References

Ambassadors of Reconciliation is an international ministry founded to equip Lutherans and their churches for living, proclaiming and cultivating lifestyles of reconciliation. Two main ministries fulfill our mission: CrossLife Ministries provides licensed, Christ-centered counseling. Reconciliation Ministries provides coaching, mediation, arbitration, consultation and group conflict intervention services.

The ministry of reconciliation is given to the local church and every believer. Our purpose is to inspire and prepare the leaders of Christ’s church around the world to carry out this vocation in more effective ways.

Ambassadors of Reconciliation, a non-profit organization, is a Recognized Service Organization of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Our approach is based upon the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.

The President (Ted Kober) and Directors of CrossLife Ministries and Reconciliation Ministries (respectively, Rev. Ed Keinath and Rev. Bruce Zagel) all serve Ambassadors of Reconciliation, and have provided training, consulting, counseling, and conciliation services for tens of thousands of Lutherans over the past seventeen years. Prior to 2004, Kober, Keinath and Zagel provided these services through Peacemaker Ministries and Lutheran Child and Family Services of Indiana/Kentucky. Ambassadors of Reconciliation was founded in late 2004 with the specific focus on serving Lutherans in peacemaking.

The attached list does not include those who have received counseling or conciliation services (personal coaching, mediation, arbitration, church conflict intervention). Because case names are kept confidential, such clients are not mentioned on this list. However, the leaders from districts and synods on the last page are familiar with our conciliation work and can serve as references for our conciliation work.

The following Lutheran organizations have been served by Ted Kober, Rev. Ed Keinath and Rev. Bruce Zagel through Peacemaker Ministries or Ambassadors of Reconciliation

Lutheran Church Bodies from around the World Other than US
Reconciler Training, Preaching, Teaching, Consultation

• Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina
• Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil
  
• India Evangelical Lutheran Church
  
• International Lutheran Council Conference – Ghana 2007 (35 Lutheran Church Bodies from 33 Different Countries and 6 Continents)
  
• Lanka Lutheran Church
  
• Lutheran Church – Canada
  
• Lutheran Church of Australia

Congregations from Lutheran Church Bodies in the United States
Reconciler Training, Preaching, Teaching, Consultation

• American Association of Lutheran Churches
• Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America
  
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
  
• The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
  
• Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod

Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) National Training
Reconciler Training (2-6 Day Training Events)

• District Presidents (6 days live training)
• 290 Reconcilers (6 days live training – 1997, 1999, 2005, 2009)
  
• 750 Circuit Counselors and other District Officers
  
• Other Lutheran Leaders (Lay and called)
  
• Concordia University and Seminary Representatives

LCMS Synodical Organizations
Basic Training in Peacemaking and Coaching (1-3 Day Training Events)

• LCMS World Missions Staff (including world regional directors)
  
• Salaried Employees of the LCMS International Center
  
• Worker Benefit Plans Employees
  
• Commission on Worship
  
• Facilitators for Post Seminar Applied Learning and Support (PALS)
  
• Deaconess Conference in River Forest, IL
  
• Upper Mid-West Ministerial Conference
  
• Intentional Interim Pastors’ Conference
  

Facilitation for LCMS Theological Discussions

• Commission on Theology and Church Relations – Synod-Wide Conferences
  
• California-Nevada-Hawaii District
  
• Commission on Worship – Synod-Wide Project
  
• English District
  
• Minnesota North District
  
• North Dakota District
  
• Northern Illinois District
  
• Northwest District
  
• South Wisconsin District
  
• Texas District
  

Lutheran College/University/Seminary Faculty and/or Student Events
(includes student courses, RA training, and faculty education)

• Concordia College/University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta (Lutheran Church—Canada)
  
• Concordia University, Irvine, California (LCMS)
  
• Concordia University, Mequon, Wisconsin (LCMS)
  
• Concordia University, Portland, Oregon (LCMS)
  
• Concordia University, River Forest, Illinois (LCMS)
  
• Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska (LCMS)
  
• Concordia Seminary, Edmonton, Alberta (Lutheran Church—Canada)
  
• Concordia Seminary, Nagercoil, India (India Evangelical Lutheran Church)
  
• Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri (LCMS)

Lutheran Education Organizations

• Western Alliance (High School Administrators)
  
• Various District Educational Conferences
  
• Lutheran Education Association (2008)
  
• LCMS Directors of Christian Education Conference
  
• Missouri Administrators Conference
  
• Nebraska Principals Conference
  
• Pacific Southwest Principals Conferences
  

LCMS Continuing Education for Professional Church Workers

• Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri
• Concordia University, Portland, Oregon
  
• Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska
  
• Concordia University, Mequon, Wisconsin
  

Doctor of Ministry Program

• Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri

LCMS Districts
Basic Training in Peacemaking and Coaching (1-3 Day Training Events)

• Atlantic District Pastors Conference (Tri-District)
• Central Illinois Pastor/Lay Conference
  
• English District Pastors Conference
  
• Florida-Georgia District Lay/Clergy Conference
  
• Indiana Pastors Conference
  
• Kansas Pastors Pre-Lent Conference
  
• Michigan All Pastor’s Conference
  
• Mid-South Pastors Conference
  
• Minnesota North Circuit Counselors Conference
  
• Minnesota North Lay/Clergy Conference
  
• Minnesota South Board of Directors
  
• Minnesota South Pastors Conference
  
• Minnesota South Administrators Conference
  
• Montana Pastors Conference
  
• Nebraska Pastor and Lay Conferences
  
• New England All Workers Conference
  
• New England Lay Leadership Conference
  
• New Jersey Pastors Conference (Tri-District)
  
• North Dakota Pastors Conference
  
• North Wisconsin Team Ministry Conference
  
• Northern Illinois Circuit Counselors
  
• Northern Illinois Pastors Conferences
  
• Northwest All Workers Conference
  
• Northwest Circuit Counselors
  
• Pacific Southwest District Pastors Conferences
  
• Rocky Mountain District Circuit Counselors
  
• SELC District Pastors Conference
  
• South Dakota Lay Leader’s Conference
  
• South Wisconsin Pastor’s Conference
  
• Southern Illinois Pastor/Teacher/Lay Conference
  
• Southeastern District Lay/Clergy Leader Conference
  
• Southeastern All Workers Conference
  
• Texas Pastors Conference

Lutheran Leaders

The following individuals are personally familiar with services provided by Ted Kober, Rev. Ed Keinath, or Rev. Bruce Zagel through Peacemaker Ministries, Lutheran Child and Family Services, or Ambassadors of Reconciliation

• Rev. Dr. Raymond Hartwig, Secretary of the LCMS – provides oversight for synodical dispute resolution system and arranges training for 165 reconcilers and hearing facilitators (314-965-9000)
• Rev. Dr. Samuel Nafzger, former Executive Director, Commission on Theology and Church Relations and General Secretary, International Lutheran Council (314-965-9000)
• Rev. Dr. Gerald Kieschnick, President, LCMS (314-965-9000)
• Rev. Ralph Mayan, President, Lutheran Church – Canada (204-895-3433) and Chairman, International Lutheran Council
• Rev. Dr. Richard Marrs, Continuing Education and Parish Services, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (314-505-7000)
• Rev. C. William Hoesman, President, Michigan District and Chairman, Council of Presidents (734-998-2907)
• Mrs. Kristin Wassilick, former Director, Deaconess Program, Concordia University, River Forest, IL (708-689-0201)
• Rev. Mark Hoehner, Chapel of the Cross, St. Peters, Missouri (636-928-5885)
• Rev. Dr. Herbert Hoefer, Area Director (India and Sri Lanka), Concordia University, Portland, OR (530-493-6494)
• Mr. Bryce Thomas, attorney, Bryce Thomas and Associates, Hickory, NC (828-324-2900)