Duane Ruth-Heffelbower

Duane Ruth-Heffelbower, Attorney and Counselor at Law, mediator, arbitrator and facilitator in all disputes; member of the School of Business faculty in the Leadership and Organizational Studies MA Program; Director of Graduate Academic Programs, Center for Peacemaking and Conflict Studies; faculty in the Criminology and Restorative Justice Studies degree completion program.

Office location: 4882 E. Townsend Ave.
Telephone: 559.453.3421
Fax 559.252.4800
email: duanerh@fresno.edu

Background (Personal home page)

Attorney admitted to the California Bar in 1974, businessman, victimologist, professional mediator, facilitator and intervention specialist since 1985. Pastor, trained and experienced counselor, teacher of alternative dispute resolution, program developer. Thousands of cases handled as advocate, mediator, arbitrator or facilitator in everything from schoolyard fights to international disputes between governments. Thousands of people trained in conflict resolution on five continents in over a hundred languages with a specialty in inter-religious and cross-cultural disputes. Advanced Practitioner member of the Association for Conflict Resolution Family Section. Serve as a settlement officer in Fresno County Superior Court. Hobbies include playing 12-string acoustic guitar, singing, backpacking, cross-country skiing and Web authoring. Served in Indonesia August 1999 through December 2001 under Mennonite Central Committee at Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, where he was a member of Pusat Studi dan Pengembangan Perdamaian (Center for the Study and Promotion of Peace). You can view the UKDW promotional video (140 MB MPEG file). He also served as Director of Peace Programs for Mennonite Central Committee Indonesia and can work in the Indonesian language. His wife of nearly 40 years directs the Circles of Support and Accountability re-entry project for parolled sex offenders. Their son and his wife have three children.

Education

• M.Div., 1988, emphasis in counseling and dispute resolution, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, IN
• J.D., 1974, Golden Gate University School of Law, San Francisco, CA
• B.A., 1970, English literature, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
• California Standard Designated Teaching Credential for Adult Education in the Field of Law - Life
• California Community College Instructor Credential in the Subject Matter of Law - Life

Current Courses Offered

• Church Conflict Management and Leadership course taught at Asian Theological Seminary, Quezon City, Philippines.
• Demokrasi dan Hak Asasi Manusia (Democracy and Human Rights) at Duta Wacana Christian University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
• COM/PSY/SOC/SW 483 Intro Practicum in Mediation
• CRIM 440 Advanced Criminal Law (in development)
• CRIM 410 Evidence (in development)
• PACS/LEAD 700 Basic Institute in Conflict Management and Mediation
• PACS 710 Introduction to Alternative Dispute Resolution
• PACS 716 Group Dynamics
• PACS 739 Institute in Establishing a Mediation Practice
• PACS 756 Intro Practicum in Mediation
• PACS 760 Mediation and the Law
• PACS 762 Family Mediation
• PACS 765 Intro Practicum in Mediation
• PACS 786 Topics: Peacebuilding and Development
• PACS 786 Topics: Restorative Justice Conference
• LEAD 725 The Legal Environment
• LEAD 745 Leadership Seminar
• LEAD 788 Topics: Business Plan Development

Rates

Dr. Ruth-Heffelbower's standard rates for services as a consultant, trainer, facilitator or mediator are $240 per hour or $2,000 per day, plus expenses. He has provided services on five continents in over one hundred languages and makes a specialty of California divorces, interpersonal conflicts in business and non-profit organizations, inter-group conflicts and worldwide inter-tribal conflict.

