The 204th General Assembly (1992):

1. Adopts "Seeking to Be Faithful Together: Guidelines for Presbyterians During Times of Disagreement" for its work during this Assembly.
2. Requests the Stated Clerk and the Moderator to remind the Assembly of their content as appropriate.
3. Recommends that every subsequent Assembly consider adopting the guidelines prior to the election of the Moderator, requesting the stated Clerk to remind the Assembly of their content as appropriate.
4. Requests that the General Assembly Council, all ministry units, and related bodies adopt the guidelines for their use and make use of them as they relate bodies adopt the guidelines for their use and make use of them as they relate to the other governing bodies of the denomination.
5. Requests that all Presbyterians use the guidelines as we participate in the national life of our denomination.
6. Requests that each session consider the following actions:
   1. "Seeking to Be Faithful Together: Guidelines for Presbyterians During Times of Disagreement" for its use (making any desired changes);
   2. Request the clerk of session of an appropriate committee of session to remind the session of their content as appropriate committee of session to remind the session of their content as appropriate and request each session member to promise to work for the implementation of the guidelines;
   3. Request the session to develop a plan for assisting members of the congregation to increase their skills in dealing with conflict;
   4. Evaluate each year how effectively conflict and disagreement are handled in their congregation;
   5. Ask the congregation in a congregational meeting to adopt the guidelines for is use (making any desired changes);
   6. Inform the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program of the Social Justice and Peacemaking Ministry Unit about any actions taken as well as any experience in dealing with conflict and other suggestions that would be helpful to congregations across the church.
7. Requests that each presbytery consider the following actions:
   1. Adopt "Seeking to Be Faithful Together: Guidelines for Presbyterians During Times of Disagreement" for its use (making any desired changes);
   2. Request the moderator, general council, or appropriate committee of presbytery to remind the presbytery of their content as appropriate and request each person involved in the life of presbytery to promise to work for the implementation of the guidelines;
   3. Request the presbytery peacemaking committee, committee on ministry, or other appropriate committee to plan presbytery-wide events that assist Presbyterians to increase their skills in dealing with conflict and to provide assistance to congregations as they consider adopting and implementing the guidelines;
   4. Request the general council to evaluate each year how effectively conflict and disagreement are handled in the presbytery;
   5. Inform the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program of the Social Justice and Peacemaking Ministry Unit about any actions taken, as well as any experiences in dealing with conflict, and other suggestions that would be helpful to presbyteries across the church.
8. Requests that each synod consider the following actions:
   1. Adopt "Seeking to Be Faithful together: Guidelines for Presbyterians During Times of Disagreement" for its use (making any desired changes):
   2. Request the moderator, general council or appropriate committee of synod to promise to work for the implementation of the guidelines;
   3. Request the synod peacemaking committee, committee on ministry, or other appropriate committee to plan synod-wide events that assist Presbyterians to increase their skills in dealing with conflict and to provide assistance to presbyteries as they consider adopting and implementing the guidelines;
   4. Request the general council to evaluate each year how effectively conflict and disagreement are handled in the synod;
   5. Inform the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program of the Social Justice and Peacemaking Ministry Unit about any actions taken as well as any experiences in dealing with conflict and other suggestions that would be helpful to synods across the church.
9. Requests that each Presbyterian theological institution consider the following actions:
   1. Request the faculty and student body to adopt "Seeking to Be Faithful Together: Guidelines for Presbyterians During Times of Disagreement" for its use (making any desired changes);
   2. Request the appropriate body to remind the community of their content as useful and request each member of the community to promise to work for the implementation of the guidelines;
   3. Request appropriate faculty to continue to offer courses that increase the skills of the student body in dealing with conflict and to teach methods for using the guidelines;
   4. Evaluate each year how effectively conflict and disagreement are handled in the theological institution;
   5. Inform the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program of the Social Justice and Peacemaking Ministry Unit of any actions taken as well as any experiences, in either teaching about conflict or dealing with conflict, that would be helpful to other theological institutions.
10. Requests that the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program of the Social Justice and Peacemaking Ministry Unit, in cooperation with other ministry unites and related bodies, provide resources and other assistance to sessions, presbyteries, synods, and theological institutions as they consider and make use of the guidelines.
11. Directs the Stated Clerk to send to congregations, presbyteries, synods, and theological institutions a copy of "Seeking to Be Faithful Together: Guidelines for Presbyterians During Times of Disagreement" and the appropriate "Request" portions of this resolution.

