Although one of the characteristics of the church is the unity, there exist many conflicts in it. Specially the session which is the core organization of the church have been experienced the serious conflicts. The diverse needs and demands of the past...
Although one of the characteristics of the church is the unity, there exist many conflicts in it. Specially the session which is the core organization of the church have been experienced the serious conflicts. The diverse needs and demands of the pastors and elders have striken against them. As a results of them, the stability of the sessions, the leadership of the pastors and the growth of the church have been threatened. This shows the negative concepts of the conflicts in the session and the inappropriate managements of them.
The study on the sessions conflicts is to be conducted in an affirmative and positive manner by all pastors as a conflict manager in the church. The purpose of this research is based on the above. Sample survey of 50 pastors were taken for the approach to identifying session conflicts management in local church. The followings are the content of it.
1. The definition, circumstances, various types of the session conflicts and the managements of them with the organization and roles of the session prescribed in the constitutional law of the general assembly of the presbyterian church are described. The Scriptures teach the positive concept of conflicts for an apportunity of the further good mutual relationship and the glory of God.
2. Based on the sample survey of the pastors, all kinds of conflicts in the session in accordance with the personality types of them were found.
About the concept of conflicts, almost pastors had an affirmative attitude. But actually they had experienced too many psychological, relational problems in the session. Over 80% of pastors contended to the negative factor of session conflicts to the pastoral cares. In accordance with MBTI, 4 personality types which are SJ(Sense-Judge) type, SP(Sense-Perceive) type, NT(iNtuition-Think) type and NF(iNtuition-Feel) type were applied to the analysis.
3. The plan of the management and prevention of the session conflics by the sample survey were introduced. The positive conflict management attitude, effective communications, and acceptance of the oppositions are to be considered for the healthy session. For the prevention of conflicts, pastors must have an identity of the session in a law, a good communication with elders, the enhancement of educations, and the commission and assignment of the ministry.
The session conflicts are unavoidable, but can be handled as an good opportunity for the progress and mature of the session and the church. Pastors are to have an opinion that these conflicts are not only a spiritual trial but a personality and circumstance problem. The first thing to be considered by pastors as a conflict manager in the church are biblical perspective, principal, plan and attitude in all manners for the conflicts. Second, the humility of the pastor himself is to be the inner background in conflict management process as surveyed pastors confirmed. Third, the personality type should be considered carefully prior to confronting the conflicts. Because various personalities are given by God, they ought not be denied.
All pastors have a constructive view of conflicts which they understand the necessary conflict factors, expect good results of conflict managements and have an attitude to submit to them. The glory of God is first of all placed in a conflict management.