Recent Publications

Complete publications list

• "Pit bulls, bad knees and neighborliness: what price personal safety?" Published as a Fresno Pacific University Scholars Speak article January 29, 2008. Published by the Christian Leader March 2008, p. 10. Published by the Fresno Bee under the title "Peacemaker struggles in his own life" March 9, 2008. Published by the Wasco Tribune February 6, 2008 and the Fowler Ensign April 16, 2008.
• With Mario Thomas Gaboury. "Victim-Offender Programs in Correctional Settings: Can They Effectively Bridge Divergent Perspectives?" In Laura J. Moriarty (Ed.), Controversies in Victimology, 2nd Edition. Cincinnati, OH: Anderson Publishing Company. (in press, due 2008)
• "Research reflections: Learning to improve therapeutic and other practices." Justice Connections Winter 2007. The journal is a joint publication of the International Association for Restorative Justice Dialogue and the Practitioners Research and Scholarship Institute.
• "Corrections-Based Victim Service and Restorative Justice Programs," book chapter with Mario Gaboury, President of the American Society of Victimology, in Moriarty, Laura J. and Jerin, Robert A. (2007) Current Issues in Victimology Research, 2d ed., Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press, pp. 289-308.
• "The McDonald's theory of conflict prevention: Peace through franchising" in Fresno Pacific University's Scholars Speak publications July 26, 2007. Also Published in The Fresno Bee as "McDonald's theory of conflict prevention" August 4, 2007. Published in The Reedley Exponent August 2, 2007.
• "The carnage in . . ." a response to the Virginia Tech shootings, in Fresno Pacific University's Scholars Speak publications April 23, 2007. Also Published in The Lemoore Advance April 26, 2007 and Mennonite Weekly Review April 30, 2007.
• "Divorce without war: collaborative law" in Fresno Pacific University's Scholars Speak publications February 12, 2007
• "Reliving WWII - lessons for the children of all warriors" in Fresno Pacific University's Scholars Speak publications January 30, 2007. A variation published in the Mennonite Weekly Review February 12, 2007, the Madera Daily Tribune February 5, 2007, and the Arvin Tiller, Shafter Press, February 7, 2007.
• "Repairing the Military Commissions Act" in Fresno Pacific University's Scholars Speak publications December 18, 2006.
• "Incomprehensible forgiveness: lessons from the Amish" in Fresno Pacific University's Scholars Speak publications October 16, 2006.
• "Joys and pains of living in the worldwide neighborhood" in Fresno Pacific University's Scholars Speak publications June 6, 2006.
• "CPT kidnapping shows new reality for peace work" in Mennonite Weekly Review online edition December 13, 2005 and December 19 print edition. Taken from FPU Scholars Speak article published by FPU December 12, 2005 "International service in a changed world: Kidnapped CPT members show new reality."
• "Want justice? Listen to the victim: Central Valley a leader" in Fresno Pacific University's Scholars Speak publications December 5, 2005.
• "Execution ends the chance for redemption: Victims cannot heal" in Fresno Pacific University's Scholars Speak publications November 29, 2005. A reflection on the execution of Tookie Williams.
• "Direct and indirect communication in family mediation" in ACResolution Summer 2005.
• "Mennonite Patriotism" sermon delivered July 3, 2005 at North Baltimore (MD) Mennonite Church.
• Book review of Louder Than Words by Penda Hair, Journal of The Community Development Society, Volume 34, No. 1, pp. 130-131, 2004.
• "Restorative Justice for Nation Building: Reconciliation of People Groups" in Proceeding of the International Seminar on Restorative Justice, 16th to 19th December 2003 at Peshawar, Pakistan.
• "Using RJ Principles to Build Peace Between Christians and Muslims" in ACResolution v. 3 n. 4 Summer 2004.
• Book review of Peacemaking: Practicing at the Intersection of Law and Human Conflict by Douglas E. Noll in ACResolution v. 3 n. 4 Summer 2004.
• "Solving the Problem of Violence" in Direction Vol. 32 No.1 Spring 2003, pp. 61-74.
• "Local Capacities for Peace Meets Conflict Resolution Practice" in Journal of Peacebuilding and Development, v.1, no. 1, 2002, pp. 85-97. The journal is a joint publication of the Center for Global Peace of American University and South North Centre for Peacebuilding and Development, Harare, Zimbabwe.
• "Restorative Justice: The Journey" in Conciliation Quarterly vol. 21, no. 4, Fall 2002. Article explores use of the Internet in restorative justice.
• "Indonesia: Out of One, Many?" in Fletcher Forum of World Affairs of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, Vol. 26:2, Summer/Fall 2002, pp.223-238.
• "Post-9-11 Reflections on the Response of Indonesian Muslims" in the Mennonite Central Committee Peace Office Newsletter April-June 2002, p. 4.
• One of the four authors of Transforming Conflict in Your Church: A Practical Guide edited by Marlin E. Thomas, Herald Press 2002.
• "Reconciling Injustices: A Process for Indonesia."Islamic Millennium Journal, vol. 1, no. 1, Sept.-Nov. 2001, pp. 56-62.
• Ruth-Heffelbower, Duane, ed. Pemberdayaan untuk Rekonsiliasi edisi kedua direvisi dan diperluas (Empowering for Reconciliation 2d edition Revised and Expanded). Yogyakarta, Indonesia: Duta Wacana University Press, 2000.
• Conflict and Peacemaking Across Cultures: Training for Trainers. Fresno: Fresno Pacific University, 1999.
• "What Does it Mean to be Church Based?" in VORP Organizing: A Foundation in the Church, by Ron Claassen and Howard Zehr, Mennonite Central Committee, 1989.
• Complete publications list

