Church Conflict? A House Divided
Even in the holiest of places, people can be at odds with each other:

• Pastor vs. congregants
• Choir director vs. director of religious education
• School principal vs. pastor
• Bishop vs. diocesan splinter groups
• Church elders vs. church council

Mediation can help:

• Teach peaceful dispute resolution methods
• Encourage spiritual growth during conflict
• Foster healthy relations for the future
• Respect everyone’s role and responsibility
• Halt further damage to your church’s work

Human relationships are complex, even in the name of religion. Matthew’s Gospel warns that “a house divided against itself will not stand” (Mt. 12:25). And Jesus is clear in John’s Gospel that his desire for peace among his followers is so strong that “a new command” is given to love one another. In that way, we might distinguish ourselves as disciples from pagans who don’t know any better (Jn. 13:34-35).

Mediation helps those who stray and “promote controversies rather than God’s work” (1 Tim. 1:4) and blesses those who truly want to enter into a process of boldly practicing faith peacefully. “There is one God and one mediator between God and us, the man, Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2-5) who wants us “everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.” (1 Tim. 2:8)

Jesus’ prayer for us (John 17:11) is that in God’s name, we may be ONE. Not without differences or without conflict, but ultimately united in our faith which binds us to one another and to God. Our hope and our purpose are to use the creative power of conflict to help those in the church to resolve the differences that divide us, so that we may more fully express and live out the faith that unites us.