ATLANTA-Gentle Spirit Christian Church announced today a workshop designed to help the GLBT and Straight Friendly community better understand the issues around antagonistic behavior in our community groups and how to prevent this destructive behavior from destroying them. The 2 part workshop will be held on consecutive Sundays January 14th and 21st 1:00pm till 4:30pm in the "Historical Room" of Epworth United Methodist Church.
The workshop is based on Kenneth Haugk's challenging book, "Antagonists in the Church, How to Identify and Deal with Destructive Conflict. "Our GLBT and Straight Friendly Community groups are all faced with antagonistic behavior that leaves in its path broken lives, folks that are hurt, discouraged and apathetic thereby making it almost impossible in many cases for our groups to do the work they were called to do.", said Rev. Paul M. Turner Sr. Pastor of Gentle Spirit Christian Church who will facilitate the workshop. Turner also states, "While the workshop was designed originally for church groups, I have come to see after working in the Atlanta community for 6 years, all of our groups are faced with behavior that while only a few persons per group might engage this behavior it is enough to severely disrupt and hamper the mission of the group if not destroy the group, all one need do is read Southern Voice articles concerning our groups and what is happening in those groups to see it's (antagonism) effects."
The workshop is designed to help participants recognize and deal effectively with the signs of antagonism. Through talking about what the signs are of antagonism, raising key questions, sharing experiences and role playing the workshop will help people learn how to prevent or reduce the chaos and suffering caused by antagonistic behavior. Through the workshop participants will learn the difference between constructive, healthy conflict and antagonism and will better equip participants with the know-how to deal with antagonistic behavior when it occurs.
This class is open and free to the GLBT community. Folks wanting to order the book that the workshop is based on may do so by going to Amazon.com. Location for this workshop is Epworth United Methodist Church (Gentle Spirit's meeting place) in the education building in the "Historical Room".
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