Overview

Small Wars presents a conflict interventionist's insights gained from fifty years of experience working with internal organizational and faith community disputes. Dr. Darrell Puls takes readers into the heart of these conflicts as he has encountered them across the United States, offering practical strategies to analyze their roots and implement tailored interventions. Recognizing the intricate nature of faith community conflicts, Small Wars explores how minor tensions can rapidly escalate into full-blown crises. Rather than viewing these disputes as mere problems, Puls approaches them as learning opportunities, emphasizing that those involved often already hold the solutions--they just need guidance in articulating them. Challenging conventional conflict resolution methods, Puls contends that traditional settlement agreements fall short of true resolution, merely pausing conflicts rather than resolving them. While such agreements may temporarily suppress tensions, unresolved issues tend to resurface more intensely. The only lasting, scriptural solution, he argues, is the intentional rebuilding of relationships damaged by conflict. Through accessible techniques that anyone can learn, Small Wars empowers readers to become effective peacemakers without requiring extensive formal training.

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Reviews

""Darrell Puls has many decades of experience helping churches heal from conflict. Small Wars is an excellent guidebook for those who want to be peacemakers. It is filled with detailed strategies and approaches for different contexts. Puls doesn't provide a one-size-fits-all formula--church conflicts are too complicated for that. Rather, he offers a range of ideas that are likely to work in different contexts."" --Dave Dunaetz, Professor of Leadership and Organizational Psychology, Azusa Pacific University ""Jesus of Nazareth said, 'Blessed are the peacemakers, ' and yet, surprisingly, the church today has so few of them. Dr. Puls is a true peacemaker and in Small Wars, he equips, empowers, and encourages faith communities to do this important and necessary work. Small Wars is a gift to God's kingdom, calling us back to 'help those trapped within the toxic pool of contempt release their fear and pain into the healing embrace of forgiveness, mercy, and reconciliation.' If you're a priest, pastor, chaplain, minister, church leader, or belong to a faith community, you'll want to keep a copy of Small Wars close at hand."" --Steve Ernst, Lead Pastor, Richland Lutheran Church

Author Information

Darrell Puls has almost fifty years of experience as a mediator, negotiator, trainer, and interventionist in organizational and interpersonal conflicts. A leader in community conflict resolution, he served as president of the Washington Mediation Association and was the founding president of a highly successful bi-county dispute resolution center. Dr. Puls has specialized in faith community conflict resolution since 1998. He recently retired as Dean of Academic Affairs at Pacific Northwest Christian College.

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