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Conflicts or Consideration: Settling Conflicts

By RD Gallant

Weimar College Cosmin Ritivoiu 8 May 2013

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Church is so important in the life of the Christian because it provides a unity with like minded believers. This unity of

believers provides a community to understand and reason about shared beliefs. Each church is a group on both a local and church-wide basis. As groups grow and increase in size there are different psychological changes and developments that need to take place. Bruce Tuckman, a professor of education at Rutgers

University, proposes 4 different stages of group formation; forming, storming, norming and performing.1 Forming covers the

time during which the group comes together and becomes a cohesive unit. Storming covers the time in which a group goes through their difficulties and disagreements. Norming is the phase in which the members of the group understand what is acceptable in the group and what should and should not be done as a member of the group. Performing is the time in which the group comes

together to produce their expected result, or the reason for forming an association. This is where the optimum amount of cooperation is seen. These different phases often happen in cycles and will continue to repeat over the course of the groups existence. Overcoming the stage of storming, a task that is essential to both being like Christ and showing the world the love of God, can be achieved by understanding and implementing the principles found in the priesthood of all believers. 1 BRUCE W TUCKMAN; MARY ANN C JENSEN Group & Organization Studies (pre-1986); Dec 1977; 2, 4; ABI/INFORM Global pg. 419

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Churches are not exempt from these rules of group formation and because churches are such stable groups they experience these phases many times. Storming should be expected in groups and the Often in

key is to be able to handle this period appropriately.

churches these storming periods occur when new doctrine is entering into the church or when the younger generation of members feel that changes need to be made in order to fit in with todays society. Currently the Episcopalian church is in the This conflict in the church has

middle of a storming period.

been brought about by a section of the church accepting and even promoting homosexuality. This has led to dioceses of the church

choosing to leave in disagreement with these decisions. Since the early 2000s there has been quite a bit of frustration and contention inside of the Episcopalian Church. These frustrations have been caused by the current views that the church has taken on homosexuality. In 2003, Gene Robinson was

elected as the first openly homosexual bishop in the Episcopalian church. Since this major move the level of fighting and

controversy has begun to tear the church apart. In 2008 one of the first major public displays of the beginning of these successions from the church happened when 3 of the dioceses, and many of the local churches that had split, decided that they would attempt to unite under the banner of an Anglican Communion. In an interview with the New York Times Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburg, a conservative bishop that left the church in October

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of 2008, said, Were going through Reformation times, and in Reformation times things arent neat and clean, In Reformation times, new structures are emerging.2 Both sides of the arguments in this church believe that there needs to be a separation because of the intensity of this argument. Despite these major revolts against the church the majority of the Episcopalian church has continued to endorse same-sex marriage. In July of 2012 the house of Bishops and the House of

Deputies voted and passed a policy that would allow for services that would bless same-sex marriages. This made the Episcopalian

church the largest denomination so far to promote and sanction a service for same sex marriages.3 The most recent reaction to the Diocese of South

these policy changes has taken place in Carolina.

In October of 2012 the Diocese of South Carolina decided to leave the Episcopalian church after their leader Bishop Mark Lawrence was charged by the Disciplinary Board for not adhering to the rules of the church. This marked the fifth dioceses to

split from the central church including dioceses in Pennsylvania, Texas, California, and Illinois. All of these successions have

lead to the central church suing over the property that is being taken when a diocese decides to leave. The first legal request

for return of the property happened in 2008 when a Judge in 2 Goodstein, Laura "- Readers' Comments - NYTimes.com." 3 Pearson, Michael CNN

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Virginia ruled that a local church needed to return their property to the Episcopal Church.4 The origin of this whole

situation has come from a disagreement on the doctrine of homosexuality. Often churches overlook doctrine and how Had the

significant it is in the unity of the church.

Episcopalian Church reconciled with the unsatisfied portions of the Church and studied out the biblical basis of this doctrine all of these legal battles could have been avoided. This just

points to the need of the principles of the priesthood of believer in all of Christianity. The seriousness of these lapses in unity of the church are very important issues that can hinder much more then just the work of the gospel but the coming of Christ. The Seventh Day Adventist church experienced this in the General Conference session in October of 1888. Alonzo T. Jones and Ellet J. Waggoner brought the new doctrine of righteousness by faith. Righteousness by faith was greatly misunderstood and under studied at the time. As they began to enter into the General Conference session of 1886 Jones and Waggoner began to be confronted by serious opposition from elder members of the General Conference. Uriah

Smith, editor of the The Review and Herald, and George I. Butler, the current General Conference President, composed the main opposition that battled against this new theology being taught.

