When a congregation is hurting, people often ask, “What can we do to fix this?” That’s a good question. Church leaders and pastors want to help. They want worship to be life-giving, relationships to be healed, and the church’s mission to advance.
But renewal is not something we can manufacture by finding the right program or trying a quick fix. This is Christ’s church. Renewal begins with the Holy Spirit, who uses God’s Word to reveal what is hurting, call us to repentance, comfort the wounded, and lead us back into the freedom of the Gospel.
In my Doctor of Ministry work at the Institute of Lutheran Theology, I studied how preaching and teaching might serve a congregation in conflict. I went into that work hoping to find a faithful way forward. What I learned is that the first step is not always to act quickly. Sometimes we need to be still before God, pray for wisdom, and tell the truth about what is happening.
The Spirit helps us face reality
Conflict does not mean that the Holy Spirit has left a congregation. Every church consists of people who need God’s mercy every day. We misunderstand one another. We bear old wounds. We become anxious, defensive, and afraid of change.
The Spirit does not ask us to pretend those things are harmless. The Spirit reveals the truth, where Christ can meet us. That truth may be hard to hear. We might need to admit that trust has been eroded, that a pattern of behavior is hurting people, or that leaders have not listened as well as they could have.
That kind of honesty is not an accusation. It is part of the healing process. A congregation can begin with prayerful questions: What keeps happening? Who is getting hurt? What have we not said? What do we need in order to move forward faithfully?
We do not have to decide that one person is the whole problem when we ask these questions. We can talk about what we have seen, listen carefully, and ask the Holy Spirit for courage and gentleness.
We are not enemies to each other
Paul says our struggle is “not against flesh and blood” (Ephesians 6:12 NIV). I know how important that reminder is when a church is divided. That does not mean we should ignore hurtful actions or that boundaries are unnecessary. It means we have to be careful about making a brother or sister an enemy.
The Spirit guides us not only into truth but also into love. Paul exhorts the Church to walk in humility, gentleness, patience, and love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:1-6). These words are not a plea to be silent about harm. They encourage us to speak and act as people who belong to Christ.
This work needs prayer. It requires listening. Support may need to come from trusted leaders outside the congregation. Asking for help does not mean a lack of faith. Sometimes the Spirit’s care comes through wise and experienced people who can help a church see its patterns more clearly.
Renewal takes time, and leaders need grace too
My doctoral project taught me that church renewal seldom follows a neat schedule. A congregation may make great strides and then encounter another problem. A plan may need to change. Leaders may discover where they need to grow, apologize, and begin again.
That can be humbling. Pastors are not perfect. Councils and congregations are not perfect. We all need the forgiveness Christ offers. The good news is that the Holy Spirit does not wait for us to be perfect before calling us to serve. The Spirit gives faith, courage, patience, and strength for the next faithful step.
Renewal is more than simply restoring tranquility. It is about being drawn again to Christ and freed for the work he gives the Church. Romans 12:17-21 exhorts Christians to avoid revenge and seek peace as much as possible. It is hard work, but we do not do it alone. The Spirit of God is here, feeding us through the Word and leading us to the mercy of Jesus.
When congregations are in conflict, the work might begin here: Pray honestly. Listen carefully. Name what is happening. Seek wise counsel. Then come back together to God’s promises. The Holy Spirit can use painful seasons to call a church to repentance, heal relationships, and renew its witness.
This is the first in a series of articles following the journey of my DMin project, from the initial recognition of the challenge of conflict through biblical foundations, congregational discovery, preaching and teaching, and lessons learned.
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Rev. Dr. Richard L. Blue, Jr., is a Lutheran pastor and spiritual director. His ministry includes congregational leadership, pastoral care, and theological education. Connect with him at richardb@churchdoctor.org.