Circles of GraceTM is a process for handling conflicts, no matter how few people are involved, no matter how many people are involved.

Circles for resolving conflicts between individuals, within families or groups have probably been employed throughout history in most cultures.

Indigenous cultures gathered around campfires to discuss and solve problems and to resolve conflicts.

We still sit down around the kitchen table or meet for a meal to explore ways of coming together to settle disputes.

Circles of GraceTM borrows this ancient practice as a way of providing a safe, informal venue for restoring unity when relationships are threatened by misunderstandings or conflicts of interest.

Instead of sitting down around a campfire or a meal, Circles of GraceTM invite the parties to the dispute into a living room or around a kitchen table to sit down and try to craft a solution that serves the best interests of all.  Resolution without Litigation offers these services without cost to the participants.

Everyone wants to “belong”.  Everyone needs to have a safe place to go when there are questions or problems.  Every one needs to be able to find understanding and support.  Circles of GraceTM provides an environment where questions can be answered and problems solved by finding a community of shared interests and values.

It is easy to honor one’s values when things are going well.  It is much more difficult to stay true to one’s values in the midst of times of stress or conflict.

When a new Circles of GraceTM session is started, one of the first actions taken by the participants is the development of a consensus of the values that will be adhered to while coming to a resolution of the problem or conflict.  Then, because all participants in the group have adopted the same values, the circle becomes the understanding and supporting community required to successfully address the problem or conflict.

This informal environment serves as a sounding board for understanding the problems and then generating and evaluating new options for ways of handling the difficulties.  The most important requirement for conflict resolution is still, however, that all participants are committed to coming to a solution.

Grace means the extending of courteous goodwill from one person to another.  Circles of GraceTM are based on extending grace to and receiving grace from those with whom we are in conflict rather than seeking retribution.

Circles of GraceTM are not about judgment or punishment or forcing a solution on anyone but about restoring the love and community that are the characteristics of the family and the fellowship of groups.

Circles of GraceTM are not adversarial but healing.

It is important that everyone who has a legitimate stake in the dispute be included in the Circles of GraceTM healing process.  This may be only two people for individual conflicts or family members in family disputes or several people from a group for larger conflicts.

Every conflict is an opportunity for personal growth and development.

Circles of GraceTM seek healing through renewed understanding and relationships.

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