Running head: ARTICLE REVIEW 2
Article Review 2
Joshua Berry
COMS 560
Liberty University
ARTICLE REVIEW 2
Article Review 2
The article chosen from the text for this week’s review is titled Five Qualities of Practice
in Support of Reconciliation Processes by John Paul Lederach. The author opens up the article
by talking about his desires to find a scholastic program that taught about reconciliation. He goes
on to say that essentially; people are coming up short in their understanding of the reconciliation
process. Lederach does acknowledge that most have a decent understanding of this process, but
believes there is a lot left to be desired. “My experiences suggest that while our understandings
are rich and varied, they are miniscule compared to the complexities posed by the search for
sustainable and authentic reconciliation between people” [Led01].
The first of the five qualities that Lederach talks about is relationship-centric
reconciliation. He kind of takes a step back from the small components of the reconciliation
process and chooses to look at relationships as a whole and how reconciliation takes place within
relationships. While the author still places emphasis on the importance of the reconciliation
process, he suggests that it is only a stepping stone to be used in the bigger picture of relationship
foundations. This is a good suggestion, because in a relationship, reconciliation occurs naturally
between people who want to keep the relationship intact. Additionally, Lederach describes trust
as being a key component of relationship-centric reconciliation.
The second quality described in this article is reconciliation as accompaniment. The
author begins this section by making reference to the Old Testament story of Jacob and Esau. He
speaks on the fact that Jacob leaves in the midst of conflict and returns upon hearing a supporting
voice in the night. The supporting voice can be seen in Genesis 31:3 which reads; “Then the
LORD said to Jacob, "Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be
with you." The important note made hear by Lederach is that they Lord does not tell Jacob he
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will prepare the way for him, because that could hinder the authenticity of his return. What this
verse does teach about reconciliation is that it is important to have support but not necessarily
have instructions during conflict resolution.
Humility is the next quality that the author proposes in this article and he describes
humility and reconciliation to be directly related to one another. Without even going much
further into this section, it is clear to understand that being humble is key in resolving conflict.
There is no room for arrogance in the reconciliation process and Lederach makes note of that as
well in his article. He describes arrogance as being the point when an individual feels they have
nothing to learn. “Arrogance is displayed when I act as if and, more important, actually believe I
have nothing more to learn” [Led01]. Certainly this is not conducive to conflict resolution
because in conflict, all parties involved should take something new away from the issues they
faced.
Lederach follows up humility with a topic regarding community based reconciliation. An
important note to be made in this section is that in a larger scale conflict within the community, it
is important to understand that not everyone will be at the same pace within the reconciliation
process. Lederach mentions three subjects regarding community reconciliation, truth, justice, and
mercy. Additionally, he goes on to describe the danger of only focusing on one of the subjects
and not all three together. For example, if the community only desires justice, they may be
willing to achieve it at the expense oft truth and mercy and that is certainly a recipe for disaster
when trying to restore the fabric of community as the writer has described it. Lederach states;
“The quality of practice to which I refer is therefore best understood in a context of community
that provides space for the voices, but not one at the expense of the other” [Led01].
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The last point made by the author is the metaphor of wandering in the desert, which he
describes as important for reconciliation. He suggests it to be important because it reflects
patience and taking time during tough conditions. That along with the other aforementioned
qualities are all of great importance in the reconciliation process. In closing, the following piece
of scripture from Romans 5:10 relates well to this topic as it describes the ultimate reconciliation
for Christians through Jesus. “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the
death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”
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