We live in a time when meaningful, respectful conversations between people who disagree seem harder to come by. Families, friendships, communities and even churches are fracturing because we struggle to navigate conflict effectively. It’s become clear that our country is in desperate need of something akin to marital counseling, but on a larger scale.

This event, co-sponsored by the National Association of Evangelicals and Matthew 5:9, is specifically designed for pastors and leaders who want to learn how to engage in meaningful conversations across differences. This hands-on seminar will offer a practical framework for understanding both the internal and interpersonal dynamics of conflict. You’ll leave equipped with the tools and confidence to approach difficult conversations with grace and insight.

Keynote Speaker

Ann Garrido is associate professor of homiletics at Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri. While her first passion is teaching, she has regularly been drawn into administrative roles including serving as her school’s director of the D.Min. in preaching, director of MAPS Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, director of field education, director of distance learning and director of the Aquinas Ministry Integration Project. Garrido is the author of several books including “Redeeming Administration,” “Redeeming Conflict,” “Let’s Talk About Truth” and “Redeeming Power.” Garrido served as a Marten Fellow in Preaching at the University of Notre Dame and a Kilian McDonnell Fellow in Faith at Culture at the Collegeville Institute. She is a longtime consultant with Triad Consulting Group.