BA608 Conflict Transformation for Church Leaders
Case study
Introduction
The main purpose for the existence of the church is to provide peaceful environment, harmony and sound to all human development. My logical understanding of conflict was very negative in the past six years that I experienced in the Eritrean Orthodox Church from 2011 up to 2016. Personally the experience of conflict especially related to church it was completely new thing and I did not imagined to be happening in the large scale. Therefore what I learn from my experience is if churches leave within unresolved issues the church conflicts can be dangerous, as the result there is high possibility effecting people’s faith or split relationships, and decrease in number of church members.
The experience of Conflict in the church shows me both positive and negative side in my life. The positive result could be conflict it emphasizes and create an opportunity for people to build right relationship within the social structure through radical mutual and respect understanding for human right and life. Generally when I examine the conflict happen in my church in present time I can say it was significant and effective to shape my live and my church taking the right decisions and positions within the conflict happen in theological, social and political issues.
My personal journey through out the conflict was very interesting because I believe the hidden issues leads me to transform my understanding what exactly happen in general in the Eritrean orthodox church and able to discuss openly with the people and it was also the period of learning awareness through issues and able myself push in to new situation to transform myself to the new level of understanding either in theology, social and political theory.
The negative side of the conflict that happening in my church was many people struggled to understand the hidden issue deeply in the beginning for that reason I see people they broke up relationships easily and fell in to distress, confusion, disbelief, and frustrated within difficult situation. This is especially damaging when the church continuously suffers at the hands of those who seek to perpetuate conflict within the body; as the Bible teaching us conflict based on a house divided cannot stand (Mark 3:25).
Generally in my opinion the result of conflict crisis can be a time of both vulnerability and strength, as the individual works towards success or failure. Therefore conflict is a turning point for people during which an individual or collective struggles to attain some psychological quality to put it in to practice and decide to do it.
There are lots of conflict examples in both Old and New Testaments for us to learn from the experience of people’s in conflict transformation and resolution in both from individual and collective manner. For example David and soul or the church of Corinthians
Conflict according to the Bible does not teaching us to avoid or ignore issues around us but it does encouraged us to resolve it soon as possible. The goal of conflict resolution is to make peace and unity, and unity in the church communities pose a threat to the devil that will use every opportunity to take advantage of unresolved issues, especially those involving in bitterness, anger, envy and self-pity. For example (Matt 18, 15:17) is one of the best strategies on conflict resolution method so far. Matthew says that if there is dispute among brothers or sisters, first you need to settle the dispute privately before taking the case to court. Matthew encouraged us conflict is not wrong by itself however we should be committed to reconcile on individual before the conflict and anger leading us to hard feelings, hate, or revenge, it is sin. ‘’ the conflict itself is not sin. By settling the differences, you show that you love your neighbour as you love yourself’’ (Bartel, 1999, 23).
Sometimes people assume that the best way to make peace is to avoid dealing with conflict. Personally I completely agree with the definition of the word conflict is normal and natural since we aren’t all the same conflict is inevitable part of everyone’s life and it happens to all us in our daily live. ‘’Conflict happens. It is normal and it is continuously present in human relationships change happens as well. Human community and relationships are not static but ever dynamic, adapting, changing’’ (Lederach, 2003, 23).
During Conflict period in the church, leaders or pastors are the most important to emphasise earlier in effective way, if the conflict issue expand and people positions are entrenched, then it is most likely hard to resolve uncontrolled issue because of the negative emotions are already intense. For this reason the best way to address a conflict in its early stages is to create safe ground through negotiation between the participants.
In conflict resolution the first step to make decision is what kind of plan to fellow and recognizing there are steps that we need to consider in resolution conflict. Active listening skills will identify the escalation and the root source of the main issues that needs to address. Listening skills helps to clarify the issue within the evidence you gather from the situation especially if the individual or congregation do not aware of the hidden part of the issue.
The cause towards conflict could be many reasons behind of it for example it could happen by people on purpose or by completely luck of understanding between parties, however main important thing dealing with conflict requires skills to handle issue appropriate and effectively, depending on the situation for each response we make reveals certain underlying intentions.
When we are in conflict the problem seems to me we fail recognizing our difference and beauty of skills so that as Lederach stated that, (2003, 105) ‘’when the disagreement heats up or when we feel questioned or threatened, our defences go up, and a first change sets in. Rather than sharing responsibility for the problems with the other person, we begin to see the other person as the problem’’. Therefore conflict can be defined just like a fire if people are using it properly it will be beneficial, for example we use fire to cook our food or to create something new invent for common good for the society, but also at the same time uncontrolled or using fire within unsafe condition it can be harmful and destructive.
To begin with my case study reflection I think it’s important to understand about the church background context in order to be clear. The Eritrean Orthodox Church it is not an independent church is a state church and it is one of the six Oriental churches that they have a protocol in the dogmatic believes and church tradition. All those apostolic churches must have their own elected patriarch and Holy Synod that shall be the governing body of the Eritrean Orthodox Churches both inside and outside of the country.
