The principles of limiting conflict while leading change are timeless. That is evident in this Leadership classic, originally published in 1987.
Its author, Larry Osborne, pastor of North Coast Church in Vista, California, recently said, "Innovative and change-oriented people get as locked into their traditions and methods as anyone else. That's why the approach that worked with the traditionalist of yesterday is still effective today. Yesterday's rebels have become today's traditionalists."
We reprint the following for your work with yesterday's rebels.

An old farmer once said, "Go slow. Churches are a lot like horses. They don't like to be startled or surprised. It causes deviant behavior."

The fiercest battles are seldom fought over theology. More often, they are fought over change, sometimes even the slightest change.

I remember well a phone call I received from a key lay leader, not long after my arrival at North Coast. He said his family was leaving the church, upset over all the changes ...