Milwaukee Center for the Study
and Practice of Forgiveness
A Renewed Initiative
Over the past twenty years, the Nehemiah Project has conducted a variety of Forgiveness programs to widely diverse groups – teens, adults, and elders in the Milwaukee metro area. The courses ebbed and waned as some resources left to pursue other interests. In the past few years the programs have been available only for residents of Nehemiah. As a result, forgiveness programs have not been offered consistently throughout the community. And, over time, the course materials, videos and handouts have not been kept current or readily available.
Nehemiah has begun a new initiative to build on this past and create strong and sustainable Forgiveness practices throughout our Milwaukee metropolitan area.
We intend to be a community resource for workshops, guest speakers, support groups, literature, research, and contacts to those in need. Our outreach will extend to private individuals, as well as professionals such as psychotherapists, law enforcement officials, social workers, clergy, pastoral counselors, educators, and youth workers who seek resources for their clients or research information.
Nehemiah Project Planning Team
-
Marye Beth Dugan, executive director
-
Reverend Ed Ruen, program coordinator
-
Dick Larsen, Nehemiah Project board member
-
Stacy York, associate director
-
Allan Montezon, consultant
Community Advisory Committee
Rev. Ed Ruen, Nadya Fuad, Alice Hanson-Drew, Andy Liss, George Ann Casper,
Conor Williams, Sam Alford
Forgiveness, Grief, Anger, Hate, Resentment, Trauma,
Anxiety, Turn the Other Cheek, and Living Fully
Overview
Forgiveness is a by-product of an on-going healing process.
It takes time and can go through various stages including grief, rage, sorrow, fear, and confusion.
Forgiveness is:
-
an internal process - a feeling of wellness, freedom, and acceptance.
-
freeing up and better using the energy once consumed by holding grudges, harboring resentments, and nursing unhealed wounds.
-
no longer wanting to punish the people who hurt us and accepting that nothing we do to punish them will heal us.
-
a choice which should not be forced on anyone.
-
moving on.
Forgiveness is not:
-
forgetting.
-
condoning or excusing.
-
the same as a legal pardon.
-
equal to reconciliation.
-
a form of self-sacrifice.
-
a clear-cut, one-time decision.
-
merely saying “I forgive you.” It only occurs when there are changes in the way one feels, thinks about, and behaves toward the offender.
For more information
For more information