All credentialed leaders are invited for a day of conversation, connection, and learning on the theme From Tension to Trust: Navigating Conflict and Harm. In this interactive seminar, we’ll explore how to move through times of conflict and/or harm toward deeper understanding, stronger relationships, and renewed trust. Guided by practical tools, we’ll learn ways to speak and listen well and work together toward building healthy communities with our churches.
The day will include guided table conversation and a teaching sessions with Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz, MSW and Jim S. Amstutz, D.Min.
Friday, October 17, 2025
9:00 am – 3:30 pm
The Chapel at
Garden Spot Village
433 S Kinzer Ave
New Holland, PA
Schedule (tentative)
8:30a Registration/Coffee/Meet&Greet
9:00a Welcome
10:10a Morning Break
10:30a Session 1
12:00p Lunch
1:00p Session 2
2:20p Afternoon Break
2:45p Table Reflections / Q&A
3:20p Closing Reflections and Blessing
Speakers:
Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz, MSW is the Denominational Minister for Peace and Justice for Mennonite Church USA and was previously the Coordinator of Mennonite Central Committee’s (MCC) Restorative Justice program for over 25 years. She provided training and technical assistance to restorative justice programs across the globe. She has authored and co-authored a number of books on restorative justice. and co-taught the restorative justice course at EMU’s Summer Peacebuilding Institute for almost 20 years. Lorraine received the Distinguished Service Alumni Award, Eastern Mennonite University in 2002, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice in 2024.
Jim S. Amstutz, DMin recently retired from teaching Bible at Lancaster (PA) Mennonite High School following twenty-five years of pastoral ministry and seven years with Mennonite Central Committee. He is a Trustee at Bluffton (OH) University, and is on the Board of the Community Action Partnership, Lancaster. He is the author of Threatened with Resurrection: Self-Preservation and Christ’s Way of Peace (Herald, 2002) and numerous articles on missional leadership and appreciative inquiry.
Jim and Lorraine have also co-taught the Basic Conflict Mediation course at Messiah University for over ten years.