You’d think that of all places, the church is where people would learn to get along with one other.

Yet, few are surprised when told that conflict is often at the root of why pastors are fired.

Many pastors are at a breaking point, feeling that conflict is robbing them of the true purpose for which they entered ministry. (The names in the following examples have been changed.)

Doug was the pastor of an east coast megachurch. He called recently to tell me that he had just been fired by his church for an inability to successfully navigate the waters of conflict.

 

Dave, pastor of a small Southern church, wrote: “I had no idea that I would spend a significant portion of my time enmeshed in conflict. Our church is ill-equipped to deal with the fallout which is the direct result of unresolved conflict. I received no conflict resolution training in seminary. Now, I am not sure I can endure this season of pain.”

 

Steve told me that conflict is clearly tearing apart the west coast church he pastors – yet no one seems to have the skill or the courage to confront the issue. He is close to tears when he describes his fears for his church and for his own family.

Sadly, these aren’t uncommon stories. According to Peacemakers, a ministry partner committed to Biblical conflict resolution, more than 15,000 pastors will be fired this year.

Leadership Journal, in its Spring 2008 edition, cites a Baptist Press report listing the most common reasons why pastors are fired. They include control issues, resistance to change, poor people skills, declining church attendance, leadership style – and staff conflict.

Even though many reasons involve conflict, the vast majority of church cultures remain uncommitted to peacemaking.

Ken Sande, founder and president of Peacemakers, says: “No matter how fruitful a church’s other ministries are, if it does not have a culture of peace, every ministry is weakened to some degree.”

Sande acknowledges that differences are inevitable when people work together, but he adds: “If they have not been taught peacemaking, even minor differences can grow to major proportions . . . Worst of all, they may fail to practice genuine forgiveness and experience the reconciling power of Jesus.”

Peacemakers offers a series of questions that churches should consider. Here are a few examples:

• Does your church have a clear vision or specific plan for making peacemaking an effective ministry of the church?
• Does your church provide leaders and members with practical training in personal conflict resolution?
• Do church members who have unresolved conflicts with other believers seek assistance within the church, especially if the dispute involves employment, business or legal issues?

PastorServe is hosting a Peacemakers conference on October 28th, 2010. The Leadership Opportunity will bring together Peacemaker’s leading teachers in Kansas City to speak to one of the most pressing issues in the church today. I would encourage you to make every effort to attend. Conference information can be found at the PastorServe web site.