Monthly Archives: May 2017

Inconsistency Reveals Deception–Especially in Church Conflicts

Posted on May 31, 2017 by David V. Edling

Q. Has there been one key similarity or common characteristic you have noticed about how Christians typically respond to conflicts in their churches? A. While always difficult to name just one dynamic given the complexity of church conflict, yes, I … Continue reading →

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“It was like being in Hell with instructions!”

Posted on May 31, 2017 by David V. Edling

I have been writing this week, but it hasn’t been for this website. Rather, my efforts have been directed at writing a requested review of a new book for The Gospel Coalition. So, I was thinking of just taking the … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical peacemaking in the church | 2 Comments

“I Already Know That!”

Posted on May 30, 2017 by Dave Edling & Tara Barthel

In my years of serving as a Christian mediator, I have been privileged to assist extraordinarily gifted men and women of great faith and world-class formal educations. In one such situation, I was sitting between two (very angry) co-senior pastors … Continue reading →

Posted in Authentic Relationships in the Church, Causes of Church Conflict, Conflicts involving church leaders, Conflicts with our youth pastor | Leave a comment

“Hope permeates each chapter …”

Posted on May 30, 2017 by Tara Barthel

Thanks for your patience re: our delayed postings as Dave and I are currently a little too busy actually serving churches to blog about it … To tide you over, our gratitude goes out to Christianity Today’s Leadership Journal for … Continue reading →

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What should we do when our church’s leadership is boldly rewarding and promoting their own “inner circle”?

Posted on May 27, 2017 by David V. Edling

Q: We have all heard of “cliques” in the church, but what should one do when it becomes obvious that the church’s leadership culture boldly rewards, acknowledges, and promotes their own elite “inner circle?” This is occurring while at the … Continue reading →

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Battered Pastors with Weary Souls

Posted on May 20, 2017 by Tara Barthel

Rev. Dr. Alfred Poirier’s doctoral dissertation at Westminster Seminary was overseen by Rev. Dr. David Powlison and published by Baker as The Peacemaking Pastor. In it, Pastor Poirier speaks candidly about his exhaustion and frustration related to ongoing struggles with conflict … Continue reading →

Posted in Conflicts involving church leaders, Conflicts with our youth pastor, HOPE in the midst of conflict, RedeemingLINKS | Leave a comment

What do pastors in conflicted churches need the most?

Posted on May 15, 2017 by David V. Edling

Q. When pastors in conflicted churches call you, what do they need the most? Is there a certain piece of advice or Scripture passage that you always end up giving them? A. A pastor tensely (and loudly) said, “You just don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical peacemaking in the church, HOPE in the midst of conflict | 2 Comments

When Change Seems Unlikely in Church Conflicts

Posted on May 10, 2017 by David V. Edling

Tara has suggested to me that we present a short series of stories of hope—positive experiences we have had when working with churches in conflict. The aim of such a series, of course, would be to reveal God’s faithfulness to … Continue reading →

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Leader Conflicts: Opportunities to Model Holiness

Posted on May 5, 2017 by David V. Edling

Q. My question is about conflicts between leaders. For example: (1) Some of the elders want to use a different English translation of the Bible in worship than what we have been using and others don’t; (2) Some of the … Continue reading →

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When Friends Talk About Us Behind Our Backs

Posted on May 5, 2017 by Tara Barthel

(A re-post from Easter 2014) It is always such a shock to discover friends (real friends!) are talking about us (critically) behind our backs. Sometimes, their motivations really are loving and God-honoring—they are seeking counsel, prayer, and encouragement for how to face a … Continue reading →

Posted in Authentic Relationships in the Church, Biblical peacemaking in the church | Leave a comment