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William D. “Bill” Bontrager
I was born into the home of a lawyer/politician and, like my father,
became a lawyer and politician. But for as long as I can remember, I have
always been searching for an deeper understanding of justice — what it is,
and how to obtain it.
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For 10 years, I
practiced general law, often wondering where was justice.
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For three years of that time, I also
served as a member of the Indiana Board of Correction, a citizen advisory
Board to the Governor on matters related to prisons. My concerns over what
I saw as a lack of justice in correctional processes and institutions led
me to consider the juvenile and criminal justice systems, the mental
health systems, and the issues involved in special education. Again,
justice seemed to be missing.
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I became a judge, thinking I could do
justice, but soon found myself handcuffed by the law and unable to extend
justice to those appearing in the court. In frustration, I actually
attempted to manipulate the law to bring about justice, for which I was
soundly disciplined by the Indiana Supreme Court. If you are interested in
knowing more, see chapter 16 of Charles Colson’s book, Loving God (Zondervan,
1983).
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Along the way, Jesus Christ became very
real to me. Although raised in, and active in, the church, I never saw
myself as a sinner (a matter of character), but as one who sinned and
could work out of that so the scales of justice would tip in favor of my
good works rather than my wrong acts. My view changed in 1977, and I
accepted Christ as my savior.
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I discovered that being
saved, and allowing Him to lead and control one’s life are very different
things. During my travails with the Supreme Court, I surrendered myself to
His Lordship.
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I left the bench in disgrace, and
returned to the practice of law for some 18 months. During this time, in
concert with other Christian lawyers, I began to explore what the Bible
has to say about how we are to deal with conflict. I began to share the
things I learned with my clients.
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In the fall of 1983, I left the law. We
moved to Minneapolis where I became director of a Christian Conciliation
Service. There my studies continued, but I also spent time working with
people in conflict, teaching on the subject, and equipping others to help
those in conflict.
In 1988 we left Minneapolis for Colorado and life as itinerants — going
wherever the Lord would lead to help people and organizations in conflict.
In 1994 my wife and I began 5 years of teaching in universities in the
former Soviet Union. I taught law while she taught English. While there, I
began to actively consider how God’s ways for dealing with conflict might
be applicable to the laws and legal processes of a secular society.
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Over the years, I
have written extensively on matters related to:
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What the Bible says about conflict, how
we are to deal with it, how we are to help others who are in conflict, and
what is to be the role of the Body of Christ in that process.
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How God’s law and process differs from
our Western legal philosophy, history, and practice.
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When do we seek for justice, and how
are we to find it. |
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This web-site is designed to make those
materials available to others who seek answers to the questions of life.
It is also designed as a way to be available to people who are in conflict
— to allow them to make direct contact so that counsel can be given not
only in the theoretical but also in the practical.
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This help is available to all, without
regards to race, color, sex, religious beliefs (or lack thereof). But as
for me, I shall seek to serve the Lord, and express His positions.
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William D. “Bill” Bontrager
December, 2001 |
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