Ian Corlett, is a well known Churches of Christ minister in Australia. Ian has had significant ministries in Melbourne and Adelaide. Amongst many ministries, he pioneered the Kensington Christian Network in Melbourne and was for a number of years, chaplain to the Western Bulldogs Football Club. He tells of a time when he was part of an international Christian conference in Asia. Ian roomed with a young Indian pastor. One day during the conference, the Indian pastor told Ian how excited he was about his up coming marriage. Ian asked a few questions about the bride to be and it soon became evident that the young fellow had not yet even met the woman to whom he was betrothed. It was an arranged marriage. With as much cultural sensitivity as possible, Ian eventually asked him how did they know if they loved each other. The Indian pastor’s response: ‘We will learn to love each other.’

The Church, whether we like it or not, is like an arranged marriage! We don’t determine who is or is not part of the Church, God does. We won’t get on with everyone. Well, so what! The fact is, when we give our lives to Jesus, suddenly we actually don’t have any choice in the matter, for we are called to learn to love even those we don’t get on with. Leaders of God’s Church, especially, have to demonstrate that they are learning to love each other in the team context and work together for a common vision. This is not easy, but we have no choice, because we follow Jesus. If we cannot work as a team, if we cannot learn to love each other as a leadership team or group of Elders or Deacons or Church Board, then certainly the churches we lead will also not be united.

Remember Jesus. The Apostle Paul remembered Jesus when he encountered divisions in the Church in Corinth. Paul reminds the Church that Jesus Christ died for us so that we will act differently to each other; so that we will learn to love each other. We have no choice as Christians, especially as leaders, who are called by God; we are people called to be reconcilers who learn to appreciate and work with others who we may have very little in common. This concept of leadership is very different from some contemporary popular leadership styles in Churches that emulate corporate business practice.

Teamship is always based upon relationship. Relationship involves trust. It takes time to trust and it takes some working at. Marriages, whether arranged or not, require loving relationship. It takes time and effort to build relationship. Conflict is not necessarily bad. But conflict can be managed badly. Bad management of conflict is to avoid it or blame others for it or to inflame it. Good management of conflict is to see it as an opportunity to learn about our differences and offer reconciliation and forgiveness in Christ. Conflict is sometimes God’s way of drawing us closer together, helping us to recognise that we are all part of the problem. Good management of conflict is to become aware that we can all become part of the solution by co-operation and learning to value difference.

Blessings,

KIM THODAY

HEWETT COMMUNITY CHURCH OF CHRIST, SOUTH AUSTRALIA.