George Bullard

Just as in marriages, one of the top three sources of conflict is money; so, if a congregation is struggling financially, this provides an open door for unhealthy conflict. Congregations with careless processes for handling finances are subject to unhealthy conflict...

Congregations who regularly have fun with one another are healthier congregations emotionally. Laughing together has great benefits for worshiping and ministering together. Just as laughter is good for the health of individuals, laughter is great for the health of congregations...

Congregations who focus deeply on adult discipleship development and make it the highest possible value are unlikely to experience unhealthy conflict...

Develop an ongoing prayer culture in the life and ministry of the congregation in which members pray for one another, pray for the life and ministry of the congregation, pray for the clergy and lay leaders, and pray that the Evil One will find no place of comfort in this congregation...

Congregations should learn how to embrace diversity of viewpoints, theology, culture, socioeconomics, birth generations, and tenure consistent with their core ideology. A decreasing number of congregations are composed of people with just one dominant viewpoint...

All congregational leaders need to learn how not to fall into the trap of escalating conflict unnecessarily. Too many pastors, staff ministers, and laypersons do this. An earlier factor focused on their patterns. Let’s focus in this post on lay leaders. ...

Congregations need well-written governing documents and policies that activate to deal with any approaching unhealthy conflict situations...

Senior or solo pastors and staff ministers need to have a personal mission statement and future story of their ministry that projects beyond their current place of service, is not dependent on it, and definitely sees beyond any current conflict situation...

Senior or solo pastors and staff ministers need a BAMP. This stands for a Best Alternative Ministry Placement. It means if the current conflict situation does not work out, what is the best alternative ministry placement for each minister to continue in Christian ministry service...

Senior or solo pastors and staff ministers need coaching by an outside third-party by the time conflict reaches intensity three of seven intensities. Pastors and staff ministers have adeep investmentin their ministry in a congregation...

Processes that are open, healthy, and respected are as important as the principles being upheld. When congregations are clear about their principle base involving mission, purpose, values, and vision, and then use great processes for making decisions, they are likely to escape unhealthy conflict...

Congregations may never experience unhealthy conflict again if they deal with all conflict situations based on principles consistent with the core ideology of the congregation, and not based on partisan positions or personalities...

Congregations may never experience unhealthy conflictif theydevelop and implement open, healthy communication processes, have a redundancy of communication and feedback loops, and use a variety of communication channels. But the reverse is also true...

Congregations may never experience unhealthy conflict again if they develop and implement open, healthy decision-making processes that involve a lot of people in owning decisions and being committed to essential actions...