Free Conflict Management Articles

Written by Craig Webb, Editor

"Mishandled conflict can wreak havok in church. People are traumatized and lives are turned upside down...Mishandled conflict sends the message that the church has no better means of addressing its problems than do groups outside of the church." (David W. Kale, Managing Conflict in the Church, p. 11)

Here are some of the articles we have posted on LifeWay.com to help you.

New series on the Top 5 Reasons for Pastor Terminations:

• # 5 The Church Was Already in Conflict When the Pastor Arrived
   
• # 4 The Pastor’s Leadership Style Is Too Strong
   
• # 3 Pastor's Poor People Skills
   
• # 2 The Church is Resistant to Change
   
• # 1 (coming soon)

Other Articles on Church Conflict:

• Help! My Search Committee Lied to Me
   
• How to Leave Your Church With Grace
   
• How to Know When It's Time to Go
   
• How to Respond to Conflict in Your Church
   
• 7 Ideas for Dealing with Conflict
   
• Church Conflict and Forgiveness
   
• Top 10 Predictable Times for Conflict in the Church
   
• Basic Principles of Conflict Management
   
• How to Respond to Criticism

Sermons:

God's Peace Corps, Making Peace With God (Selected Scriptures)

God's Peace Corps, The Steps to Reconciliation (Genesis 33:1-11)

God's Peace Corps, The Unexpected Response (2 Samuel 9:1-13)

God's Peace Corps, Being a Peacemaker (Matthew 5:9)

Five Ways to Diffuse Conflict In Your Life, 1 Peter 3

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If you need help with conflict in your church:

• Contact your state convention's Church Minister Relation’s Director or your local Director of Associational Missions.
  Search State Conventions and Local Associations on SBC.net

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If you are leading your church through a transition we want to recommend Paul on Leadership - Servant Leadership in a Ministry of Transition.

Based on the ministry model of the Apostle Paul, this six-session study helps pastors and other ministry leaders navigate their churches through change.

As the one entrusted with taking the gospel to the world, Paul experienced many challenges. Within this study, Gene Wilkes explores several of the principles and strategies from Paul’s experiences, and shows how they are transferable to individuals and churches today.

Participants in this small-group study will learn how to ensure that their God-given mission can continue when they share leadership responsibilities. And they’ll be reminded of the strength in a style of leadership molded by Christ-like character.

As Pastor of Legacy Drive Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, Wilkes has put the principles and strategies from this resource to the test - and has seen how they can help transition a church in a godly direction.

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