Title: The Challenge of Leadership Conflict in the Church
Authors: Brown Michael Umunakwe and Michael, Nwulu Nwoko
Volume: 9
Issue: 1
Pages: 109-114
Publication Date: 2025/01/28
Abstract:
Leadership conflict is a pervasive issue affecting churches worldwide, with far-reaching consequences on members, mission, and witness. This paper examines the underlying causes of leadership conflict in the church, including power struggles, lack of succession planning, leadership incompetence, love of money, personality clashes, sin issues, and doctrinal differences. Poor communication, lack of prayer, and unrealistic expectations are also explored. This paper provides a nuanced understanding of the complex issues surrounding leadership conflict. By examining the root causes, church leaders and members can gain insights into preventing, managing, and resolving conflicts in a biblical manner. To address these challenges, this paper recommends four strategies. Churches should establish clear succession plans, foster a culture of prayer and accountability, promote effective communication and conflict resolution, and prioritize leadership development, training, and mentoring. By implementing these strategies, churches can prevent and manage leadership conflicts, promoting unity, love, and effectiveness. This paper contributes to the development of healthy, conflict-free churches that fulfill their divine mandate.