GROWTH.
OUR VISION IS THAT CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES WILL BEGIN TO LOOK MORE LIKE CHRIST IN THE MIDST OF
CONFLICT.
In the book of Galatians, the Apostle Paul describes a scene all-too familiar; people claiming to follow Jesus who are “biting and devouring” each other. He predicts that if this behavior continues, they will end up destroying one another. This 2,000-year-old warning could have been written to the Church in North America without a single alteration — as though it were written for this exact moment.
Likewise, Jesus’ prayer for the unity of the Church in John 17 is a prayer of Divine foresight. Today, it acts not only as a prayer, but as a reminder of God’s vision for the Church, and an admonishment that we are in danger of losing the plot of the Gospel and sacrificing our witness on the altar of selfish-ambition and vain conceit.
BUT Scripture offers a solution to the degrading path of worldly conflict into the life-giving vision of Christian unity that Jesus casts. God invites us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds through the power of the Holy Spirit, even in the midst of disagreement.
OUR VISION IS THAT CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES WILL BEGIN TO LOOK MORE LIKE CHRIST IN THE MIDST OF
CONFLICT.
In the book of Galatians, the Apostle Paul describes a scene all-too familiar; people claiming to follow Jesus who are “biting and devouring” each other. He predicts that if this behavior continues, they will end up destroying one another. This 2,000-year-old warning could have been written to the Church in North America without a single alteration — as though it were written for this exact moment.
Likewise, Jesus’ prayer for the unity of the Church in John 17 is a prayer of Divine foresight. Today, it acts not only as a prayer, but as a reminder of God’s vision for the Church, and an admonishment that we are in danger of losing the plot of the Gospel and sacrificing our witness on the altar of selfish-ambition and vain conceit.
BUT Scripture offers a solution to the degrading path of worldly conflict into the life-giving vision of Christian unity that Jesus casts. God invites us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds through the power of the Holy Spirit, even in the midst of disagreement.
CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION IS ACHIEVED THROUGH THE CULTIVATION OF
VIRTUE
We know that we are pursuing the self-giving love of God when certain committed behaviors — virtues — are evident in our lives, and when other destructive behaviors cease. Virtues are formed through core practices: repeated activities that shape our character over time and enable the Holy Spirit to work in us. The work of The Colossian Forum centers around cultivating five key virtues that prepare Christians to reflect the love of Jesus in the midst of cultural and interpersonal conflict.
Courage
Courage allows us to pursue those with whom we disagree, navigating our differences earnestly, rather than being passive, cynical, or manipulative.
Forbearance
The virtue of forbearance equips us to respond to one another amidst difference as a reflection of God’s grace.
Generosity
Even in the face of disagreement, a pursuit of generosity prepares us to engage others with charity, goodwill, and compassion.
Hope
When we are hopeful, we actively and fully lean into God’s goodness and trust that God is making all things new.
Humility
Clothing ourselves in humility allows us to become aware of and own our limitations while pursuing deeper knowledge, truth, and understanding.
WE CONVENE AND CATALYZE LEADERS TO TRANSFORM
CONFLICT
Since 2011, The Colossian Forum has helped build resilient Christian communities in the face of increasing social conflict. Our mission was and continues to be to provide spiritually-formative opportunities to engage culturally divisive topics through deeply Christian practices that increase our love of God and our neighbor. Over the last decade, we have helped Christians embody a better way to engage difference through forums, topical small group curricula, and, most recently, a training program that equips leadership teams to productively engage interpersonal and organizational conflict.
Modeling a Better Way
Our history starts with our name. We got our start hosting forums for tens of Christians that turned into thousands of Christians, showcasing how our modern tendencies of addressing (or ignoring) conflict are not in line with the ways of Jesus. While these events were well attended, we realized that there was something missing: practical applications for the audience.
Practicing Together
The model of conflict engagement displayed through our forums became the basis for our small group curriculum: The Colossian Way. Our first topic focused on a hot-button issue at the time — creation and evolution — and soon thereafter new topics were created to engage human sexuality, political tension, and gender roles. We witnessed incredible results from groups of 8–14 Christians who navigated these difficult conversations and found deeper unity.
Equipping Leaders
As The Colossian Forum continued to impact small groups, we heard from faith leaders that they were ill-equipped to engage interpersonal and organizational conflict across their communities. We looked at the fundamental teachings, resources, and practices housed inside of the small group curriculum and recontextualized them for leadership teams, leading to the development of a new training program, WayFinder.