"Conflict is the confrontation between differing expectations,
purposes, goals, values, or desires; and/or the competition for limited
resources."

Though often unwelcome, conflict is a part of ministry. Sometimes
it’s good. Other times it’s destructive. Several scales have been
developed to measure the relative severity and destructiveness of
conflict. The two most notable are Lederach’s "Seven Point
Scale" and Speed Lea’s "Five Levels Of Conflict." Of
these, Leas’ classification appears to be the most familiar and commonly
used in church circles.

Levels Of Conflict

Speed Leas of the Alban Institute has identified five levels of
conflict in order of ascending complexity, difficulty, and intensity.
They are:
I. Problem to solve: Goal – Collaborate mutually
beneficial solution
II. Disagreement: Goal – Problem solving (more
public arena)
III. Contest: Goal – To win
IV. Fight/Flight: Goal
– Hurt the opposition
V. Intractable Situations: Goal – Annihilate
the opposition
Level IV: Not Just More Of The Same

Speed Leas indicates that though the differences between Level I and
Level III conflict is one of degrees, Level IV and VI conflict differ in
essential ways. Level IV is not just more of Level III. It is a totally
different type of conflict. Whereas reconciliation was the implied goal
of Levels I-III, at Level IV-V the transformation of conflict is such
that it seeks to hurt and destroy the opposition.

Conflict consultants such as Leas initially had difficulty finding
materials describing Level IV and V conflict. After looking everywhere
in church, business and mediation materials, Speed Leas noted that the
only manuals which accurately described Levels IV and V conflict were
military manuals.

What Happens At Level IV

1. Christian Values Run Roughshod. As Vice-President Kostizen noted
in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod’s "Circuit Counselor
Manual" "the higher the conflict, the lower the value level
people are operating on." Pastors experiencing Level IV conflict
will simply be in awe at the wanton sinful rebellion. In such an
environment it may be difficult to keep oneself from succumbing to the
pressure.

For more information, consult his excellent summary of how to
minister to churches in conflict in his chapter, "Circuit Counselor
in Conflict Ministry."

2. Severe Character Testing. You may think you’re an excellent
pastor. But Level IV conflict will test it and see whether it’s reality
or fantasy. The testing corresponds to the intensity of the level of
conflict and is akin to Peter’s experience of satanic
"sifting" when he denied Jesus. Numerous Ministry Health
articles deal with this seldom-addressed issue, including such articles
as #127 "Conflict: The Ten Tests Of Character" and numerous
others.

3. Traumatization. No doubt the experience of Level IV is one of the
most excruciating spiritual, emotional and physical experiences you can
endure. As the Ministry Health article 192, "Traumatized!"
describes personal emotions will run the gamut. You will get angry, but
in response to the intense shock you’ll withdraw from members, family,
spouse, denominational officials, everyone.

Level IV conflict, virtually by definition, will require
professional therapy. After all, when all others have apparently
abandoned you, at least you know you can count on the therapist if, for
nothing else, because they’re paid. But competent therapists will be the
necessary inexhaustible listening block who will help point you toward
healing and hope.

4. Discovering The Experience Of The Habitus Practicus. Brothers may
try to encourage you by saying, "You don’t have to crucify
yourself. Jesus already did." The problem with this and other types
of well-intended encouragement is two-fold.

First, once at Level IV, there really is no backing out. Damage
momentum started will continue until it runs out of energy, things to
damage, or people to hurt. The damage cannot be undone. It cannot be
stopped. It is out of your power. It just has to burn out.

You may be tempted to give up, back out under the guise "It’s
better for the church." Not always. Sometimes the greater
irreparable damage occurs when the pastor does back out and give up
instead of remaining steadfast and standing firm in battle.

If the conflict is focused on essential "un-compromisable"
Christian values (which is often the case), it will require God’s
servant to maintain an evangelical but strong stand. One’s best hope is
to look to God’s power to end the conflict and salvage whatever will be
left.

Second, the phrase "you don’t have to crucify yourself"
and others like it ignore and deny one of the essential aspects of
ministerial strength, the habitus practicus. Simply stated, the habitus
practicus is the recognition that suffering is an essential element of
ministry.