4 Grass, Michael, Huffington Post Ruling Episcopal Church

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Jones and Waggoner were trying to exemplify Christ and His sacrifice and His love for us above a legalistic relationship that is based on fear. Butler and Smith felt that these new

ideas would cause people to fully swing to the opposite side of the argument and begin to rely on grace alone and not keep the law. In his book, The Power of Humility, Pastor A. Leroy Moore

describes the approach that Smith and Butler took when addressing Jones and Waggoner when he says, Certain that Waggoner and Jones were about to destroy the law and the Sabbath, they were understandably determined to put an end to this supposed heresy. Yet, instead of revealing the humility essential to the function of the priesthood of believers by listening to their younger brethren and the the scriptural evidence they had to present, they determined to summarily shut them down without hearing...5 Smith and Butler hastily rushed to judgement of their brethren and did not wait to hear out the argument of Jones and Waggoner. In response to Jones and Waggoners writings being published in the Signs of the Times Butler released his rebuttal to their view of the law described in Galatians in a 85 page paper entitled The Law in the Book of Galatians. In response to Butlers rebuttal Waggoner prepared a rebuttal of his own which he entitled The Gospel in the Book of Galatians. Ellen White wrote to Waggoner and Jones cautioning them on how they must continue when she wrote,
5 Moore,

A. Leroy. The Power of Humility pg. 63

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You must, as far as difference is concerned, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Even if you are fully convinced that your ideas of doctrines are sound, you do not show wisdom that difference should be made apparent. I have no hesitancy in saying you have made a mistake here. You have departed from the positive directions God has given upon this matter, and only harm will be the result... We must keep before the world a united front. Satan will triumph to see differences among Seventh-day Adventists.6 When Butler and Smith heard of this reproof of Jones and Waggoner they felt that they could use this reproof as an argument against the idea of righteousness by faith. Ellen White then wrote a

reproof of the actions of Butler and Smith in a general way when she wrote,

I have sent copies of letters written to Brethren Waggoner and Jones to Elder Butler in reference to introducing and keeping in the front and making prominent subjects on which there are differences of opinion. I sent these not that you should make them weapons to use against the brethren mentioned, but that the very same cautions and carefulness be exercised by you to preserve harmony as you would have these brethren exercise.7 Unfortunately Smith and Butler decided to refuse the reproof given to them by Ellen White and they decided to continue to reject the concepts found in the priesthood of believers. They continued to use these reproofs to battle against Jones and Waggoner. These arguments did not stop after the General
6 White, 7 White,

Ellen Gould Harmon. Counsels to Writers and Editors pg 75 Ellen Gould Harmon. Manuscript Releases- Volume Nine, pg

215

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Conference meeting of 1886 but continued to broil until it climaxed at the 1888 General Conference Meeting in Minneapolis. Waggoner and Jones presented the concept of righteousness by faith in the assembly of 90 delegates representing the 27,000 member church.8 Waggoner taught about the righteousness of Christ and how by faith we can claim a part of that. The opposition was Although

quite loud and included the likes of Butler and Smith.

many of the people opposing this doctrine later accepted it some of the opposition eventually left the church. Had the Church

accepted this message of righteousness by faith they could have united in Christ and His love and law. Unity is an essential part of not only group formation but also Christian behavior in churches. These principles that aid in conflicts are critical to the function and uprightness of a church. As Sister White mentioned in her earlier quote the

essential principles needed for resolving conflict in a Christian setting can be found in the doctrine called the priesthood of believers. In First Peter the priesthood of all believers is discussed when Peter says, Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.9 This verse shows the universal access that all believers have, through prayer, to God. Conflict and misunderstandings are

8Pfandl, Gerhard. "Minneapolis, 1888 An Adventist Watershed." 9 1 Peter 2:5, KJV

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inevitable but the priesthood of all believers provides a way to overcome these problems in a Christ-like manner. The first step in understanding and overcoming conflict is to understand the reason that we are priests and what our role is. Continuing on the topic of the priesthood of believers Peter

agains speaks about our roles as priests when he says, But ye are a elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.10 We have all fallen yet Christ has rescued and ordained us to be able to help others to come to the light of Christ. Since we have been rescued from such a terrible darkness the light that we need is so apparent. This truth is presented in John 3:20 which says,

But he that doth the truth cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest, that they have been wrought in God.11 This light that God delivers us into is His truth that can be found in His holy Word. truth. As priests we need to constantly be searching for

We need to test other ideas and doctrines against the All ideas that are presented need

Word to fully seek pure light. to be studied out in the Word.

In The Power of Humility A. Leroy Moore discusses the priesthood of believers as a two dimensional practice when he says,

10 1 Peter 2:9, KJV 11 John 3:20, KJV

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The practice of the priesthood of believers has two fully integrated dimensions- vertical and horizontal... the vertical dimension relates to personal salvation and is based upon personal guidance by the Holy Spirit through Gods Word... the authority of the horizontal dimensions relates to the corporate function of Christs body and is likewise based on the holy Spirits guidance of the body through Scriptural principles.12 The horizontal and vertical portions of the priesthood of all believer is essential to the unity of the church. These two dimensions of are similar to the two dimensions that exist in the Ten Commandments. The personal relationship with God that comes from the vertical dimension is just as critical as the collective relationship with the church that is found in the horizontal dimension. Humility and love should be displayed in both of these dimensions of Christianity. This love can also be conveyed as Joe Crews explains in his book

concern for others stumbling.

