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The single biggest challenge I experienced as a leader in my church was almost a year ago, when some of the church board members and I disagreed about who had authority in the church, and how decisions were made. Those disagreements escalated until some of the board members tried to take control of the church, and to replace me as the senior pastor.
What I experienced was not just a relational conflict; it was a structural conflict as well. Rather than reacting emotionally to the conflict, I used the church’s bylaws. The bylaws had been designed to implement Biblical principles of shared authority, accountability, and process, so that the structure of the church would be based upon those principles. Additionally, there was accountability at the district level in the Assemblies of God (my denomination), which provided additional oversight, and ensured that we were able to respond to the conflict in an orderly manner, without resorting to “power plays”.
While the conflict did not ultimately result in the preservation of all relationships, it did create unity instead of division. The board members who were part of the conflict chose to resign their positions and leave the church, which was painful for me as a pastor, but the congregation remained united, and the mission of the church continued forward. Through this experience, I realized that Biblical governance and accountability structures do not hinder spiritual leadership, but actually serve to protect the church during times of uncertainty.
In the end, I learned that faithful leadership often involves enduring loss, while trusting that God will honor our obedience, our commitment to order and humility, and our desire to lead His people according to His Word. When leadership is grounded in Biblical accountability, rather than control, God can bring stability, and long-term health, even in the midst of difficult transitions.