Conflict and Conciliation: How CMO funds foster peace
By Norm Miller

Soon after Pentecost when the Church was born, conflict arose. Not much has changed in 2,000 years: congregations can sometimes ignite into conflagrations.

Such was the case for a Los Angeles-area church.

“This church had serious conflict on so many different levels,” said Deryl Lackey, director of missions for Inland-Empire Southern Baptist Association.

Lackey noted the situation had “completely matured” so that “gossip, slander and misinformation were running rampant. Church members, staff and deacons were out of control. People were leaving the church. Some questioned whether the pastor should stay. The situation had reached its tipping point.”

Having already completed one reconciliation program, the church knew it had some serious spiritual issues, Lackey said. But they remained unresolved.

“It doesn’t matter what the church constitution says, or “Roberts Rules of Order” – no policy will ever solve spiritual problems,” said Lackey, who realized something had to be done, and who chose to deal with the issues forthrightly.

With the pastor’s approval, Lackey and Claudio Medina, the association’s consultant for ethnic ministry, met with about 50 of the church members on a Wednesday night.

“We’re not going to start tonight defending anything or anyone,” Lackey told the group. Instead, he challenged them to join a 10-day process of inviting God to search their hearts. The 10 days included two days of fasting. After that, discussions about resolution began.

Some members were antagonistic, including a deacon who refused to be involved. Another member told Lackey that the Lord wanted the pastor to leave. Lackey said he thought God wanted to be true to His character of redemption and restoration, and told the member they weren’t on the same page as God. The member agreed.

Despite a minority of naysayers, the process continued with great success, Lackey said, particularly because the members allowed God to search their lives, thus causing them to do the same.

One member who’d been a believer for almost a half-century expressed fear about God searching her heart for two reasons: that He would search and that He’d find sin.

Another member said the time of introspection caused her to see that some things in the church that were of great importance to herself mattered little to God; and some things in the church that were of great importance to God mattered little to her.

Someone else repented from selfishness when they realized how they thought about church: “It’s my church, it’s my music, it’s my class.”

Lackey noted almost every member who participated in the process reported a new understanding of, and appreciation for, the holiness of God.

While the church isn’t completely out of the woods yet, the members’ commitment to pray for and work with each other is bringing true healing and deep peace to the formerly troubled church.

Not only has the congregation gained a new appreciation for each other and their pastor, their gratitude extends to those who helped guide them toward reconciliation.

“The generosity of California Southern Baptists provides scholarship funds for peacemaker training events, and for training conflict coaches, mediators and reconcilers in our churches and associations,” said Peter Celum, CSBC’s church and pastoral care specialist. “This is both critical and strategic in creating cultures of peace in our CSBC churches.”

When asked how such ministry helps California Southern Baptists fulfill their annual missions offering theme: “Reaching the World in California: The Great Commission Begins Here,” Celum said, “CMO is helping share the gospel at both the front door and back door of our churches, where relationships are reconciled, unity is restored, ministries become more fruitful, and the testimony of the church has an even greater credibility in the community.”