Promise and Peril: Understanding and Managing Change and Conflict in Congregations

by David Brubaker

Congregations cannot exist without finances, priorities, leadership, worship, and decision making, yet these five aspects breed the most conflict between church members and clergy. These conflicts unfortunately tend to bring about the most negative drops in giving, resignation of leaders, and, perhaps most pointedly, loss of members. The importance of congregations and their effect on our lives is clear, yet what is less clear is what makes conflicts in faith communities inevitable. In Promise and Understanding and Managing Change and Conflict in Congregations, David Brubaker brings the tools of organizational theory and research to the task of understanding the deeper dynamics of congregational conflict. With a doctorate in sociology and more than twenty years working with congregational conflicts, Brubaker helps to explore the causes and effects of conflicts on a wide range of congregations. This book will help congregations avoid the pitfalls of conflict and instead head toward a healthy relationship between and among church staff and members.

192 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 2009

Reviews

[Allen Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brubaker provides enough information and insight to help a church begin the change process, if it wants to.

[Titus Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not like this book at all...