When conflict arises in a congregation, the next step is to ask what should be done. Do the leaders have to meet? Change of policy? Start a new program? My Doctor of Ministry work taught me to ask one step before that. Those questions may matter, but what does God’s Word say about how Christ calls His people to live together?
In formulating a preaching and teaching strategy for congregational renewal, I first turned to the letters of Paul. Three themes emerged: the oneness God gives the Church, the call to seek peace, and the humility that puts others first. They are not quick fixes. They are a scriptural foundation for the difficult, hopeful work of renewal.
Unity is a gift, not a task
In Ephesians 4:1-6, Paul exhorts believers to walk in humility, gentleness, patience, and love and to be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. He grounds that call in what God has already provided: one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.
That order counts. The Church’s unity doesn’t come from agreeing on every decision or from avoiding every hard conversation. Our unity starts with God’s work in Christ. We are of the same Lord and called by the same Spirit.
That doesn’t make conflict painless. It provides us with a place to stand against it. When trust is broken or when people have drifted apart, we can remember that our common life is held together by Christ. We can ask the Spirit to help us to speak truth, to listen patiently, and to seek the good of the whole body.
Peace is needed for faithful effort
In Romans 12:17-21, Paul calls believers to reject vengeance and pursue peace. He writes that we ought to live at peace with all men, so far as it depends on us.
Those words are both reassuring and demanding. They remind us that we are responsible for our own actions, even if we cannot control how another person reacts. The road to peace is not pretending that no one has been hurt. Leaders don’t have to tolerate destructive behavior or leave people unprotected. It means we should not be responding out of retaliation, bitterness, or trying to win at someone else’s expense.
Sometimes peace begins with a direct conversation. Great leaders sometimes need help. Sometimes a congregation needs clear boundaries and a fair process. Paul calls us to do whatever is necessary with the reflection of mercy we have received from Christ.
Humility allows room for one another
In Philippians 2:1-4, Paul calls the Church away from selfish ambition and conceit and toward the interests of others. Then he points to Christ, whose humility and self-giving mold the life of the Christian community.
This teaching pertains to all aspects of congregational life. It calls pastors to listen and take a look at their own leadership. It asks council members to consider how their decisions serve the entire congregation. It calls each member to think of the impact of their words and deeds on the body of Christ.
Humble is not weak. It does not invite people to deny their experience or to silence harm. It calls each of us to come to conflict with a willingness to be corrected, to listen to another person, and to seek what is in the service of Christ’s Church rather than only our preference.
All of this is hard work. I realize that it is hard because renewal asks more of us than changing a structure or adopting a plan. It calls us to bring our own hearts to God. We need the Spirit to show us where we have been part of the division, where we need to repent, and where we need to be bold and speak truthfully.
Scripture leads us back to Christ
These verses are not simply leadership principles. They witness to the life that Christ gives to his Church. Jesus comes to us in our sin, forgives us, and calls us to a new life of service. We don’t pursue unity, peace, and humility to earn God’s favor. We pursue them because God has pursued us first with mercy.
When a congregation is hurting, leaders might read these passages together and ask: What is God telling us? Where do we need to do penance? What does it mean to be faithful to the pursuit of peace? What interests have we failed to address? These questions will not be answered on the spot but can help a congregation get its work underway in prayer and in the light of God’s Word.
This is the second post in a series following the progress of my DMin project. First we named the problem of conflict. Now we have examined the biblical basis for renewal. The next step is to look closely at the life and patterns of a congregation.
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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.