6 things that can cause division in church or ministry

© Helen Calder David McCracken Ministries www.EnlivenBlog.com

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6ThingsThatCanCauseDivisioninChurchLeadershipTeams—EspeciallyDuringTimesofTransition

ByHelenCalder‘Forgettheformerthings;donotdwellonthepast.See,Iamdoinganewthing!Nowitspringsup;doyounotperceiveit?’(Isaiah43:18-19a)ChangeisthesignatureoftheHolySpirit,forourGodistheGodof‘newthings.’Growthandchangeinevitablygohandinhand.However,whentransitionistakingplaceinchurchorministrylife,uniquechallengesandpressuresoccurinaleadershipteam.Duringthesetimes,itisvitaltoguardagainstdivision.Followingare6thingsthatcanimpacttheunityofaleadershipteamduringtimesoftransitionorfast-pacedchange.

1.DiscouragementChangeinvariablycomeswithapricetag.Rolesareadjusted,andresponsibilitiesareaddedorremoved.Teammembersmaymovedepartmentsorlocations.Thesethingsinturnimpactpersonalrelationships.Asignificantchangeinanindividual’sareaofministry

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responsibilitymeansthatheorshehastoadjustpersonalgoalsanddreamsaccordingly.Someparticularwaysthatdiscouragementcanariseduringtransitioninclude:

• Disappointmentwhenachangeisnotimplementedaccordingtoapersonalpreference(orapreconceivedideaofhowGodisgoingtodosomething)“Hopedeferredmakestheheartsick”(Prov13:12)

• Hurtsarisingthroughdecisionsandactionstaken,orwordsspokenduringtransition(oftenunintended)

• Grievingthatnaturallyoccurs—changerequireslettinggoofthepast

• Realorperceivedmistakesthatoccurduringtimesoftransition• Thenaturalturbulenceoffast-pacedchange

Discouragementcanbedamagingifitisleftunattended.Individualsmaythenspeakoutofthatplaceofdiscouragementtootherteammembers—directlyaffectingtheunityofthegroup.‘Outoftheabundanceoftheheart,themouthspeaks.’(Luke6:45b)However,discouragementmayalsobehelpful:itcanbelikeanorangeflashinglight,indicatingthatthereissomethinginourlivesandourteamthatneedsattendingto.Beforeandduringtransition,beawareofthepotentialfordiscouragementpersonally,aswellasforthoseyoulead.Provideclearteachingonhowtodealwithdiscouragement.Provideasafeplaceforteammemberstoprocessdiscouragementthatiscausedbychange,directlywithleadership.Intimesofextremechange,additionalcaremaybeneeded.Pastoralcareneedstobebalancedwithcallingforththebestresponsefrompeople.


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2.CharacterIssues‘Consideritpurejoy,mybrothersandsisters,wheneveryoufacetrialsofmanykinds,becauseyouknowthatthetestingofyourfaithproducesperseverance.’(James1:3)Transitionbringsincreasedpressuretoateam.Consequently,itistheperfectcharacter-buildingopportunity.Undersustainedpressure,whateverisdeepinsideanindividualwillspillout.Truecharactershowsupinextremesituations—whenapersonhaslosthisorherabilitytowearamask.Thebenefitofcharacter-testingcircumstancesisthatweaknessesarebroughtintothelight,wheretheycanbeaddressed.Thismayalsohelpleadersseewhereteammembersarebestsuited(orunsuited)intimesahead.However,adangerofcharacterweaknessessurfacingisthattherecanbefallout.Surroundingteammemberscanbecomeaffected,hurtordisillusioned,potentiallydamagingthestrengthoftheleadershipteam.Beawareinadvanceofthepotentialforthepressuresoftransitiontobringcharacterweaknessestothesurface.Teachoncharacter,itsimportanceasaleaderanditsdevelopmentduringtimesoftransition.Encourageindividualsconcerningthebenefitsofdealingwithissuesastheycometothesurface.Donotminimiseorexcusebehaviourthatisrevealingacharacterweakness,especiallywhenitimpactsthehealthandunityoftheteam.

