Articles

Beyond agreeing to disagree
How to engage in difficult conversations
We are in a time of extreme polarization that makes engaging in difficult conversations incredibly challenging. Living in a highly diverse society, we meet people from various walks of life who naturally hold different beliefs and values. And even in our churches, where we adhere to the same faith, we find different opinions and thoughts on priorities. However, these differences need not lead to emotionally charged and confrontational exchanges. To offer a counterculture, there are many groups and individuals now making greater efforts to overcome the obstacles to authentic listening and dialogue that create possibilities for deeper relationships. Our hope with this issue is to give voice to these experiences and provide interpretive lenses that can help guide us above the conflicts.