Church Conflict

“I will never forget the phone call from the chairman of the search committee informing me that the church had overwhelmingly voted to call me as their next senior pastor….

“The phrase starts like this: ‘People are saying…’ The conversation that follows is almost always frustrating, demoralizing, and impossible to resolve.” - C.Leaders

“If a pulpit is dominated primarily by the denunciation of our theological enemies, we will think that our biggest problem is them. And our biggest problem is always us.” - TGC

“Phil Howell offers a biblical framework for interpreting and responding to disagreements within the church, with a particular focus on elders.” - 9 Marks

“Unfortunately, many pastors know all too well, members meetings are not always joyful or unifying. Therefore, pastors may dread them, forecasting the hostility they are about to encounter from unhappy members.” - 9 Marks

“There was the time a church fought over the appropriate length of the pastor’s beard… We witnessed a conflict over people leading worship with their eyes closed during a portion of the song. One church held two business meetings to determine which weed-eater to purchase.” - CPost

“In the past week, the church released a 35-page report telling its side of the story. I have read the entire report, and I strongly recommend that anyone with an interest in this matter should do the same.” - MinistryWatch

“Notice Paul’s first question: ‘Has Christ been divided?’ … . The cure, then, for church conflict begins by understanding that Christ Himself is united. Christ is not at rivalry, or in competition, or at war within Himself.” - Cripplegate

“…there was one key event that produced more significant conflict within the church early in my tenure that seemed to solidify a couple of key groups in their opposition to my ministry. It was a church discipline issue that presented itself six weeks after I arrived at the church.” - Church Answers

“I realize that each firing has its unique characteristics. What you will read is a typical pattern, not a fixed sequence of events for every dismissal of a pastor.” - Thom Rainer