Current research and teaching interests

• Editor - CRInfo.org restorative justice section
• The role of victim offender dialogue processes in healing
• Restorative justice in Muslim majority societies
• Community development in post-colonial and oppressed community situations
• Christian ethics as they apply to conflict resolution and human rights issues
• Member of Lembaga Penelitian Inovasi Pendidikan (Institute for Research and Educational Innovation) of Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana, Yogyakarta, Indonesia (1999-2001) examining the use of western and eastern conflict resolution methods in a multi-cultural society, with particular emphasis on reconciliation efforts as a key to societal transformation during a transition to democracy. Reports of activities can be found here.
• Project Officer for Refugee Conflict Management Project funded by Office of Refugee Resettlement of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families 1996-1999, continuing consulting role.
• California Restorative Justice and Alternative Dispute Resolution legislation tracking.

Selected Professional Presentations

• "Conflict and Peacemaking Across Cultures" a fifteen hour training for Vineyard Missions annual leaders' retreat in Colorado Springs September 2008.
• "Engaging victims of minor crimes in victim offender dialogue processes" at the joint conference of Victim Offender Mediation Association and the American Association of Community Justice Professionals in Miami, FL June 2007.
• "Engaging victims of minor crimes in victim offender dialogue processes" with Noelle Daoudian and closing plenary panelist on the theme of trends in victimology at the fifth symposium of the American Society of Victimology, Baltimore, MD, April 2007.
• Panelist at an educational forum on The Military Commissions Act of 2006 moderated by Jeffery G. Purvis, James K. And Carol Sellers Herbert Professor Of Constitutional Law, Sunday, December 10 at San Joaquin College of Law, Clovis, CA sponsored by The La Raza Student Association and Peace Fresno. News report.
• "Reframing From Skill to Artistry: How to Use Reframing to Transform a Mediation Session." A skill building workshop for advanced mediators on reframing at Association for Conflict Resolution annual conference in Philadelphia, PA, October 2006.
• Panelist with Dr. Glen Kercher, Sam Houston State University; and John Sage, Executive Director, Bridges to Life "Giving Victims a Voice" Texas Public Policy Foundation, Austin, TX, September 12th, 2006
• "Engaging victims of minor crimes in healing processes" at the 4th Annual Symposium of the American Society of Victimology at Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas, March 2006.
• "Rukun: the Javanese vision of harmony" at the Victim Offender Mediation Association annual conference in Philadelphia, PA, October 2005.
• "Conflict Between Refugees and Receiving Communities: Lessons Learned and a Proposed Conflict Resolution Methodology" at the Association for Conflict Resolution annual conference in Minneapolis, MN September 2005.
• "Conflict in the workplace" for over 300 faculty and staff of San Joaquin Valley College in four locations.
• "Victim Offender Dialogue Refusals: Avoiding the 'No'" at the American Society of Victimology 3rd annual symposium April 29, 2005 at Fresno, CA.
• Co-presenter with Ann Warner Roberts, Sr. Fellow at U. Minnesota, "Restorative Justice 101" double session at Association for Conflict Resolution annual conference in Sacramento, CA, September 2004. Also participated in session "Sharing the Wisdom of Experience: Great Conversations between Veteran Mediators" and the session "A Restorative Justice Journey: The Fresno Model."
• "Reconciling Injustices" at the American Victimology Society's Second Symposium on Victimology at Washburn University in Topeka, KA June 2004
• "Restorative Justice for nation building: reconciliation of people groups" presented at the International Seminar on Restorative Justice in Peshawar, Pakistan, December 2003.
• "Restorative justice training across cultures" at the 20th annual Victim Offender Mediation Association international conference in Nashville, Tennessee November 2003.
• "Macro Level Restorative Justice:. Reconciliation of people groups" presented at the Association for Conflict Resolution annual conference at Orlando, Florida, October 16, 2003.
• Leadership and Conflict training for church leaders at Quezon, Palawan, Philippines.
• "Conflict resolution where there is no law" to the Tulare County (California) Bar Association January 16, 2003.
• "Building the Restorative Faith Community: Lessons from Indonesia". Presented at the 9th Annual Restorative Justice Conference at Fresno Pacific University October 26, 2002.
• "Restorative Justice for Emerging Democracies: Macro application of RJ in cases of societal breakdown" at the Victim Offender Mediation Association annual conference in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, September 26, 2002.
• "Restorative Justice for Criminal Offenses and Child Dependency" presentation at the Association for Conflict Resolution annual conference in San Diego, CA, August 24, 2002.
• "The Victim: Mistreatment and Its Impact" for the Ombudsman Services of Northern California All-Staff Retreat May 2002.
• "Rukun: Lessons in Family Harmony from Java" at Association for Conflict Resolution Family Section annual conference in Savannah, GA March 2, 2002.
• "Reconciliation Perspective on West Papuan Political and Human Rights Problems." Paper presented at the UEM Workshop on the Role of Churches in Human Rights Advocacy Hotel Irian Biak - West Papua: September 5, 2000.
• "Indonesia: Restorative Justice for Healing a Divided Society." Paper presented to Just Peace? conference in Auckland, New Zealand, April 26, 2000.
• Kursus Resolusi Konflik Bagi Generasi Muda (A Course in Conflict Resolution for the Younger Generation) training for university and high school student activists from the city of Solo which has been plagued by riots. Sponsored by Forum Salatiga in Bandungan, Java, December 17-19, 1999
• Konflik dan Menciptakan Perdamaian Lintas Budaya (Conflict and Peacemaking Across Cultures, Indonesian language version) training for staff and partners of Christian Reformed World Relief Organization, Salatiga, Java, November 19-20, 1999
• "Conflict & Peacemaking Across Cultures: Training for Trainers" as a four day workshop June 1999 at FPU
• "Conflict & Peacemaking Across Cultures: Training for Trainers" as a three day workshop prior to the November 1998 federal Office of Refugee Resettlement annual Conference in Washington, DC
• "Uses of the Internet in Refugee Resettlement" at the Office of Refugee Resettlement annual conference November 1998
• "Conflict and Peacemaking Across Cultures" at the California statewide Refugee Information Exchange Conference October 1998. A report on the federally funded research project for which Dr. Ruth-Heffelbower is Project Officer.
• "Fundraising 101" at the annual conference of the Victim Offender Mediation Association in Phoenix, AZ, September 1998.
• "Mobilizing the faith community when starting a new Victim Offender Reconciliation Program" at Victim Offender Mediation Association annual conference 1998
• "Family Group Conferencing" at the national conference of the Academy of Family Mediators in San Francisco, June 1998
• "Handling Conflict in Cultural and Social Values" Office of Refugee Resettlement Iraqi Refugee Initiative conference in Detroit, MI May 1998
• "Conflict Resolution: Techniques and Practice" (half-day seminar) at the IRSA National Conference in Washington, DC May 1998
• "Internet Resources for Refugee Service Providers" at the IRSA National Conference in Washington, DC May 1998
• "Conflict Resolution Programming for Resettlement Agencies" at the IRSA National Conference in Washington, DC May 1998
• "Conflict and Peacemaking Across Cultures" at "Meeting on Common Ground: Supporting Refugee and Immigrant Children's Education" at San Diego State University May 1998
• "Current Restorative Justice Legislation in California" at the Central Coast Conference of the Children's Service Network 1997

