Conflict Management for Ministry Workers

Conflict is part of our lives in this broken world – and the church is not immune! Conflict within our church families can deeply disappoint, deplete and disorient us.

The purpose of this unit is to enable Christian leaders to develop insight into the dynamics of conflict within church communities and to acquire skills in prevention, management and the recovery from conflicted situations.

By the completion of the unit, participants should be able to:

1.  Articulate a significant level of insight into the dynamics of conflict within church communities based on a range of theories of organisational conflict.

2. Reflect on their own conflict management style and the strengths and weaknesses of differing approaches to conflicted situations.

3. Discern different levels of church conflict and demonstrate an understanding of the principle strategies for response at each level.

4. Demonstrate understanding of the facilitation skills required in interpersonal reconciliation, mediation, negotiation and arbitration within conflicted church situations.

5. Discuss the personal, interpersonal, spiritual and organisational resources that enable Christian leaders to provide the presence and guidance necessary to transform church conflict.