June 9, 1999

Conflict, when handled
correctly, can do good
___By Jim Wilson
___LifeWay Christian Resources
___GLORIETA, N.M. (BP)--While church conflict can devastate people and rip the heart out of a congregation, conflict also can result in positive change if it is handled biblically, according to Bob Cavin.
___Cavin, director of the Texas Baptist Leadership Center of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, spoke at the National Innovative Church Leadership Conference at LifeWay Conference Center at Glorieta, N.M., May 25-28.
___To define conflict, he quoted Lloyd Elder, professor and director of the Moench Center for Church Leadership at Belmont University: "Conflict in the congregation is a situation in which two or more members or factions struggle aggressively over what is, or appears to be, mutually exclusive beliefs, values, assumed powers or goals."
___The cause of the conflict may be miscommunication, misunderstandings, personality differences, doctrines, values or finances.
___Though people initially may want to reach an easy compromise, Cavin explained, the healthiest thing they can do is confront the issues and stimulate change.
___"Conflict can force us to look at what needs to change," he said. "Perhaps it is an attitude, a pattern of behavior or a value. Whatever it is, the conflict creates an atmosphere for soul-searching and prayer that will result in positive change."
___Cavin said he believes conflict is inevitable and a natural outcome of ministry. He pointed to Jesus' ministry in which conflict was an everyday occurrence.
___"Jesus had conflict with Satan, the crowd, the Pharisees, his disciples and even his own family," he observed.
___The leader's goal is not to avoid or manage conflict, he said. Rather, the goal should be to transform conflict by the power of God.
___"Transforming church conflict is a shared leadership process where trust is pursued and openness and acceptance (of others) is practiced," Cavin said.
___By using biblical guidelines such as private confrontation (Matthew 18:15), counsel (Matthew 18:16), church discipline (Matthew 18:17) and the spirit of the peacemaker (Matthew 5:9), the leader is able to transform conflict into something positive, Cavin suggested.
___Other strategies for transforming conflict he cited are:
___ Renegotiate the relationships with contracts or agreements.
___ Encourage opposing sides to talk through the issues and discover possible solutions.
___ Attempt to bring the groups to a consensus by encouraging collaboration.
___ Facilitate the members to attack the problems and formulate acceptable outcomes.
___ Negotiate among differing parties to bring about a healthy compromise.
___ Involve a third party to arbitrate.
___When the conflict is transformed, the members of the congregation grow in their fellowship toward one another and their relationship with Jesus Christ, he concluded.

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