admit your wrongs: First take the
plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly enough to remove the
speck from your brother's eye (Matt. 7:5).
• Keep your word: Simply let your "yes" be "yes, " and your "no" be "no" (Matt.
5:37).
• Be concerned about the interests of others: Each of you should look not only to
your own interests, but also to the interests of others (Phil. 2:4).
• Listen carefully to what others say: He who answers before listening, that is his
folly and his shame (Prov. 18:13).
• Overlook minor offenses: A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to
overlook an offense (Prov. 19:11).
• Confront others constructively: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of
your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their
needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Eph. 4:29).
• Be open to forgiveness and reconciliation: Be kind and compassionate to one
another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Eph. 4:32).
• Change harmful attitudes and behavior: He who conceals his sins does not
prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy (Prov. 28:13).
• Make restitution for any damage you have caused: If a man uncovers a pit or
digs one and fails to cover it and an ox or a donkey falls into it, the owner of the pit
must pay for the loss (Ex. 21:3334)
In other words, all members of TRC will be encouraged to follow the rule that
God has given to govern relations between all people:
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums
up the Law and the Prophets (Matt. 7:12).

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The commitment to peaceful solutions integrates the Christian call to
reconciliation with truthfulness. Peaceful solutions honor the call to personal
reconciliation. The commitment to address the issues and problems promotes honesty
and truthfulness.
The practice of loving those with whom one disagrees is the uniquely Christian
aspect of the Christian conciliation process. The occurrence of conflict reminds the
Christian to drink richly of Christ's love so that they will be able to share it even with
those whose differences are a source of pain. Clearly, knowledge about the life of
Christ, the teaching of scripture, and the power of the Holy Spirit are needed to uphold
individuals entering into the process of Christian conciliation.
Christian conciliation is a means by which people can love their adversaries while
simultaneously honestly expressing their concerns about the subject of a conflict.
Christian conciliation simultaneously promotes both God's call for Christian
reconciliation (Matt. 5:23,24) and God's call for justice (Prov. 16:11); its message
is that through Christ, justice and mercy can be combined (Matt. 23:23 and Micah
6:8)

PEACEMAKER'S PLEDGE

As people reconcile to God by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,
we believe that we are called to respond to conflict in a way that is remarkably
different from the way the world deals with conflict. 1 We also believe that conflict
provides opportunities to glorify God, serve other people, and grow to be like
Christ. 2 Therefore, in response to God's love and in reliance on His grace, we
commit ourselves to respond to conflict according to the following principles.
Glorify God † Instead of focusing on our own desires or dwelling on what others
may do, we will seek to please and honor God - by depending on His wisdom,
power, and love; by faithfully obeying His commands; and by seeking to maintain
a loving, merciful, and forgiving attitude. 3

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Get the Log Out of Your Own Eye † Instead of attacking others or dwelling on
their wrongs, we will take responsibility for our own contribution to conflicts -
confessing our sins, asking God to help us change any attitudes and habits that
lead to conflict, and seeking to repair any harm we have caused. 4
Go and Show Your Brother His Fault † Instead of pretending that conflict
doesn't exist or talking about others behind their backs, we will choose to
overlook minor offenses, or we will talk directly and graciously with those whose
offenses seem too serious to overlook. When a conflict with another Christian
cannot be resolved in private, we will ask others in the body of Christ to help us
settle the matter in a biblical manner. 5
Go and Be Reconciled † Instead of accepting premature compromise or
allowing relationships to wither, we will actively pursue genuine peace and
reconciliation - forgiving others as God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven us, and
seeking just and mutually beneficial solutions to our differences. 6
By God's grace, we will apply these principles as a matter of stewardship,
realizing that conflict is an assignment, not an accident. We will remember that
success, in God's eyes, is not a matter of specific results but of faithful
obedience. And we will pray that our service as peacemakers brings praise to
our Lord and leads others to know His infinite love. 7

†

1) Luke 6:27-36; Gal. 5;19-26; Matt. 5:9. 2) I Cor. 10:31-11:1; Roam. 8:28-29; James 1:2-4. 3) I
Cor 10:31; James 4:1-3; Psalm 37:1-6; Phil. 4:2-9; Col. 3:1-4; I Peter 2:12; John 14:15; James 3:17-
18; Rom. 12:17-21; Mark 11:25. 4) Matt. 7:3-5; I John 1:8-9; Prov. 28:13; Col. 3:5-14; Luke 19:8.
5) Matt. 18:15-20; James 5:9; Prov. 19:11; Gal 6:1-2; Eph. 4:29; II Tim 2:24-26; I Cor 6:1-8. 6) Matt
5:23-24; Matt 5:12; Eph. 4:1-3, 32; Matt 7:12; Phil. 2:3-4. 7) Matt. 25:14-21; I Peter 2:19; Rom.
12:18; John 13:34-35.

