Toward Moral Accord in administrative conflict

From Moral Injury to Moral Accord

In public administration and institutional life, some disputes cut deeper than rules or outcomes. They involve moral injury — the experience of a breach in dignity, trust, responsibility, or care.

In this TalkAbout, we explore the movement from Moral Injury to Moral Accord, through three interwoven concepts:

• Moral Injury — the ethical wound that arises when systems or decisions violate what feels right or humane
• Moral Courage — the capacity to face rupture truthfully and act with integrity
• Moral Imagination — the ability to envision pathways of repair beyond entrenched conflict

We will draw on examples from high-stakes administrative contexts, including veteran experience, immigrant encounters with the state, and social security compliance and redress.

This session consolidates themes from our earlier work on misfeasance, defective administration, and Act of Grace, and sets the stage for our June TalkAbout on Responsible Decision-Making & Covenantal Integrity.

Who is this session for?

This TalkAbout is designed for:

• public sector decision-makers and integrity professionals
• governance, compliance, and accountability leaders
• mediators, advocates, and dispute resolution practitioners
• anyone working at the intersection of conflict, care, and institutional responsibility

No prior knowledge is required — only a willingness to reflect deeply.