4 Causes of Church Conflict

Conflict is something that everyone wants to avoid. Conflict is also something that everyone realizes is inevitable. Ever since the fall of man, people have been fighting with one another for a countless number of reasons. As a pastor, it is important to identify conflict when it arises, and eliminate it to encourage growth. In order to do this, you must be able to recognize and be aware of what causes conflict. With that said, what causes church conflict?

Think back to when you were a kid. Chances are, there were many instances in which you were in some sort of conflict. It is imaginable that you fought over who got to play with the toy next, or who got to sit in the front seat of the car. The only way to resolve this type of conflict was for a mature adult to step in and mediate. Much like when you were a kid, conflict still arises today. It obviously takes on a different form, but the essence of conflict is the same. The only difference is that we, as leaders, are our own mediators. We are the ones who have to settle our conflicts.

Within the realm of church ministry, settling these conflicts is especially important. We are called to be the hands and feet of Christ, not to fight with each other! Understanding this, what are the types of conflict common in churches? How can we be alert enough to identify those types of conflicts as they arise?

In this video:

We want to help you identify the main forms of conflict within church ministry. The first step in conflict resolution is understanding why and how conflict usually occurs. We believe that this is unique in terms of church ministry. This video contains four reasons for conflict. As you learn what causes church conflict, you can begin to alleviate it at the source.