Author Archives: David V. Edling

About David V. Edling

Dave Edling is an experienced Christian conciliator who has worked with many conflicted churches. During his decade of service on the senior staff of Peacemaker Ministries, he participated in over 200 mediation and arbitration cases and worked with nearly twenty thousand Christians engaged in conflicts affecting churches of almost every denomination. Dave holds several graduate degrees in addition to his Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon State University. They are: Master of Arts in Human Behavior, United States International University (now Alliant International University); Juris Doctor, California Western School of Law; Master of Arts in Religion, Westminster Seminary California; and Master of Arts in Biblical Conflict Resolution, Birmingham Theological Seminary. Dave has served as a trustee on the Board of Directors for Covenant College and Westminster Seminary California and has taught in the Doctor of Ministry programs for Reformed Theological Seminary, Mid-Western Baptist Theological Seminary, and Westminster Theological Seminary. In addition, Dave has been a lecturer in practical theology for several other Christian colleges and seminaries.

When (Differently) Gifted Pastors Destroy the Church (Rather Than Build it Up)

Posted on June 1, 2013

This was a church conflict that never should have happened. One man was excellent at vision casting, capturing the excitement and motivating people for great things in the name of the Lord. The other was an excellent teacher. Working in … Continue reading →

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Doesn’t God Condone Church Conflict in 1 Corinthians 11:17-19?

Posted on May 21, 2013

This summer at our church I am teaching the material of Redeeming Church Conflicts in one of our Sunday morning adult community groups. Yesterday during class a man said (with a degree of confidence) that the Bible endorses conflict in the church … Continue reading →

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Redeem Church Conflicts by Listening to LAWYERS? Really?

Posted on May 16, 2013

Q. Redeeming church conflicts doesn’t apply to us because our church is being sued by non-Christians. So we have to listen to our lawyers, right? A. If you are being sued by anybody it is always wise to listen to your … Continue reading →

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Two Elements of Redeeming Church Conflict: Intentionality and Contentment

Posted on May 10, 2013

Q. How can I maintain an “eternal perspective” given the harsh realities of this church conflict? A. It is one thing to give mental assent to the concept of living from an “eternal perspective,” and quite another to actually fit … Continue reading →

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Can a Whole Church Forgive a Church Leader?

Posted on May 1, 2013

Q. What does corporate forgiveness look like? Can a whole congregation forgive a church leader? A. Jim Van Yperen in his book Making Peace accurately notes that church conflicts are always about leadership. Not that all church conflicts are initially between leaders … Continue reading →

Posted in Conflicts involving church leaders, Conflicts with our youth pastor | Leave a comment

Why is the rampant loss of hope a reality in most church conflicts?

Posted on April 23, 2013

One observation Tara and I make in Redeeming Church Conflicts concerns the loss of hope among believers who struggle with conflicts in the church. We spend a significant number of words on that sad dynamic and how to respond biblically. Scripture, of … Continue reading →

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When to Leave a Church

Posted on April 16, 2013

A few weeks ago in response to my blog about church membership, member vows, and what might be a valid reason to leave one’s church, a reader wrote that she didn’t think I answered the question. She also expressed her opinion that … Continue reading →

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What should a wife do when her husband has conflicts with the church leaders?

Posted on April 13, 2013

Q. What do I do when my husband has called out a leader in sin (following Mt. 18); brought it to the church (1 Tim. 5:20); and the church is either in denial or is choosing to overlook it and … Continue reading →

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How to Preserve Your Pastor (Parts 6 and 7): Sharing Ministry…with Friends

Posted on March 1, 2013

For the past several weeks I have been posting articles that interact with Dr. Thom Rainer’s research titled The Top Seven Regrets of Pastors based on his interviews of twenty-plus pastors who had been in Christian ministry for at least … Continue reading →

Posted in Authentic Relationships in the Church, Biblical peacemaking in the church, Conflicts involving church leaders, Conflicts with our youth pastor | Leave a comment

How to Preserve Your Pastor (Part 5): Failure to Understand Basic Business and Finance Issues

Posted on February 25, 2013

This is Part 5 of a seven part series interacting with Dr. Thom Rainer’s research reported in his article The Top Seven Regrets of Pastors. Today’s focus is on the problems of the church being in the world—specifically, that a … Continue reading →

Posted in Causes of Church Conflict, Conflicts involving church leaders | Leave a comment