The prophets of old preached to prevent the wholesale destruction of
God’s people. As they watched and experienced the destruction and
aftermath, their focus was directed to hope. Ezekiel’s response to God’s
question, "Can these bones live?" was aptly answered,
"Only you know, Lord."

By this experience of seeing God’s miraculous working in an
absolutely hopeless situation, Ezekiel learned something about the
character of ministry, the habitus practicus. For more insights, see
Ministry Health Article #244 "What Ever Happened To ‘Habitus
Practicus’?"

4. Dismantling Of Leadership. When the ship appears to be sinking,
it’s always the captain who goes down with the ship. Aside from a few
faithful, most of the crew will grab a lifejacket and jump. Instant
"promotions" may be the rule of the day. An average member may
instantly become congregational chairman. Trusted and qualified leaders,
always difficult to find in any situation, are even less likely to come
forth under the highly charged Level IV environment.

5. Precipitous Membership Decline. When a congregation experiences
Level IV conflict, at least one-third of the membership will leave.
Included in this group are key leaders, those who have rebelled and no
longer wish to fight, and those who simply don’t want to be involved in
any conflict at all. They will not come back. In most cases, you don’t
want them back. What you really want, as painful as the admission may
be, is a flock of individuals with true Christian character who can hold
up to the stress of trial.

6. Survival Of The Fittest. As members leave, one or two a day for
weeks on end and sometimes in groups, leaders will asked the virtually
unanswerable "Why?" The bottom line reason is that a strong
church requires individuals who can stand in battle. Those who cannot
stay, who leave, rebel, or just can’t take anymore pain, experience the
very real "survival" of the fittest dynamic. However, just
because someone "survived" doesn’t mean they are
"fit." They may need lots of support from the wounds of war
and the "shell shock" of Level IV conflict.

7. Widespread Betrayal And Withdrawal of support by a vast majority
of key influencers in the congregation. Prior to the outbreak of
conflict, there may have been a strong group of influencers to protect
you. At Level IV, these are largely non-existent. This leaves one
feeling hopeless, defenseless and lonely.

8. Extreme Sense Of Powerlessness: At Level IV there is virtually no
means to control the conflict. It is a forest fire gone rampant.
Mediators may give support, but they too must wait out the conflict
until the appropriate time comes. The best analogy for Level IV conflict
is being on a passenger jet. The pilot has died. Fuel is almost empty,
and the auto pilot doesn’t work. Who will take the controls? Will it be
the pastor or will he jump, too? (Cf. Ministry Health Article #11
"Lead Like A Pilot."

9. Major Multiple Staff Resignations. In Level IV conflict pastors
and other staff are seriously considering writing a resignation and
filling out applications for employment elsewhere. The intensity of
Level IV can overwhelm one’s sense of calling. The pain is so great that
the normal response is to "get out." The pain of the ministry
can make even the most resolute, gifted, and successful pastors throw in
the ministry towel to seek secular employment.

10. Leadership Vacuum. One of the reasons Level IV conflict breaks
out is that the essential core leadership base has been disrupted.
Equilibrium can be severely disrupted by a vast shift in the
congregational power center due to resignations, deaths, transfers out
of the area of key, influential, supportive leadership in a very short
period of time. Even if second string leaders are available, the
disrupted equilibrium caused by the massive, rapid shift in
congregational power centers cannot be easily or instantly filled. It
takes times for leaders to develop into influencers and gain
credibility. Level IV conflict thrives on the vacuum created by that lag
time.

11. Marked Drop In Offerings. One of the most obvious marks of Level
IV conflict is the precipitous drop in congregational offerings. The
rate of decline is seldom less than 10-20% of the annual budget per
month. At peak, offerings may decline as much as 80 to 90% of previous
annual budget levels before they "bottom out."

Whether the finances recover is due to a number of factors. The key
here is that Level IV congregational conflict is not characterized by
the loss of a few families and a concomitant drop in congregational
offerings. It is not losing your top five largest givers. Though these
events can be painful, and though the individuals who leave may
individually be at Level IV interpersonal conflict, this is not Level IV
congregational conflict.

