What's at Stake
Ongoing conflict cuts into the very fabric of what a church is supposed to be, a fellowship where love dominates (John 13:35). Not surprisingly, the apostle Paul framed love and conflict as polar opposites. “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another” (Gal. 2:14-15).
Unmanaged conflict is the one dynamic that can decimate an entire ministry. An older seasoned pastor observed, “no church is more than twenty-four hours away from a major conflict breaking out. In less than a year, it can destroy years of hard work and growth.” The fact is, the greatest threat to the well-being of a congregation, theologically and in practice, is the deterioration of its relationships.
Protecting the social cohesion of the church ought be a shepherd leader's first thought, not an afterthought! Effective steps to deal with conflict, therefore, need to be established before it occurs.
Learning from the Oil Spill that Never Happened
Do you know that BP also has the same kind of deep water oil rigs in Canada? And do you know why the widespread destruction that is occurring in the Gulf of Mexico today will likely never happen there? The answer is, since 1976 the Canadian government has required that each exploratory well also have "a relief well ready in case of a blowout." The purpose of the relief well is "to significantly reduce the damage to the environment that would result if an oil blowout continued to release oil ... unchecked." BP is currently drilling two relief wells at the site in the gulf to cap the well and stop the unrelenting damage sometime in August (some four months after the explosion). What then is the difference between Canada and the U.S. regarding oil rig explosions? One country is prepared to deal with them, the other is not. Such preparation makes all the difference in the world for the future well being of their respective coastal communities.
The analogy to churches is quite clear. There is and will continue to be a striking difference in terms of outcome between those churches that are prepared to deal with conflict when it emerges and those that are not. Clean-up for churches that are impacted by conflict is similar to the clean-up after an oil spill. It's messy, it's time-consuming, and the damage may be long-lasting. Would that more churches heed Benjamin Franklin's insightful observation made over two centureis ago. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
Help for Shepherd Leaders
Are you a shepherd leader who is serious about the charge to protect your flock? If so, I can help you transform that intent into reality - quickly, inexpensively, and effectively. The long term benefits to your church will be self-evident. Conflict that, in the past would fester and grow, is resolved in a timely way by addressing the needs of the parties involved. This, in turn, translates into more loyal and committed members. With fewer people leaving the church due to conflict, the ability of your church to grow numerically, financially, and relationally will be stronger.
How can your church enjoy such benefits? It begins with a low-cost, live & interactive webinar with your church's board from the convenience of your own church meeting room. You will learn the Judeo-Christian Model of Peacemaking and how it is easily implemented.
Call me at 301-253-8877 to learn more.
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