Restorative Justice is biblical justice. It is a philosophy that promotes a healing response to conflict. In a restorative system, there is a shift from assigning punishment and blame toward accountability and reparation.
Restorative justice asks these questions:

What or who was harmed?
What are their needs?
How can we make things as right as possible?
How can we make sure it doesn’t happen again?

A restorative process invites participation by all parties that are affected, including the community, and focuses on their needs. Those involved accept responsibility for their actions and the damage that they have caused and there is opportunity for emotional and relationship healing as well as reparation or restoration of property. There is also opportunity to reunite what has been divided by reintegrating victims and offenders into the community thereby strengthening the community. By planning ways to prevent future harm the systemic issues causing the conflict can be addressed.

Restorative justice is applied most often to criminal justice but the basic principles have application everywhere – homes, churches, schools, places of work, neighborhoods – anywhere there is conflict. Historically, it has been used as a way of handling conflict by many indigenous cultures including the Navajo Indians and was used by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa following apartheid.

Contact Jan Gockerman or call 616-643-0117 to arrange a presentation for your congregation/group.