Not only does church conflict tear at the heart of a congregation, it may be turning away future church leaders. A recent report by the Associated Baptist Press found that a significant number of college students who want to make a difference in God's Kingdom simply don't see the church as the place to do it. Local-church ministry is often associated with disagreements and arguments and isn't seen as the place for them, according to Omer Hancock, professor at Hardin-Simmons University's Logsdon School of Theology.

"The reality is that for the entire lifetime of these young people, they have grown up in a culture where there is a lot of church conflict and a lot of denominational conflict," he told the ABP.

Conflict driving pastors away

It isn't just future pastoral candidates who turn away. Pastor Rich Laskowski, who runs a reconciliation ministry, says more than 1,500 pastors leave their pulpits each month, many because of conflict.

Colorado church consultant Ken Johnson has seen that first-hand. In a congregation he once served as music minister and business manager, malcontents determined to oust the pastor filed a frivolous lawsuit that cost $20,000 to defend.

"Usually the conflict I have worked with has been over old-timers not wanting anything new in the church," Johnson says. "The want the status quo: ‘This is the way we have always done it'…‘This is MY church and I am going to protect it.'"

Church consultant Wayne Lipscomb of Church Transformation Ministries attributes such problems to various factors: personal agendas, unwillingness to make changes gradually, strong personalities, or a dictatorial approach to leadership.

"James 4:1 sums it up best—our desires become our gods," Lipscomb says.

Back from the Brink

Stemming such fractious disputes, for the sake of the congregation and its leadership, is where consultants can play a valuable role.

Lipscomb worked with a church last year where staff members were at such odds the personnel committee was on the verge of dismissing them. The Ohio-based pastor and consultant called all the parties together for a retreat.

He used material from Peacemaker Ministries. President Ken Sande—an attorney and engineer who has helped resolve thousand of church and other disputes—is the author of "The Peacemaker." Lipscomb learned about the ministry four years ago when dealing with another serious church conflict.

"Though we resolved the conflict (unfortunately by terminating people), I would have loved to have been introduced to Peacemakers sooner," Lipscomb says. "Our leadership has benefited from this material. There is a new attitude in approaching conflict."

The proof of its viability came after that retreat. Within a couple months, the staff had achieved resolution and reconciliation.

Taking time

Note that it took two months. Deep-seated snarls won't be resolved overnight, consultants say. As Johnson points out, it generally takes several years to get into a deep conflict, so it will take a few months or even a year to get past it.

The former pastor says many battles revolve around "sacred cows," such as insisting the pulpit be placed squarely in the center of the platform, favorite pew spots or demanding the choir always wear robes.

"The first thing I have the church do is a lot of soul searching to discern who the guilty party is and why they are creating the problem," Johnson says. "The interesting thing about this is that there are times when the pastor and their followers find out they are the guilty party and the reconciliation needs to happen with the pastor asking for forgiveness."

Regardless of who is to blame, Johnson starts with a recommendation of prayer.
Not a quick five-minute session, but meeting two or more times a week. He calls this a vital step, one left out by many churches because they haven't had a prayer team for decades.

Leaders also need to communicate biblical truths to the congregation and educate them about the church. Johnson points out that people who claim ownership of a particular church don't grasp the truth that it is God's, not theirs.

In addition, while looking for a long-term solution, the consultant advises churches not to let the situation linger forever.

"I suggest to the leadership to set a specific date that they will have the problem solved or they will ask the guilty party (or parties) to leave," Johnson says. "In honesty, this is difficult for the pastor and leadership to do because they want to grow the church and if they ask people to leave then they have diminished the church."

Don't overlook details

Sometimes the solution may be simpler, though. Church consultant Debbie Rendall of Integrating Focus recalls a board struggling to reach a decision because of one naysayer who voted against every proposal.

After the Florida-based consultant asked what their bylaws said, members discovered they only needed a majority vote, not unanimity.

There is no need to be hijacked by a rogue individual who assumes he or she has the power to spare, says Rendall, advising that all board members be familiar with the decision-making process.

Pray and be alert

Sometimes Christians also need a wake-up call to the devil's schemes. Pastor Laskowski says many churches are not aware of conflict as a fierce battle with the powers of darkness.

"The result is our defenses are down," Laskowski says. "The enemy is underestimated and the people of God become vulnerable."

Laskowski says conflict is a strategy the devil uses to paralyze and immobilize churches. That's why he believes that warding it off spiritually should be a priority.

No matter how contentious, he believes most church conflicts can be resolved under the right circumstances and spiritual atmosphere.

"Every situation is different," Laskowski says. "So God must be allowed to direct exactly how to be effective in each conflict setting."