Qualifying Cases 
What is a Qualifying Conflict Coaching, Mediation, or Arbitration Case?

Conflict Coaching

• Conflict Coaching is one-to-one care to help an individual process and manage the conflict they are experiencing. 

• Coaching is focused on issues of conflict and resolving those issues to take personal ownership for causing conflict. The goal is confession and forgiveness and reconciliation.

• A Conflict Coach guides the parties to discover heart issues (heart idols) that are causing conflict with others and God, leading the party to confess them to God and others. 

• A Conflict Coach also guides the discovery of the idols leading to deceit and blind spots that prevent parties from following the wise and loving scriptural wisdom. With this understanding, a person can confess wrong and begin transformative change. 

• Conflict Coaching is not Counseling

  • Counseling therapy helps individuals through a series of short appointments to address underlying roots and memories at the core of their emotions and beliefs. 

  • A counselor guides their client through a discovery method to better understand their thoughts and feelings and beliefs throughout their behavioral timeline. It is primarily focused on the "self" of the client, and secondarily "others" and in biblical counseling their right relationship with God according to the Word.

  • Counseling cases do not qualify as certification cases. 

Mediation

• Mediation is working with two or more parties together, to improve communication and understanding so that the parties can arrive at a voluntary agreement.

• A mediation consisting of only “shuttle diplomacy,” where the mediator never meets with both parties together in the same room, is not mediation for purpose of the Certification Program. 

• Case administration and management is key. Candidates can choose to have ICC administer their cases or administrate their own cases. Cert advisor will watch carefully for wise management of the case. However, the candidate must be the case administrator on at least two (2) cases.

Arbitration

• An arbitration can include an informal rendering of a decision on one or more issues, by agreement of the parties, presented in the context of 1 Corinthians 6:1-8. 

• However, arbitration is generally a court-approved process that can be enforceable by authorities, not the arbitrator, not the ICC community, not ICC. 

• A Candidate will rarely be asked to arbitrate a conflict by providing a decision for the parties. We discourage Candidates from arbitrating during their candidacy and before they have specifically undergone training and a practicum especially for arbitration. 

  • It is a risk for an inexperienced Certified Christian Conciliator™  or Candidate to present to parties that they are qualified to serve as an arbitrator in most cases. 

  • It is a risk for a mediator to shift to the role of an arbitrator, taking prior knowledge into the arbitration process for binding judgment, even when the parties feel initially that it would be easier to have someone "in the know." 

  • It is a risk for a Candidate or Certified Christian Conciliator™  to serve as an arbitrator without having liability insurance. 

  • ICC recommends that Advisors who supervise an arbitration case be highly skilled, experienced, and knowledgeable about the legal implications of arbitration. 

Cases with Non-Christians
There are times when non-Christians, or court-ordered mediations may be brought to a Candidate for conciliation assistance. This is an opportunity to give some preparatory information to the parties about what makes our "ADR" uniquely different.  ADR is a common term for "alternative dispute resolution." While the ICC provides "faith-based" ADR, an explanation of what "faith-based" means and the value of biblically faithful Conciliation is needed. 

Cert Advisors can explore how a Candidate might explain the good news of Jesus Christ in context with how it benefits the conflict resolution. This is not a time to proselytize.  Wisdom is needed and respect for those who request Christian Conciliation. 

Advisors are ready to explore with the Candidate about how they will approach cases with non-Christians or parties compelled to mediate through the ICC because of contract or court-ordered arrangements.  

Cases Involving Abuse 
We can't stress enough how important the initial assessment questions are in giving "red flag" warnings about abuse. Cases involving any of the following should be first discussed with your Advisor: powering over, manipulative control, a cycle of honeymoon, tension, explosion, walking on eggshells, a victim who has been so undermined as to lose their voice/value/volition, and especially any threat of punishment that includes silent treatment, spiritual coercion, or shaming.  A Candidate’s foundational training does not prepare them for these complex cases.  Advanced coaching and mediation training is required.

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Transfer a Non-Qualifying Case
Through pre-mediation assessments, a Candidate and/or Advisor may determine that the Candidate does not have a clear call to handle a case independently. This discernment is actually a wise boundary especially when Candidates are under pressure to complete their required cases. 

In this situation, please contact the ICC and request a lead Certified Christian Conciliator™  to work with the candidate (if this is not something that the Advisor would like to do). ICC can provide case administration if required. Joint cases referred to the ICC will require non-refundable fees and perhaps a different fee structure, but we can assist by helping create a team and giving full credit to the Candidate for their hours on the case. The ICC reserves the right to decline some cases that are referred.

Co-Conciliation with other Certified Christian Conciliator™ 
Candidates are encouraged to seek opportunities to co-conciliate (either as lead Conciliators or Co-Conciliators) with experienced  Certified Christian Conciliator™. When the Candidate co-conciliates, the Candidate is required to submit a Co-Conciliator evaluation. The Cert Advisor is encouraged to review the evaluation with the assisting  Certified Christian Conciliator™ and share the results of the evaluation with the Candidate. The co-conciliator is required to provide Reconciler Feedback through the Candidate's Christian Reconciler™ Profile.

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Co-Conciliating with your Advisor

Each Cert Advisor is strongly encouraged to include a Candidate as a Co-Conciliator when possible. Cert Advisors may also assist the Candidate in locating another Certified Christian Conciliator™  who is amenable to working with Candidates and has a case ready.  After such cases, you and the Co-Conciliator should talk to discuss the responsibilities the Candidate successfully completed and any concerns or suggestions for additional training.  This is in addition to the form feedback. Such Co-Conciliation opportunities may also occur by encouraging the Candidate to include Co-Conciliators at the outset on suitable cases for which the Candidate is selected as a lead Conciliator. 

Co-Conciliation Specifics

• Additional costs of Co-Conciliation must be clearly communicated to the parties during the initial discussion of fees.  

• The Candidates, where costs may be a factor to the parties, are requested to waive their fees to permit the Co-Conciliation with the Certification Advisor.

• Upon completion of a Co-Conciliation with a Candidate, the Cert Advisor or the Certified Christian Conciliator™ is required to complete the Co-Conciliation evaluation within 30 days.