Have you ever been in a conflicted situation and not known what to do? Have you ever wondered why you got so upset at that congregational meeting? Have you ever spent too long avoiding a painful issue? If so, this week long educational track is for you.

Over the course of five days, participants will explore how to position oneself when anxiety is flowing in a congregation. We will explore the value of conflict and how it can deepen relationships and clarify values. We will consider how we can turn to wonder and productively have difficult conversations, cultural differences in conflict expression and management, and how we can calm and sustain ourselves before, during, and after heated conversations and distressing events.

The course will use methods from Bowen Family System Theory, Parker Palmer’s Circles of Trust, Somatic Theory (physical responses to tough situations and how to calm the body when needed), Mediation Training, culturally attuned Conflict Transformation work, and the Kolb Experiential Learning Model. Participants will have a chance to privately explore how family origin and personal identities impact adult responses to conflict, as well as how to build a personal conflict navigation toolkit. The course includes lecture, journaling, small group work, resource sharing, optional additional readings, and simple somatic relief techniques. Learnings from this course can be used in your own family, at work, in congregations, and anywhere you go where conflict appears (everywhere!).

When: Monday, July 6, 2026
Time: Daily, M-F, July 6-10 from 9:50-11:50 A.M., CST (During MUUSA)
Where: Midwest UU Summer Assembly, Ripon, WI 54971

Registration Deadline: July 3, 2026
Midwest Unitarian Universalist Summer Assembly

Register Online!

Your Presenters: QuianaDenae Perkins and Sharon Dittmar

General Cancellation Policy:

1. All cancellation requests for any paid congregational life event or training including (OWL or Sparks modules) must be submitted in writing using this refund request form.

Refunds:
2. Refund requests made before the event registration deadline will be eligible for a refund, minus a $5 administrative fee.

3. Refund requests made after the registration deadline, but before the event date will be eligible for a 50% refund of the registration fee.

4. For refund requests made within one week of the event due to illness or emergencies, full refunds will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

5. Refunds will not be provided after the event for no-shows. Note, if you registered for an event only to receive the event recording and resources you will still receive all of these resources.

There is no penalty for finding someone to replace you if you cannot attend. Please inform the program staff of the replacement attendee’s details. 
 
Cancellation Due to Extraordinary Circumstances: 

In the case of event cancellation due to low enrollment or unprecedented conditions such as high COVID-19 infection rates in the hosting area, poor weather conditions, acts by government authorities, natural disasters, epidemic or pandemic emergencies, registration fees will be 100% refunded. We strongly recommend securing travel insurance for instances like these in your travel planning.

We ask for your understanding in respecting this policy, which supports our organizational efforts and expenses.

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