Seeking to be Faithful Together
Guidelines for Presbyterians During Times of Disagreement

As Presbyterians, we are called to work for " the peace, unity, and purity of the Church" (Book of Order, G-14.0207g) as it seeks to be faithful to God's work in the world. However, disagreements and conflicts are inevitable in the life of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) as we try to be faithful. They exist within committees, congregations, presbyteries, synods, at General Assemblies, and in the national life of the denomination.

Conflicts are inevitable in all of life and certainly in the church. The history of the church is filled with conflicts and disagreements. Several of Paul's letters address the conflicts that were ubiquitous in the early church. There have been and are going to be disagreements as Christians attempt to discern god's work in the world and as we interpret Scripture.

Conflicts can be harmful and even destructive. They can cause individuals a great deal of pain and the community of faith immeasurable damage. Congregations have been divided; denominations have experienced schisms.

At the same time, conflicts can be an opportunity for new insights, learning, and individual and corporate growth. Disagreements can illuminate a topic in helpful ways and can present solutions to problems that previously had not been seen. The successful resolution of conflict can also bind people together in a powerful way.

The Bible contains many stories of conflict and disagreement and much advice about how they can be addressed. As those stories indicate, God is already present wherever there is brokenness, granting wholeness and peace. God promises to be with us in times of disagreement and calls us to reconciliation, trust, love, and forgiveness.

We realize that our perspectives are limited, so to help us affirm each other, enhance our community, stay open to the viewpoints of others, and be sensitive to cultural diversity, we commit ourselves to the following guidelines in a spirit of prayer, trust, and love, seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The following guidelines may be adapted or expanded to meet each group's diverse needs.

In a spirit of trust and love, we promise each other that we will:

1. Treat each other respectfully so as to build trust, believing that we all desire to be faithful to Jesus the Christ.
   • We will keep our conversations and communications open for candid and forthright exchange.
   • We will not ask questions or make statements in a way that will intimidate or judge others.
2. Share our concerns directly with individuals or groups with whom we have disagreements in a spirit of love and respect in keeping with Jesus' teaching.
3. Focus on ideas and suggestions instead of questioning people's motives, intelligence, or integrity. We will not engage in name-calling or labeling of others prior to, during, or following the discussion.
4. Learn about various positions on the topic of disagreement.
5. State what we think we heard and ask for clarification before responding, in an effort to be sure we understand each other.
6. Indicate where we agree with those of other viewpoints as well as where we disagree.
7. Share our personal experiences about the subject of disagreement so that others may more fully understand our concerns.
8. Seek to stay in community with each other although the discussion may be vigorous and full of tension. We will be ready to forgive and be forgiven.
9. Follow these additional guidelines when we meet in decision-making bodies:
   • Urge persons of various points of view to speak and promise to listen to these positions seriously;
   • Seek conclusions informed by our points of agreement;
   • Be sensitive to the feelings and concerns of those who do not agree with the majority and respect their rights of conscience; and
   • Abide by the decision of the majority, and if we disagree with it and wish to change it, work for that change in ways that are consistent with these guidelines.
10. Include our disagreements in our prayers, not praying for the triumph of our viewpoints, but seeking God's grace to listen attentively, to speak clearly, and to remain open to the vision God holds for us all.

(Church & Society, July/August 1992, pp.79-83)