2nd Verse of "Church Conflict"

Not too long ago, I remarked on the conflict that struck New York's Riverside Church and resulted in the resignation of its newly installed minister. Now, stories are emerging about conflict at Coral Ridge Presbyterian with its newly called minister.

The link to the full story is: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/fort-lauderdale/sfl-coral-ridge-081009,0,1694944.story. The details are quite familiar to anyone who has ever made a study of such conflict.

The lead to the article sums up the story: Internal divisions at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church burst into the open this past weekend as six members were ordered to stay off the premises.

The six have called for the ouster of the Rev. W. Tullian Tchividjian, saying he is deserting the heritage of his revered predecessor, the Rev D. James Kennedy. In reply, the Fort Lauderdale church has accused them of spreading rumors and disrupting church unity. Among the six is Kennedy's daughter, Jennifer Kennedy Cassidy.

Stresses are common whenever a longtime pastor is replaced, observers say. But with a huge, successful church with long-entrenched traditions - and a new pastor nearly two generations younger - the effects are heightened.

The conclsion to the article is on target: To George B. Thompson Jr., of Atlanta, a specialist in church merger problems, the Coral Ridge ills are cultural. "We in society don't understand the complexity of organizations, religious or secular. People like Tchividjian could be doing what they think is right - even what they thought they were asked to do - and it still blows up."

Riverside and Coral Ridge are at two ends of the spectrum theologically. Riverside long known for its liberal ministers and liberal stances. Coral Ridge reached national prominence under D. James Kennedy as a politically and theologically conservative church. Yet, the storyline for each in this current controversy is remarkably the same - a new minister doing things differently than his predecessor sparks outrage among a small group of parishioners who then conspire to 'boot him out.' According to some statistics, 25% of all ministers will be forced to resign or retire. In the vast majority of cases, this effort is orchestrated by a small group of people in the church. Further, when a church does it once, it frequently does it more than once.

This revolving door for ministers is one of the tragedies of the contemporary Christian church in America. The most effective ministry by a pastor usually comes after she or he has been in a church for 10+ years. So, the church cuts off its nose to spite its face. The disruption in ministry that occurs when the church has to undertake a new search process has long-lasting effects on the life of the church.

Perhaps, someday, we will learn better. Till then, groups like Ministering To Ministers provides emergency care for the ousted pastor and family.