During the combined home church leadership weekend this year, we would like to examine the question of inter-personal conflict and our response to it. This paper provides insight from Donald Bossart and others intended to stimulate thinking on the part of leaders in preparation for more detailed discussion. It is a mistake to view conflict as undesirable in group leaderships. Conflict is not only unavoidable, it is actually a normal and even helpful part of normal small group functioning. Donald Bossart has summarized the views of sociologists and psychologists that conflict is necessary in a normal social group.
Conflict serves as a vehicle for change, group definition, and self-expression.
He states, Conflicts which concern goals, values, or interests that do not contradict the basic assumptions upon which relationships are founded tend to be positively functional for persons and social structures. There is no reason to think we will ever be without conflict. Here we are suggesting in addition that we should never want to be without it. Conflict is important in creating the tension needed for creativity and accelerated learning. In the book of Acts, we see the apostles and others engaging in conflict, and this conflict in turn issuing in positive change.