12. Denominational Involvement. At Level IV, you must contact the
denominational officials and advise them that everything is breaking out
immediately. When you call, don’t be surprised if they already know.
They just couldn’t ethically intervene without you first coming forward
to seek help.

Since they will know, the question is not whether or not to tell
them. The question is whether they will find out early enough to
intervene or too late to be of any help. If you’re fortunate, they will
immediately support you after your first contact for assistance. If they
don’t respond, keep on trying. Level IV conflict is not something a
pastor can lead by himself and survive.

13. Coping Relationship Blow-out. Many of the relationships which
you enjoyed and relied upon have collapsed. Some have collapsed from
others’ fear of conflict. Others have been convinced by the opposition
of your "guilt." Others may not have the capacity to support
you at this level. Still others may feel uncomfortable as they witness
what may be a frightening "dismantling" of your personality.
You may not be able to support them, either, as you start falling apart.

Whatever the reasons, coping relationships are also severely
threatened in Level IV conflict. Tragically, many of them break
permanently and painfully. For more on coping relationships see Ministry
Health Article 14 "Five Necessary Coping Relationships."

14. Family Support Blow-out. Your family’s capacity to emotionally
support you has dissipated and or metastasized into a raging hatred of
the antagonists, the church, the denomination, and God. When your own
best supporters get out of control, they are no longer able to be
supportive, listening, encouraging and calming.

Family members may have held you up over the years and also during
the gradual, nagging climb up the intensifying conflict. But at Level IV
chances are strong that they, like you, have reached their emotional,
physical and spiritual limit. This has numerous consequences on the
family, the spouse, and the marital relationship.

15. Successive Avalanches Of Chain-Reactive Stress Shifts. Nobody
seems to be themselves, including you. Virtually everyone is caught up
in the emotions. Many cannot understand reality. It’s as if everyone’s
flipped. The truth is that they have…to their stress shift mode. As
Ministry Health Article #81 "Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde"
describes, some resulting stress shifts can be totally opposite of one’s
normal personality.

16. Widespread Communication Failures. At Level IV, active listening
simply doesn’t work with the opposition. Sometimes it doesn’t work with
the support, either. Emotions are so high that people are driven by
self-guided principles. Many of these are irrational. Some are
destructive. You can try to talk with people but often it is of no
visible immediate effect.

Why? Because virtually no one is listening. There are several
reasons why they aren’t listening.

First, it’s part of the Level IV spiritual condition. That’s
specifically what Jesus referred to as the mark of being in the Satan’s
clutch. "He who has ears to hear…" requires a humble,
spiritual condition of the grace-filled, Christ-centered heart.

Second, its a physiological phenomena. Individuals in conflict
experience a blood pressure change which diverts blood flow from their
brain to their muscles. Assumed to be the body’s instinct defense
response to give strength where it is needed in danger to run, fight, et
al, the downside is that the brain is deprived of normal supply of air-
and blood-borne nutrients. The result? They just aren’t thinking, can’t
think, and aren’t poised to think.

17. Predominance of The Irrational. "What ARE they doing?"
"Why are they doing it?" "Don’t they see they are
destroying the church?" "Don’t they see that if they don’t
stop, the church they are fighting for won’t exist?"

At Level IV, things are confused and irrational. Everything appears
driven by out-of-control emotions. Senseless words, accusations, and
actions proliferate throughout the entire organization…or what is left
of it. If one tries to confront it directly, one ends up being attacked,
slandered, or at the short end of some sort of victimization strategy.

Edwin Friedman, in his book From Generation To Generation, described
how family and organizational systems are emotive-driven. At perhaps no
other time is this more obvious than it is in Level IV conflict.

18. Pervasive Lawlessness. Rampant, obvious, and arrogant disregard
for Constitutions, precedent, and established policies. Many
congregations are deceived into the belief that if their constitution is
clear and that if safeguards are set up, they can
"structurally" avoid Level IV conflict by having the right
rules.

