Every Church Needs a Little Conflict

Last week I attended a Church Conflict Resolution training event. About 20 of us gathered at the beautiful Table Rock Conference and Retreat Center near Pickens, South Carolina. Dr. George Bullard who is part of the Columbia Partnership and an expert on resolving church conflict was with us for two days. Dr. Bullard shared with us some pretty heavy stuff.

One of the things Dr. Bullard shared is that not all church conflict is unhealthy. Matter of fact, according to Dr. Bullard, every Church needs a little conflict and he gave seven reasons why:

1. Congregations without a healthy intensity of conflict do not have passion around their mission, purpose, and values.

2. Congregations without a healthy intensity of conflict do not have clear beliefs and core values.

3. Congregations without a healthy intensity of conflict are into an avoidance life style.

4. Congregations without a healthy intensity of conflict make shallow decisions that come from a group-think mentality.

5. Congregations without a healthy intensity of conflict do not have the opportunity to learn how to handle decision-making around complex issues, and thus handle transitional and unhealthy conflict when they are experienced.

6. Congregations without a healthy intensity of conflict do not learn how to keep conflict from escalating to an unhealthy intensity.

7. Congregations without a healthy intensity of conflict do not take risks because they are afraid it will create conflict it cannot handle.

What do you think..............