FOR MINISTER
FOR MINISTER
FOR MINISTER
What We Offer
If you are considering a Christian divorce attorney, a Christian divorce lawyer, Christian divorce mediators, or just need Christian divorce help, we ask you to consider Christian Divorce Services as an alternative. We do not promote divorce, we only deal with the harsh realities of it when reconciliation has failed. If divorce has become unavoidable, we want to help the people going through it avoid the damage associated with litigation, to grow in their faith, and to trust the redemptive power of the Lord. To that end, we offer a process for a non litigated final and binding:
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Divorce, Dissolution, Separation, or Annulment
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Post Decree Changes and Amendments
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Professional Support Services: Accounting, Legal, Financial Planning and Tax
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Divorce Care Support Programs
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Divorce Support Groups
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Counseling Services
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Prayer Team to support you
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Specialists in small business divorce issues
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Specialists in Military divorce issues
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Developing the most effective Christian parenting plans,
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Dividing assets without fighting,
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Valuing pension plans with a neutral actuary (including military pensions),
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Developing support payment schedules that both sides will agree are fair,
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Developing custody and visitation schedules that meet the best interest of the children and parents,
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Understanding small business and executive compensation issues, etc.
We can help you even if you have already hired lawyers and started a litigation process!
When Reconciliation Has Failed, What is the Proper Christian Response to Marital Conflict?
COMMON RESPONSES TO CONFLICT IN DIVORCE AND OTHER ISSUES:
Suicide | This is when a person takes their own life and it is always wrong. It is God's job to decide when to take you. |
1 Sam. 31: 4-5 | Escape Response |
Flight | Leave the problem and never look back. It has limited applicability to an on going dispute because it does not actually resolve the problem. | 1 Sam. 19: 9-10 | Escape Response |
Denial | "Ignore it and it will go away". This also has limited applicability to an on going dispute because it does not actually resolve the problem, which usually won't go away on it's own. | Escape Response | |
Overlook it | One of the parties specifically decides to forgive the trespass of the other regardless of what the other party decides, and thus walks away from the dispute. | Prov. 19:11; 12:16; 17:14;
1 Peter 4:8;
Col. 13:13 | Peacemaking
Response |
Discussion | The parties come together, pray for God's Holy Spirit to bring them wisdom, and they resolve the issues through confession & confrontation of the issues. | Matt. 18:15; 5:23-24; Gal. 6:1-3; Prov. 28:13
| Peacemaking
Response |
Negotiation | The parties bargain and settle the issues through trade-off's, exchanges, promises, and understandings | Phil. 2:3-4 | Peacemaking
Response |
Mediation
| A neutral mediator meet with the parties to assist and guide the them to a resolution that they both agree is acceptable to them. A decision is not forced. Agreement is reached only if both parties are satisfied. A subject matter expert is often chosen to mediate. In the USA, this is done under the Uniform Mediation Act (UMA) and is a substitute for litigation. | Matt. 18:16;
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Peacemaking
Response |
Arbitration
| Each party tells their side of the story, and like a judge, the arbitrator renders a legally final and binding decision. In the USA, this is done under the Federal (and state) Arbitration Act and is a substitute for litigation. The result is filed with the court and becomes an order of the court with the same force as an order that resulted from litigation. | 1 Cor. 6:1-5
| Peacemaking
Response |
Church
Discipline | When a Christian party refuses to do what is right, the other party takes the issue to the church which can take discipline up to excommunication (treating the party like a heathen). If this fails, Christian Mediation or Arbitration is the appropriate response.
| Matt. 18: 17-20
| Peacemaking
Response |
Litigation
| The parties sue each other in the secular court system. The Judge substitutes his decision for your wisdom and forces an outcome upon the parties. One or both parties are often dissatisfied with the outcome. Biblically wrong approach. | 1 Cor. 6:5-8 (directive against this action)
| Attack
Response |
Assault | One party uses force or intimidation to force their will on the other and compels them to give in to their demands. Biblically wrong approach. | Exodus 21: 18-19
| Attack Response |
Murder
| Taking the life of the person who opposes you rather than devising a settlement agreement. Biblically wrong approach. | Leviticus 24: 17, Exodus 21:14
| Attack Response
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Adapted from: The Peacemaker, Ken Sande, |
What Basis is There For a Non Litigated Divorce?
1 Corinthians 6: 1-6 Lawsuits Among Believers
1If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? 2 Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!
Chief Justice Warren E. Burger, (Ret.)
U.S. Supreme Court "Traditional litigation is a mistake that must be corrected...For some dispute trials will be the only means, but for many claims trials by adversarial contest must in time go the way of the ancient trial by battle and blood. Our system is too costly, too painful, too destructive, too inefficient for really civilized people.".
Christians Divorce at the same rate as non Christians
CDS recognizes the fact that even Christian marriages often end in divorce. At that time, many couples enter the legal system lacking Christian-based services to protect and guide them. CDS provides arbitration and mediation services to structure a legally-binding divorce while avoiding the cost, time and energy of a trial-based divorce. CDS’s process protects individual privacy ensures adherence to Christian principles during a period of stress and conflict.
Feel free to contact us by using the form below. Please indicate where you live so that we can have the appropriate person contact you back.
