February 25, 2002- Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary will offer an all-day workshop on April 13, 2002, that will offer perspectives for dealing with conflict in congregations. To be held at Gardencourt, located on the Seminary’s campus, the event will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Funded by the George and Jean Edwards Lecture endowment, the event is offered to ministers, educators, counselors and other adults who seek to find healthy ways to confront and resolve conflict in the church while strengthening pastoral relationships and mobilizing congregational members.

Dr. Hugh Halverstadt, professor of ministry at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, will facilitate the workshop, which will be presented in two parts. Part one will consider approaches that seek to cut the costs of destructive conflicts by rallying the common sense and good faith of the congregation while setting constraints on combatants until the choice is made to resolve differences constructively. Part two will look at approaches to conflict that seek to reap the benefits of constructive arguments by using the energy in them to strengthen relationships.

Halverstadt, who is widely known for his work in the area of conflict management, has taught at McCormick Seminary since 1979, primarily in the field-based Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program. Ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and experienced as a pastor and denominational Christian educator, his courses have focused on group dynamics, conflict management, and pastoral relationships.

He is the author of Managing Church Conflict, and co-author of Sometimes They Cry: A Study Book on World Hunger and The Church as Organization: A Theological Argument. Dr. Halverstadt has earned degrees from King College (BA), Union Theological Seminary in Richmond (BD) and Northwestern University (PhD).

The Edwards Lecture event was endowed to honor Louisville Seminary Professor Emeritus George Edwards and his wife Jean Edwards and to address issues of peacemaking and social justice. The Edwards continued efforts of peace and justice in their retirement. Recently, they received recognition for their hard work in raising money to pay for the initial DNA testing that ultimately helped to prove a Louisville man innocent of a rape crime and to release him from prison after more than six years behind bars.

The annual event is open to the public without charge; however, registration is required for this workshop. Overnight housing and meals are the responsibility of each participant.

Register online or request a workshop schedule by contacting the Office of Continuing and Lay Education at Louisville Seminary: 502 895-3411 or toll-free 1 800 264-1839, ext. 450 or 372. Contact the office at yj-gillenwater@lpts.edu or dsawyer@lpts.edu