Professional Affiliations

• Ordained Mennonite Minister - Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference
• Active member State Bar of California since 1974.
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
• U.S. Court of Appeals - 9th Circuit
• United States Supreme Court
• Mediation Associates^sm
• Member of Central California Collaborative Law Affiliates
• International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
• Advanced Practitioner Member of the Association for Conflict Resolution. ACR Family Section Advanced Practitioner Member list.
  • Practitioner Member and Approved Consultant, Academy of Family Mediators prior to that organization's merger into Association for Conflict Resolution in 2001.
  • Member of the family section training committee since inception, Chair 2006-
  • Member of the Central California Chapter of the Association for Conflict Resolution. Member of the board from inception. Secretary 2004-2005
  • Web editor for ACR Family Section, Restorative and Criminal Justice Section, and Central California Chapter since inception.
  • Member of the Research Section
• Restorative Justice editor for CRInfo.org
• Member of the board of directors of the American Society of Victimology 2005-
• Member of the Mediator Referral Panel of Fresno County Superior Court
• Member of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences
• State Bar Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, Chair, Ethics subcommittee North 1998-1999
• State Bar Family Law Subcommittee on Alternative Dispute Resolution - North 1996-1999
• Fresno County Bar Association Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee
• Fresno Metro Ministry Board of Directors 1997-1999
• Valley Children's Hospital Institutional Ethics Committee 1998-1999
• Member of Victim Offender Mediation Association. Webmaster 1997-
• Member of International Webmasters Association
• Mennonite Central Committee Indonesia Director of Peace Programs 1999-2001
• Mennonite Central Committee Laos Bombie Project 1995. The resulting UNDP program is described here and UXO Lao is described here.
• Christian Peacemaker Teams, recording secretary for organizational meeting 1986.
• West Coast Mennonite Central Committee Coordinator of Developmental Disabilities services 1985-86
• Member of the board and secretary of Lakeview Association, Inc., the owner and operator of Lakeview Cottages on Huntington Lake, California 2006-.