Week #6 Church Conflict Story

Tuesday February 24, 2009
By Nick Smith

Last Friday I asked Bob Woods to tell me a story of conflict that he has had to deal with directly in the church. His story started out like I would guess many churches conflict stories to start. The conflict in his story arose from adding a contemporary service the regular Sunday morning worship. The people who objected the contemporary service did so because they thought it was against the “proper” way to worship. Bob told me that their objections were based largely on a misunderstanding. Apparently, a worship group from Willow Creek had been there a few months previous with, “speakers stacked to the ceiling that shock the stained glass windows.” Those opposed had envisioned this type of thing happening every week and it did not settle well.
Other objectors thought that this contemporary worship would change the nature of the church, making it less sacred and more secular. Others thought that the church was doing well as is so there was no real reason to change it.
Bob said the good thing about this decision was that the elders unanimously supported the idea of adding a contemporary service. So during one of the elders meetings, they discussed the foreseen conflict. They decided it would be best to set a date on which the contemporary service would start, and that would be the end of it. They also decided they would reason with those who opposed in truth and love. They also wanted to make it clear to those who opposed that they were doing this because it was a form of outreach and needed to fulfill the great commission.
The good thing about adding the service was that some who originally were opposed saw the good in it and accepted it. A lot who were opposed just go to the traditional service and Bob said about two families (ten people) left the church over it.
Bob told me that a pastor should always anticipate conflict and to work it out in truth and love. He told me to admit it when I was wrong and go from there. The people need to know that you have the church in your best interest and you just have to do what you think is right.