The truth is that though these may be effective at Level I-II, at
Level IV, Robert’s Rules, Constitutions, bylaws, policies, and the
Scriptures are all virtually ineffective means to help control the
conflict. Indeed, attempting to apply and enforce these means may
escalate the conflict further.

19. Unrestrained Micro-Enforcement Of Legalism. Everything anybody
on the opposing side does is, de facto, demonic. Since the opposition is
under control of Satan, it is your God-given responsibility to go on a
holy war to investigate, find, enforce, and punish every single form of
evil discovered.

20. The Means Justifies Ends. In a holy war there are no rules. The
only thing that matters is the end result. Those leading antagonistic
efforts in Level IV conflict may reason that since the opposition is so
evil, who cares what happens to them? Who cares what price needs to be
paid to stop them? Who cares if the church falls apart as a result of
the conflict? The most important thing, in their minds, is to keep the
opposition from getting away with whatever they are doing…at all
costs.

21. Avoidance Of Accountability. If you think you’re going to get
the elders to go to someone’s house and excommunicate them during the
heat of Level IV conflict, your fantasy life is richer than anything
Disneyland can concoct. In Level IV conflict you will be unfairly
attacked, railed, libeled, slandered and accused of everything from not
having your shoes tied during your sermon to being a child abuser,
embezzler, sex maniac, and a raging psychopath about to commit murder.
Of course, the accusations are not true. But they demonstrate just how
far the Level IV avoidance and denial of accountability can go. Is it
hideous? Is it satanic? Does it hurt? Yes, Yes, Yes!

22. Self-Survival Strategies. When survival is the issue, there are
two basic strategies for self-protection. The first is flee, hide and
totally separate oneself from the threat as far as possible. The second
strategy is relationship fusion.

Relational fusion is marked by extremely tight dependencies on
certain individuals and groups. It is a defense strategy akin to the
"old west" Pioneer’s practice gathering the wagon trains in a
circle to protect themselves from the enemy. The American Revolutionary
motto, "United we stand, divided we fall," is another example
of defensive fusion.

Because of the ultimate importance of self-survival, whatever
differences might have existed before may be ignored. Sometimes this
makes for some rather "strange", irrational associations.
These associations may seem more like "packs" or
"gangs." But, whatever their actions, their presence indicates
a remarkable directing of energies for self-survival.

23. Uncertain Church Future. At Level IV conflict there is no
guarantee the church will survive at all. Certainly, having experienced
Level IV conflict, it will not be the same as it had been. Though timely
intervention, churchmanship, and other interventions may help, at Level
IV one gains an acute realization that the church exists only by the
grace and will of God. If the church will survive, it will be a
demonstration of Christ’s promise, "I will build My Church."

24. A Sense Of Uncertainty For Your Own Professional Future. The
experience of Level IV conflict is such that it entails an unprecedented
degree of personal and professional trauma. The weight of guilt,
worthlessness, shame, failure and rejection may combine with an
overwhelming feeling of professional ineptness and incompetence.

Resignation considerations can appear to be the only possible escape
from the pain. Other important decisions with long-term consequences,
both personal and professional, may also be strongly considered in
reaction to the circumstances. Such decisions, however, may be unwise
and imprudent.

Robert Schuler’s "Peak to Peak" principle ought to be the
guide for any decision at this time. "When you’re at the highs in
life, change your direction. When you’re in the valleys of life, change
yourself." Level IV is the lowest valley you may ever experience.
But don’t jump out of the proverbial frying pan into the fire. Don’t
just react to the confusing stimuli which appear to engulf you.

You’re in the valley. Stop, find spiritual solitude, and let God
change you. As He does, He’ll also be changing the organization in
positive ways that will result in the basis of a passionate, dynamic,
vision-driven organization.

(To Be Continued)

Copyright 1998–All Rights Reserved
Ministry Health Web Site
Thomas F. Fischer, M.Div., M.S.A., Editor
http://genesis.acu.edu/ministryhealth
Support For Your Ministry In Jesus Christ!