Elaine Enns
Elaine has been working in the field of restorative justice and conflict transformation since 1989 as mediator, consultant, educator and trainer. She provides mediation and consultation services for individuals, churches, schools and businesses. Elaine travels throughout North America teaching and conducting trainings and seminars. She provides services for schools, community organizations, church groups, businesses and criminal justice agencies.
Over the last decade Elaine has worked with the Center for Peacemaking and Conflict Studies (Fresno Pacific University), the Center for Restorative Justice Works (Archdiocese of Los Angeles), and Christians Empowering for Reconciliation and Justice.
Elaine has taught at Fresno Pacific University, CA; Claremont School of Theology, Claremont, CA; Christian Brothers University, Memphis, TN; Andover Newton Theological Seminary, Boston, MA; and Menno Simons College, Winnipeg, MB Canada, where she was Esau Distinguised Professor.
Recent engagements include:
- Uniting Church of Australia Commission for Mission, Melbourne, July 2008
- School of Discipleship, Canberra, Australia, July 2008
- TEAR Australia, Sydney, July 2008
- Mennonite Church US Interchurch Relations, July 2008
- Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon, SK, May 2008
- Duke Chapel, Durham NC, May 2008
- Catholic Conference of Bishops RJ Committee, Los Angeles, CA, April, 2008
- American Baptist Seminary of the West, Berkeley, CA, Jan, 2008
- Baptist Peace Fellowship Annual Conference, July 2007
- National Restorative Justice Conference, San Antonio, TX, June 2007
- Fresno Pacific University/Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, March 2007
- Word and World Schools, 2002-2006
- Ghost Ranch Presbyterian Conference center, summer, 2006Â
- Rosthern Junior College Centenniel, Rosthern, Saskatchewan, July, 2005Â
- St. Mary’s Episcopal church, April, 2005
- Presbytery Missions Conference, Los Angeles, March, 2005Â
- London Mennonite Peace Center, England, September, 2004
- University of Winnipeg, Canada, September 2003
- Maine Council of Churches, June, 2003
- Five Oaks Retreat Center, Toronto, Canada, May 2002
- Detention Ministries, Los Angeles Archdiocese, California, April 2002, Jan 2003
- New England United Methodist Conference, New Hampshire, August 2001
- Victim Offender Dialogue / Community Justice Conferencing Training. This training focuses on the theory and practices of facilitation between victims, offenders and their support people. Community Justice Conferencing (CJC) is based on the New Zealand model of Family Group Conferencing. CJC brings together a number of people from the offender’s natural community (family, church, school, neighborhood, etc.), a police or probation officer, and the victim(s) and their support people. This training introduces participants to the basic skills of victim-offender facilitation.
- Restorative Justice Training. Restorative Justice was pioneered as a response to crime. Restorative Justice provides tools for addressing situations of power imbalance and injustice. Restorative Justice is now being applied more widely to scenarios in schools, Department of Social Services, Refugee work, mental health, etc. Contact Elaine to design a Restorative Justice training for your organization.
- Conflict Transformation Training. Together with Elaine, you can design a conflict transformation training to meet your needs. Learn valuable insights and strategies for dealing with interpersonal and group conflicts in your home, workplace, school and congregation.
Elaine holds a Bachelors degree from the Canadian Mennonite Bible College, Winnipeg, Manitoba (1989) and a Master of Arts in Conflict Management and Peacemaking/ Theology from the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, Fresno, California (1995). Born and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Elaine currently lives in Oak View in southern California.
Elaine is currently working on a book with her husband, Ched Myers, entitled “Ambassadors of Reconciliation”: A Theology and Diverse Practices of Restorative Justice and Peacemaking, due out in 2009.Â
About Restorative Justice
Restorative Justice views crime as a violation of people and relationships. Restorative Justice seeks to meet victims’ needs for compensation and empowerment, to hold offenders accountable while offering possibilities for restoration, and to invite church and community to participate in the justice process as healers and peacemakers. Restorative Justice programs work with the criminal justice system in developing and advocating criminal justice programs consistent with the principles of accountability, healing and restoration.
The most prominent example of Restorative Justice is Victim Offender Reconciliation Programs (VORP). In hundreds of communities across North America, offenders, victims and their support communities meet face to face, with the help of volunteer mediators, to seek ways to “make things as right as possible”.
About Conflict Transformation
Cooperative conflict transformation and problem solving can benefit homes, schools, workplaces, neighborhoods, congregations and other groups. It provides an opportunity for dialogue, accountability, healing and reconciliation. Elaine offers the following services to assist people and organizations to reduce the costs, both emotional and financial, of conflict:
Mediation and Consultation
Mediation is a basic cooperative process which uses a facilitator. It involves two or more parties or sides, and a mediator. The mediator guides the process and creates a safe place for the parties to work, but does not decide the issues. There is no agreement until the parties make one. Facilitation and consultation services help organizations design and establish cooperative management systems. Elaine offers mediation, facilitation and consultation services to individuals, churches, schools and organizations.
Training and Seminars
Elaine travels throughout North America conducting trainings, workshops and seminars.