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3.ResistancetoChangeEverypersonhasadifferentthresholdofcomfortwhenitcomestochange.Thisisdeterminedbymanythings,includingpersonality,wiring,andgifts,alongwithpastexperiences.Consequently,inateamtherewillbesomememberswhothriveonleadership-ledchange,andotherswhofindituncomfortable.Afewmaytakelongertotakeownershipofatransition.However,oncetheydo,theywillbeloyalsupportersofthechange.Itishealthytoquestionchange,andnaturaltoneedameansofprocessingit.Thisismoreimportantforsometeammembersthanforothers.Thedangerlieswhereateammemberchoosestomaintainanattitudeofongoingresistancetoachangethatisbeingimplemented.Shouldthistakeplace,twovisionsarenowatworkwithintheteam—theleadership-ledvisionforchange,andoneteammember’svisionfor‘unchange’(thestatusquo).Ifothersonteamhavedefiniteopinionsaboutalternativewaysthetransitionshouldtakeplace,afracturingofvisioncanoccur.Leadteammembersthroughaprocessthatenablesthemtotakeownershipofthechanges.Theyespeciallyneedtofeelasthoughtheyhavebeenheardandlistenedto.Definethecompellingpurposeforthechangeandexpressitwellandoften.Recognisethatsometeammembersneedtimetoadjust—butbefirmaboutwhatisexpectedofthemintermsofhonouringleadershipandmaintainingunitythroughoutthechange,bothbetweenteammembersandinfrontofoutsiders.Questionsorstruggleswithtransitionshouldbeaddresseddirectlywiththeleader(s)inoversight.Provideteachingonthechallengesofchangetoteamunity,howchangecanimpactindividualsandtheGodlyresponsetochange.


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4.DifferencesinPropheticVisionDuringtransition,achurchorministryleader(orgoverningleadership)isdirectingchanges.Atthesametime,thosewithinateammayhavetheirownpersonalpropheticdreamfromGod.TheymayhaveabeliefconcerningthewaytheircurrentandfutureroleontheteamfitswithinGod’sgreatercallontheirlives.Teammemberswhoareleadersthemselves,mayalsohaveaconvictionaboutwhatGodintendsfortheirparticularministryarea.Consequently,whenapastororleadershipteammakeschangesthatsuddenlyshiftthehorizonofwheretheybelievedGodwasleadingthem,theirperspectiveischallenged.Thiscanbedisorientingforatime.Onthepositiveside,transitionisanopportunityforteammemberstoputtheirtrustinGod’sfaithfulness.GodissovereignandwellabletofulfilthedreamsHehasputontheirhearts,inHistime.Challengescanarise,however,whenindividualshavedifficultyreleasingtheirownpreconceivedideaofwhatGodintendsfortheirpersonalroleorministry.Thiscanbefurthercomplicatedwherethereisanunhealthy,or‘OldTestament’viewofprophecyandpropheticguidance.

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AnexampleofthisiswhenanindividualbelievesthatheorshehastherighttoreceivedirectionfromGodindependentlyofauthorityandleadership.Suchindividualsmaychallengealeadership-ledvisionby‘playingtheGodcard,’forexample:“Pastor,youaredoingthis,butGodhastoldme/usotherwise,thereforeyouareoutsideofthewillofGod.”Healthypropheticguidanceneedstobemodelledfromthetopdown.ThismeansthatthoseleadingchangedemonstratetheirownaccountabilityandduediligenceinrespondingtoGod’svoice.Inadditiontothis,teammembersbenefitfrombeingtaughtNewTestamentprinciplesofprophecy,guidanceandhearingGod’svoice,includingtheimportanceofaccountabilityandhonouringleadership.

5.InsecurityfromanOrphanMindsetThe‘orphanspirit’or‘orphanmindset’referstoaspiritualconditioninwhichaChristianprofessesoutwardlytoknowGodasFather,buthasadeep,internalcontradictiontothatbelief.Anorphanspiritcanbeduetounhealedhurtsfrompainfulpastexperiences—especiallywithauthorityfigures.Anorphanspiritcangoundetected,untilcircumstances,suchasfast-pacedchange,causetheindividual’sinsecuritytosurface.Somewaysthatan‘orphanspirit’canmanifestinteammembersinclude:

• Fearandinsecurity,mistrust

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• Beingprotectiveorterritorialabouttheirministryareas• Competingandneedingtostandout(attentionseeking)• Lackingpersonalconfidence,thereforeaneedtoprovetheir

worth(performance-orientation)• Isolationorindependence,withdrawal

Thosewithan‘orphanmindset’feeluncoveredandunprotected—thereforetheirinstinctistoprotectthemselvesandtheirpositionwhenchangeistakingplace.Thespiritualorphanisunsureofhisorherplaceinthefamily.Incontrast,sonsanddaughtersaresecureintheFather’sloveandassuredofHispurposebeingfulfilledintheirlives.Onthepositiveside,anorphanmindsetbecomingapparentprovidesanopportunityforthepainthatisrevealed,tobehealed.Leftunattended,however,anorphanmindsetcancausedamagetoateam.Beawarethattransitionandchangewillcauseanyunhealedrejectionortheinsecurityofanorphanmindsettosurface.ProvideteachingormaterialsontheFatherhoodofGod.Provideopportunitiesforteammemberstoreceiveministrybeforeandduringtimesoftransition.Realisethatteammembersneedadditionalassuranceandaffirmationduringtransition.

6SpiritualWarfareGodmovesthroughchangetobringgrowthandadvancementtoachurchorministry.Theenemyseekstoopposeandpreventthatfromsuccessfullytakingplace.Asaresult,duringtimesoftransition,achurch,leadershiporministrycanbeaprimetargetforspiritualwarfare.AnexampleofthiscanbeseeninthebookofNehemiah.NehemiahwasleadingtheinhabitantsofJudahtobuildthewallsofJerusalem.Throughouttheentireproject,theenemiesofJudahwereseekingtodistractorintimidateNehemiahandtohinderthework.


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Weneedtobeaware,likeNehemiahwas,ofhowtheenemyisatworktodistractourteamfromworkingandpullingtogether.‘…inorderthatSatanmightnotoutwitus.Forwearenotunawareofhisschemes.’(2Cor2:11)Whenspiritualwarfareiscomingataministryfromtheoutside,itcanberelativelyeasytodetectandcounterit.Sometimes,however,themostpotentspiritualwarfareisinternal,workingwithinateam.Theenemyworksbyseekingweaknessesinagrouporindividuals—commonlyinanyoftheabove5areas—andtakesadvantageofthesetoweakenordividetheteam.‘Donotletthesungodownwhileyouarestillangry,anddonotgivethedevilafoothold.’(Eph4:26-27)Itisvitalthathurtsandoffencesbeaddressedimmediatelytheyarerecognised,andnotallowedtolodge.Thosewhooperateoutofadivisivespirit(suchasaJezebelicspirit)areoftenthosewhohaveunhealedhurtsorunfulfilledexpectationsfromthepast(orpresent)thathavenotbeendealtwith.Thebestwaytodealwithspiritualwarfareatworkwithinateamistopreventitattheoutset.Developacultureofhonour.Fosterunityandprotecttheteamineachoftheabove5areas.Forewarnedisforearmed,soifteammembersknowinadvanceofthewaysthatdemonicattackcanoccurduringasignificanttimeoftransitioninchurchlife,theycanbepreparedtostandguard,supportingeachotherandleadership.Dealwithhurtsandoffensesinanupfront,healthyway.Maintaintheteam’sworshipand

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prayerlifeanddon’tallowthebusynessofchangetoweakenthequalityofthespirituallifeofeitherindividualsortheteamasawhole.

AboutHelenCalder

Asapropheticteacherandpreacher,Helen’spassionistobeacatalyst,bringingthe‘NOW’wordofGodtoimparttimelyencouragementandbreakthroughtochurchesandindividuals.

Helenalsohasauniquegiftofequippingintheareaofpropheticministryandprayer,withagrounded,Biblicalfocusthatsupportsthelocalchurchanditsleadership.

HelenistheauthorofEnlivenBlog,anonlineprophetictrainingandmentoringresourcethatisnowreachingthousandsofpeopleglobally.ShehasalsoauthoredagrowingnumberofeBooksthatareavailablefromtheDavidMcCrackenMinistriesonlinestore.

