Bishops in Battle

Paul Avis wrote Becoming a Bishop as a theological handbook for bishops, but much of the book has a wider application to all church leaders. His advice about handling conflicts in the church is judicious.

His “first and most basic” piece of advice is “Don’t be afraid.” Fear can appear in various guises: It might tempt leaders to “smooth things over, to speak and act as thought there was not in fact a serious issue to be dealt with.” Fear can also make us aggressive. Both instincts – fight and flight – “are fatal to the possibility of bringing healing to situations of conflict” (47). But the healing can come only if leaders face conflict fearlessly and forthrightly.

In the midst of conflict, leaders should “listen more than you speak” (48). He urges leaders to “pray by name for all those with whom you have personal dealings, especially those you find difficult. Intercede for their well-being and blessing at the hand of God” (48).

He ends by insisting that church leaders “stick to your calling, to what was laid upon you at your ordination.” It is essential that leaders not allow “the pressing needs of institutional nitty-gritty deflect you from it.” The essential call of a bishop is “to expound the Scriptures and teach the faith and to provide for this to happen in every parish of the diocese; to preside at the sacraments and to provide sacramental ministry throughout the diocese; to offer pastoral care, guidance, support and oversight of the flock and to ensure that this is available throughout the diocese” (50). Mutatis mutandis, each parish minister has the same calling. A pastor is called always, no matter how intense the conflict swirling around, to stick resolutely to the word, sacrament, and pastoral care.