Creeping Compromise that we need to tell others if they are going astray when he says, If I am afraid to blow the trumpet and warn Gods people of approaching spiritual danger, and they are led into sin as a consequence, the I will be held as accountable for those sins as if they were my own.13 The accountability level of

the priesthood of believers is very important in the view of uniting the church under the banner of the truth. To resolve conflict inside the church we need to be like Christ in all of our actions. These principles can be found in 1212 Moore, A. Leroy. The Power of Humility pg. 36 13 Crews, Joe. Creeping Compromise. pg. 19

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the priesthood of all believers.

Throughout the bible these Pastor A. Leroy

principles are displayed in different stories.

Moore in his book Adventist Cultures in Conflict proposes 7 different principles that can be found in the Bible. The first principle is the acceptance of the oppositions argument from their perspective.14 This is important because as followers of

God we have the burden of striving for truth so when new doctrine is introduced we must view it as that person striving for the truth. Fully understanding the position that the opposition is This is important because

presenting is the second principle.15

without fully understanding the opposition how can we communicate our beliefs. The third principle is kindness that is needed from The opposition on both sides need

both sides of the argument.16

to view the others arguments with a genuine interest to understand where they may be wrong. The forth principle is

understanding the opposition my not be able to respond in the proper way so there needs to be an example set of how to respond.17 The opposition must never be treated as the enemy is the fifth principle. Especially in the church opposition needs

to be viewed as a brother or sister in Christ not as the enemy. Meeting the opposition where they are at and agreeing with ideas we can is the sixth step.18 Finding this level ground is important
14 Moore, 15 Ibid. 16 Ibid 17 Ibid

A. Leroy. Adventist Cultures in Conflict pg. 70

18 Ibid, pg. 71

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to create a environment that is productive to settling the conflict. The seventh principle is that only the Holy Spirit can

fully remove enmity. Our arguments cannot always fully convict a person.19 The Holy Spirit can convict a heart of what truth is so This is why prayer is so

much better then the words of men.

important to the process of conflict. These principles when put to practice can help churches and Christians to resolve conflict in a Christlike and biblical manner. Had the situations above understood and applied these principles of the priesthood of believers these conflicts and battles could have been prevented. If the Episcopalian church had meet with the dioceses that were upset at the world churchs take on homosexuality and understood the argument that was being presented these hostilities could have been prevented. Had both Butler and Smith and Jones and Waggoner embraced these principles the Adventist church could have unified and souls could have remained in the Church. These principles are of the utmost

importance in Christianity but they are not fully understood but the majority of Christianity. If Adventism truly understood

these principles and applied them the world could not help but notice the difference.

19

Moore, A. Leroy. Adventist Cultures in Conflict pg 71

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Bibliography
1.BRUCE W TUCKMAN; MARY ANN C JENSEN Group & Organization Studies (pre-1986); Dec 1977; 2, 4; ABI/INFORM Global pg. 419 2. GOODSTEIN, LAURIE. "- Readers' Comments - NYTimes.com." Readers' Comments - NYTimes.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May 2013. <http://community.nytimes.com/comments/www.nytimes.com/2008/12/04/us/ 04episcopal.html?sort=oldest>. 3. Pearson, Michael, Eric Marrapodi, and Phil Gast. "Episcopal Church Approves Same-sex Blessing Service." CNN. Cable News Network, 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 08 May 2013. <http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/10/us/episcopal-same-sexunions/index.html>. 4. Grass, Michael. "Ruling: Episcopal Church Should Regain Control Of Breakaway Virginia Churches." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 11 Jan. 2012. Web. 08 May 2013. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/11/episcopal-church-virginiaruling_n_1199629.html>. 5. Pfandl, Gerhard. "Minneapolis, 1888 An Adventist Watershed." AdventistWorld.org. Adventist Church, n.d. Web. 8 May 2013.

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<http://www.adventistworld.org/article/694/resources/english/issue2010-1001/minneapolis-1888>. 6. King James Version Bible. [S.l.]: Thomas Nelson, n.d. Web .

7.Moore, A. Leroy. The Power of Humility: What to Do When Are Right. Weimar, CA: Weimar College, 2011. Print. 8. Crews, Joe. Creeping Compromise. Baltimore: Amazing Facts, 1977. Print. 9. Moore, A. Leroy. Adventist Cultures in Conflict: Principles of Reconciliation. [S.l.]: Moore, 2009. Print. 10. White, Ellen Gould Harmon. Counsels to Writers and Editors; a Grouping of Messages of Counsel Addressed to Writers and Editors,. Nashville, TN: Southern Pub. Association, 1946. Print. 11. White, Ellen Gould Harmon. Manuscript Releases- Volume Nine,. Nashville, TN: Southern Pub. Association, 1990. Print.