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TELOS RHETORIC CLUB (TRC) CONFLICT
RESOLUTION POLICY
This conflict resolution policy is designed to demonstrate the commitment of TRC to
resolving differences in a positive, constructive, and Christ-like manner, using the
processes set forth in the book of Matthew, Chapter 18. The goal of the policy is,
therefore, to create a framework for members to work together to overcome any
differences they may have and to find the common ground that is shared by us all in the
teachings of Christ, rather than having anyone walk away from the club because of an
unresolved conflict.
For purposes of this policy, “conflict” is recognized and defined as being as simple as a
difference of opinion, or it may involve a disagreement over club ministries and mission
work, or dissatisfaction with one or more of the student leadership, or dissatisfaction or
disagreement with a decision by one its governing committees (i.e. Board of Directors),
or an argument involving two or more individuals concerning the policies and direction
of the club. Regardless of the nature of the conflict, it is our prayer that all members will
follow the example of Jesus Christ in treating each other with love and respect, even
when there is no agreement on an issue.
Recognizing that differences of opinion are inevitable in any human endeavor, however,
TRC calls on its members to follow this policy so that when conflict does occur, Jesus
will be honored by our efforts to resolve our differences in love and maintain the unity of
the body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:2-3).
Therefore, we ask:
1. Self-Reflection & Prayer (Matthew 18)
Jesus tells us to take time to examine our role in a conflict. If any person in the club has
a conflict, he or she should begin in prayer and first ask God for direction. They should
ask themselves whether they can let the conflict go. They should put themselves in the
other’s shoes and ask themselves what others may say they have contributed to the
problem. They should also ask themselves what it is that God sees, and whether they
are putting their personal ideas, thoughts and desires above what is best for the club.

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2. One on One Discussions (Matthew 18:15)
If the matter is not resolved through self-reflection and prayer and there is still a
disagreement or conflict, particularly a disagreement between two parties, the second
step and the ideal response is for the two parties to meet together, face to face, to
discuss the matter and seek common ground. (Matthew 18:15).
If any person in the club has a concern or a complaint about a leader of the club, the
concerned person is strongly encouraged to discuss the matter directly with the leader
involved accompanied by their own respected parents. (Matthew 18:15).
The purpose of this second step is to resolve the conflict, not to get mad or to get even.
The situation/conflict should not be viewed as a competition where one has to win and
one has to lose. All conflict is not necessarily bad. Conflict that is dealt with, discussed
and resolved can be good if it provides an opportunity for unity and growth within the
group. As a result, each person should work hard to understand the other person’s point
of view, to listen to the other person without interrupting, and to try to work together to
create solutions.
Accept and respect that individual opinions may differ. In all interactions with each
other, especially one on one discussions under this policy, the TRC will respect different
ideas and views and will express disagreement with civility and Christian love. (1 Peter
4:8, 1 John 3:18).
Gossip is strongly discouraged as dishonoring to our Lord Jesus Christ (James 4:11-
12). One on one discussions under this policy should be focused on the issue or
problem, not the person(s) involved. Additionally, each person in the meeting should
speak for themselves, not an unknown group of people or “many people in the club.”
Disagreements and conflicts should be addressed as soon as possible. The longer
conflict is unresolved, the harder it is to bridge the differences (Matthew 5:23-24).
Resolving conflict is impossible if one is unwilling or unable to forgive. If and when the
matter is resolved, the parties agree to put the issue/conflict behind them, and move
forward in a positive and constructive manner that allows them to stay healthy,
spiritually and emotionally. This means the parties will open their hearts and minds to
allow Christ to fortify their spirit, and they will commit to let go of the conflict and to not
discuss it further.

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3. Objective Assistance/Mediation (Matthew 18:16)
If the matter is not resolved through one-on-one discussions or if for any reason it is not
possible to meet one-on-one, parties with a conflict or disagreement should seek the
assistance of a founding officer(s) to help facilitate the resolution process. The mediator
should be a person who is accepted by all parties involved and he/she should know
something about TRC procedures and decision-making processes. The person should
be one who will not take sides, but will be neutral regarding the issues and conflict.
It is recognized by the parties that a member of the Board of Directors may be the best
person to serve as a mediator for issues involving the TRC members and officers. The
Board of Directors may also recommend another party as mediator, possibly someone
from outside the club or someone obtained through conference-related mediation
resources (Matthew 18:16).
Depending on the situation, a team of mediators may be required to intervene in a
conflict (Matthew 18:16).
If and when the matter is resolved, the parties agree to put the matter behind them and
move forward in a positive and constructive manner by committing to let go of the
conflict and to not discuss it any further.
For purposes of this policy, “resolution” is defined as mutual agreement or
understanding among all the parties in a conflict. When a resolution is achieved, the
parties agree to put the matter behind them and move forward in a positive and
constructive manner by committing to let go of the conflict and to not discuss it any
further.In all circumstances, the confidentiality of the parties involved in a conflict shall
be respected.
There are some conflicts that cannot be resolved to the mutual satisfaction of all of the
parties. If all efforts at conflict resolution fail, parties should remember the mission of
Telos Rhetoric Club. They should let go of any anger or disappointment that they have
over the unresolved issue, and move forward focused on the common ground that is
shared by us all in the teachings of Christ, rather than walking away from the club
because of an unresolved conflict. If, however, they believe they are not able to stay at
TRC in peace, any party wishing to leave TRC fellowship is asked to do so lovingly,
without rancor or bitterness, on the part of the person leaving or on the parts of those
staying at this club, so that we may not bring disgrace on the name of Jesus (1 John
2:10).
Anyone who believes they are in a conflict situation and is unsure of how to proceed
should first contact the Board Of Directors.