Values Centered Practice – Ron Loewen
Values Centered Practice
Ron Loewen
https://loewencoaching.com/
When I began my work with Mennonite Central Committee Canada as Restorative Justice Coordinator, I was doing so as a Mennonite Christian. I come from a long line of Mennonites; it is a faith, an ethnicity, and a community to me. I quickly learned that most of the restorative justice (RJ) programs I worked with were community-focused, meaning not faith-forward. Their primary method of engaging with each other and with their community and clientele was values-centered. The primary motivation for this was accessibility and respect.
The shared values of those who created these organisations generated a specific vision that allowed them to stay focused and deliver meaningful and consistent programs to their communities. It gave them a framework to measure whether they were having the impact they wanted to. If they were a victim-centered program, the feedback of the victims and communities they supported was critical to assessing their effectiveness. If they were offender-focused, then the offender, victim, and community feedback was central to their feedback system.
Values:
The ability to bridge the distance between us and those who have different beliefs begins with values. To be the person you want to be, you must first know who it is you want to be. The foundation of that is your values. These are the guideposts, the deep meaning we hold in the world. This may be connected, sourced, and influenced by our faith, or they may be handed to us by our families and culture. I have found that there is an entangled relationship between my values and beliefs, with each one able to inform a need to change my behaviours based on the impact I have had.
When we know our values, we can then shape a vision for our lives and mission in an inclusive and open way. We can build feedback loops to assess whether or not we are having an impact consistent with our vision or not, and ultimately, whether we are living by our values and faith.
CLICK HERE to read the rest of "Values-Centered Practice" by Ron Loewen
Mistaken As the Gardener – Brian Zahnd
Mistaken As the GardenerBrian Zahnd “Mary Magdalene turned around and saw Jesus standing there,but she did not know it was Jesus…supposing him to be the gardener.”–John 20:14, 15 “On the third day the friends of Christ coming at day-break to the place found the grave...
Stanley Hauerwas in Canada — Review and Reflections by Ron Dart
Stanley Hauerwas recently gave the Laing lectures at Regent College in Vancouver, BC. Prof Ron Dart (UFV) has previously reviewed both Hauerwas' books and thoughts. Two of these posts warrant republishing for current reflection. Click on the following links to...
Reflections on David Brooks’ “Speaking as a White Male” – by Sean Davidson
Thoughts on David Brooks' recent op-ed in New York Times, "Speaking as a White Male."... A friend suggested to me the other day that Brooks is pretty much like any other white male. He can't stand being told to sit down and shut up. That could be...
Identity and Gospel in Paul – Sean Davidson
"Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all." Col. 3:11 "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one...
Argumentum Ad Hominem: An Appeal to Privilege – by Udoka Okafor
I am very fascinated by philosophical discussions and argumentations, and I often seek these out with both acquaintances and strangers alike. These discussions allow me to challenge my insights, by exposing myself to the views of others, and the several ways by which...
Jordan Peterson & the Bible: Mythical and Mystical Hermeneutics – Ron Dart
Review of Christopher Page’s “Christ Wisdom” – by Ron Dart
Christ Wisdom: Spiritual Practice in the Beatitudes & the Lord’s Prayer. Christopher Page. Toronto: Path Books, 2004. 134 p. ISBN 1-55126-420-X There is and has been a growing interest in the Wisdom Traditions from most of the major and minor religions for...
Wm. Paul Young on Women, Ephesians 5:22 and 1 Timothy 2:12
Does Scripture even say "wives submit to your husbands" or "I do not permit a woman to teach or have authority over a man"? Paul Young (author of the Shack) shares what New Testament scholars have taught him.
Healing Our Superstitions About God – Kenneth Tanner
When God shows up in the story of the killing snakes in the wilderness, he shows up as the healer of his people. Anyone who will look on the uplifted fiery bronze serpent lives. Our superstitions, our misapprehensions, about a God who brings death and destruction, a...
Analysis and Reflections on Hermann Hesse’s “Peter Camenzind” by Ron Dart
In the beginning was the myth. —1st sentence, Peter Camenzind When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord”, he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said,...