This Week in Mission – Sept 27 08

 

Friends,

 

I’m afraid that the fatigue and pressures of travel have put me behind in updating you about my mission travels. Recently I led a seminar on overcoming conflict for the newly merging Indiana Conferences of the UMS. I thought you would be interested in the provocative questions clergy and staff leaders brought to the seminar from Fort Wayne.

 

The reality is that many established church leaders are extraordinarily stressed. Sure, we can comment that emerging, independent church leaders are gathering momentum for church growth. But does that mean that established church leader should give up? I think not. We need to stop “being nice” and step up to “being missional”.

 

So here are their urgent questions. Perhaps these will be provocative for you. Perhaps you wonder. What were my answers?

 

Tom Bandy

Currently Indianapolis

 

How do people who dislike confrontation deal with conflict?

                (Conflict Avoidance patterns)

 

How can we lead change without alienating people?

                (Veterans vs. newcomers, olders vs youngers)

 

How do you change a church with a long history of control or conflict?

                (Overcoming controllers, fighting with shadows)

 

How do you build accountability?

                (Acquiring and firing volunteers)

 

How do we lower stress in congregational transition?

                (Move beyond personal preferences)

 

How do deal with special situations:

(Staff conflict, external community conflict, conflicting churches)?

 

How do I take care of myself?

                (Maintaining integrity, spiritual strength, and emotional stability)?

 

What is the right timing for intervention?

                (Healthy and unhealthy conflict, taking sides as a pastor)

 

Do I ever give up hope?

                (Taking conflict personally, controllers and money, moving on)

 

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