Aboutthebook,‘PropheticPeopleinaChangingChurch’Witha‘trueconfessions’approachanddisarminghonesty,HelenCaldersharesherexperiencesofgrapplingwithchangeasapropheticpersoninthechurchtoday.New2ndeditionwithForewordandchapterforpastorsandseniorleadersbyDavidMcCrackenIn‘PropheticPeopleinaChangingChurch’youcan:

• Receivehelpfulinsightsintotheuseofpropheticgiftsandintercessioninthecurrentchurchenvironment.

• Navigatetheupsanddownsofchangeoccurringinthelifeofyourchurch


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• Learnhowtoescapethebattlesofthemindandheartthatdiscouragementinchurchlifecanbring

• Experiencehelpandrestorationinyourrelationshipwithyourchurchleaders

• Discoverthecausesofdivisioninthechurchandhowtoavoidthem

‘PropheticPeopleinaChangingChurch’isthebookthatlaunchedtheministryofEnlivenBlog.Today,thousandsofpeoplearoundtheworldarereceivingregularprophetictrainingmaterialsthroughouronlineministry.Visitouronlinestoreheretoview‘PropheticPeopleinaChangingChurch:http://www.enlivenpublishing.com/blog/estore/

FeedbackfromPastorsandleadersabout‘PropheticPeopleinaChangingChurch.’‘ThevalueofthisbookliesinitsfrankandhonestappraisalofthefrequentlydemonstratedinabilitytodealwithchangeintheChurchwithoutbeingoverwhelmedbydiscouragement,division,pride,despairandbondage.Wearealltaintedbyatendencytoresponddefensivelytoanythingthatthreatensoursenseofsecurity.Helenhelpsustounderstandthatthekeyinsuccessfullynegotiatingsuchtimesisbeingabletoidentifyhowweareresponding,andifthatresponseisobstructiveanddestructive,howtochange.Sheillustratesthispowerfullybywritingoutofherownexperience.ThisisavitallyimportantbooknotonlyforpropheticpeoplebutforeveryonewholovesJesusandHisChurch.’PsGraemeCann,ChurchofChrist,Melbourne,Australia‘…myfirstthoughtwasthateverypastorshouldhaveacopyofthisontheirshelf.Thereasonsimplybeing,thattheseareissuesthatpastorsingrowingchurchesarefacingcontinually.


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Helen’sstoryisatremendousbackdropforthetruthsthatscripturepresentsontheseissues,makingitnotjustatheoreticalwork,butaninvitingandsoberingteachingandencouragement.Itgivesusclearunderstandingofhowwecanmoveforward,whilstsafeguardingourselvesfromerroranddeception.’PsArthurCherrie,TheWinepress‘Thedifficultyofprocessingchangeinchurchlifeandthe'fallout'inwoundedpeopledoeshaveaparticularapplicationto'prophetic'people,butitalsohasamuchwiderapplication...themessageofthisbookneedstobeheardbytheentireBodyofChrist.…Thetellingofyourownjourneytogetherwiththeinsightsgainedverypowerfullyaddressestheissuesofresponsestochange,followingleaders,submissiontoauthority,etc.’KevinForlong,KevinForlongMinistriesOtherresponsesfrompastors:‘Yourwillingnesstotellastoryagainstyourselfisnotonlycourageousbutalsomoreimportant.Itmakesthebookmuchmorepowerful,acceptableandinteresting.Note:OurChurchwasrecentlyalmostdestroyedbyconflict;lost90%ofitsmembership.Iwouldliketouseyourbookasaleadershipstudy.’‘Yourportionofthebookonauthorityisverygood,solidandusesalotofscriptures.Ithinkthatyouhavesatisfiedtheneedtodayofansweringspecificquestions,withpracticalanswersthatarewise,andbiblicallysound.’‘SisterHelen,Ihopeyou'llrememberme,ItranslatedintoSpanishyourbook‘PropheticPeopleInAChangingChurch’…WhenItranslatedyourbook,mychurchwasgoingtodivision,butthanksGod,Heusedyourbooktostopit.Onlytwofamiliesleft,andtheystartedanotherchurch.Butourchurchwaskepttogether,andinpeace.’‘Youcanspeakwithauthoritybecauseofpersonalexperience.Ithinkit’sveryhelpfultopeopleinthechurchthesedays.’

6 things that can cause division in church or ministry

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