The sensitive issue of church politics applies to every person in church leadership. The following resources are helpful in addressing the matters of conflict resolution, clergy/lay relationships, and other items that cause problems in the church.
Adams, Arthur M. Effective Leadership for Today’s Church. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1978. An excellent general resource on church politics. Discusses issues such as involving others in ministry, authority, and effectively running meetings.
Asquith, Glenn H. Church Officers at Work. Valley Forge: Judson, 1951. A classical work on the functions of church officers at all levels. Helpful in creating job descriptions.
Barnett, James M. The Diaconate. New York: Seabury, 1981. A study of the need to renew the role of the deacon.
Campbell, David. If I’m in Charge Here, Why Is Everybody Laughing? Niles, Illinois: Argus, 1980. Excellent! Helps identify the frustrations and pressures of leadership with instruction on negotiating and overcoming opposition.
Campolo, Anthony. A Denomination Looks at Itself. Valley Forge: Judson, 1971. A sociologist’s examination of the American Baptist denomination. Contains insights for all denominations regarding effective self-examination.
Dittes, James E. When the People Say No. San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1979. Handbook for the frustrated pastor. How to respond to opposition, conflict, and frustration.
Engel, James. How Can I Get Them to Listen? Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1977. A handbook for communication strategy, which is applicable to local church leadership. Good perspectives on diplomacy.
Foshee, Howard B. Now That You’re a Deacon. Nashville: Broadman, 1975. A tool for developing a lay leader’s ability to lead and handle church responsibilities.
Harper, Michael. Let My People Grow. Plainfield, N.J.: Logos, 1977. A handbook on church polity and the management of lay people in ministry.
Hutcheson, Richard G. Wheel Within the Wheel. Atlanta: John Knox, 1979. Confronts the management crisis of the pluralistic church. An excellent resource regarding the multiple directions of the church and the leader’s role in managing, coordinating, and negotiating.
Jones, Ezra Earl. Strategies for New Churches. San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1979. An effective tool in helping redevelop older churches through planned change.
Kittlaus, Paul, and Leas, Speed B. Church Fights. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1973. Addresses the causes of church conflict and then discusses how to manage and use them for positive growth.
Leas, Speed B. Leadership and Conflict. Nashville: Abingdon, 1982. A systematic approach to handling the politics and conflicts of leadership in a voluntary organization.
LeFevre, Perry D., ed. Conflict in a Voluntary Association. Chicago: Exploration Press, 1975. A case of a classic suburban church fight.
Lewis, Douglass. Resolving Church Conflicts. San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1981. A case study approach to help the reader understand how conflicts emerge and how to resolve them with positive results.
McDonough, Reginald M. Working with Volunteer Leaders in the Church. Nashville: Broadman, 1976. Excellent chapters on “Getting Across New Ideas” and “Building a Climate for Motivation.”
McSwain, Larry, and Treadwell, William C., Jr. Conflict Ministry in the Church. Nashville: Broadman, 1980. Strategies for resolving conflict and stress.
Miller, John M. The Contentious Community. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1978. Identifies the polar extremes that make conflict resolution impossible. Instructive regarding leadership balance and diplomacy.
Schaller, Lyle E. Activating the Passive Church. Nashville: Abingdon, 1981. A practical and tactful directive on change. Good sections include those on “redefining roles” and dealing with passivity.
Schaller, Lyle E. Effective Church Planning. Nashville: Abingdon, 1979. Seven basic concepts on leading and motivating people. Helpful instructions regarding handling those who resist change.
Schaller, Lyle E. The Multiple Staff and the Larger Church. Nashville: Abingdon, 1980. A study of the “politics” of multiple staffing.
Schaller, Lyle E. Survival Tactics in the Parish. Nashville: Abingdon, 1977. Helpful insights regarding such sensitive issues as “Why didn’t you visit my mother?” and “Why have a pastoral relations committee?”
Tippetts, Orlando L. The Work of the Church Trustee. Valley Forge: Judson, 1979. A guide to deepen and broaden the trustee’s sense of ministry and mission in service to the church.
Trecker, Harleigh Bradley. Working with Groups, Committees, and Communities. Chicago: Association, 1979. A useful resource for efficiently leading and diplomatically operating through committees.
Copyright © 1983 by the author or Christianity Today/Leadership Journal. Click here for reprint information on Leadership Journal.