The Eritrean Orthodox church since the country is get independence from the colonies in 1991 the church have three officially elected patriarch. However after third elected patriarch in 1998, the church and the state politicians are began conflict within the policy in social justice and also they introduce direct involvement in the Orthodox churches. I remember in the church faces difficult issue in theological and political sphere and need to resolve the issue as soon as possible, however the church was not ready to act in resolving the issue and then tensions are develop and people began argued each other and this is the beginning to make divisions and take different positions for you are feel or understand it is right.
On the other hand I can understand that the Eritrean Orthodox Church do not have enough power to stand on itself to lead the independent because ,since 1991 the government misuse the church for his political agenda; in this case the church leaders especially the bishops extremely controlled by the authorities from criticize the policy. Therefore they were ill-trained, defined too narrowly by yesterday's conflicts, unable to evangelize the new generation, vainly clutching to power, consumed rather more by tradition than by truth. Therefore the Eritrean Orthodox Church has gone through a turbulent period of existence during the last two decades and a half, especially since 1998.
the most dramatic outcome of this tumultuous period has been existed first time in the history of Eritrean Orthodox Church when the 3rd patriarch Pop Antonius were began to questioning and challenge the government about the social justice and also the Pop refuse to condemn the movement on Sunday school churches in Asmara for the government perceive that a threat for the county. The current system of persecution is designed to prevent people of faith from freely exercising their faith as they have faithfully done for centuries. The extreme escalation of religious persecution in Eritrea reached its crescendo with the illegal dethronement and imprisonment of His Holiness Patriarch Antonio’s. (http://www.tewahdo.org).
The details of the conflict are much been complicated in the beginning because the information was been controlled by the top secret of the official people. Since 1994 Eritrean government affirmed to lead the country with single party, and then gradually controlled the media and freedom of press for his political agenda, therefore in this case the government managed to persuade some of the bishops to spread accusation of the patriarch behaviour in churches and national media.
However gradually people start to dig out what was exactly happen to the church especially to the patriarch, and know then identified there is a pressure and intervention of politicians to use the church for their own agenda. For this reason some of the clergy opposes the government and demands to release the patriarch but as the result many of them are face in to prison.
Since I arrive to the United Kingdom in 2006 I remembered there are only two Eritrean orthodox churches in London. After few years as more people are arrived in to the country gradually it’s started to expand and plant churches around the cities. As I know the church traditions the ordained ministers especially priests are very important in the services for example if we need to do liturgy, baptism and marriage traditionally is only accomplish by priests or bishops. During this time as I mentioned above the Manchester Eritrean Orthodox Church we make a connection with those churches and priests in London in order to share a service together.
By the time we start biblical study from Old Testament from Genesis 18 and 19 we found something different interpretation that is completely opposes the traditional teaching of the church. In the Eritrean Orthodox Church the chapter interpreted the verse differently the three persons that visited Abraham and Sara house is interpreted to the Holy trinity in the form of humanity, for that reason the church celebrated annually and also we have the icon of trinity in the form of humans. But then the biblical group discuses and try to search a reasonable answer from the bible, for example we try to compare the verse in to the New Testament ‘’ No man has seen God at any time; the only Son, who is on the breast of the Father, he has made clear what God is (John, 1:18).
Then again the biblical study group also compared within some other Orthodox Church teaching and we found nothing similar except Ethiopian and Eritrean orthodox churches.
After few weeks passes one of our group removed and put it away the icon from the church without acknowledge the management committee, and this case leading us to difficult confliction among us. Icons in the Eritrean churches highly valued and respected within the church tradition, for that reason many people in my church was angry and then it begin to spread out gradually all over the Eritrean Orthodox church by using people to campaign and also use the power of media.
The clergy member’s priests and deacons including myself from all over the United Kingdom gathered in London to discuss in number issues around the church including about the arrested patriarch. On this day I do remembered our discussion Rev yohannes take the responsibility to resolve the removal icon of trinity and agreed to put it back the icon in to the church, however the discussion argument about the arrested patriarch lead us in to another conflict because the issue is related with the current government policy of the country and also for this reason the synod in Eritrean declared that if a minister either a priest or deacons found to support the arrested patriarch the consequence will be excommunicated from the church service.
As I mention above by this time the priests are the most powerful and influential leaders in all united kingdom church, after that the Eritrean embassy based in London warned for those priests to control the issues about the arrested patriarch and they demand fully support the government decision within the Eritrean church community. In this case one thing we should know if anyone do not obey under the Eritrean government rules, he or she have not right either to visit their relatives or access of your possessions.
In Orthodox churches traditions the first thing the believer understand about patriarch cannot be resigned without acknowledge of the church councils, for that reason the Oriental churches including the world church council condemned the Eritrean government action in arrested the official patriarch from 2006 until present.
After that the Manchester management committee had meeting two times privately and discuses openly and decided to meet the congregation in to open discussion and prepared to pass the information the full account of the conflict among the church leaders including our positions towards the government policy. However on this day the new arrival priest in my church and few people from the congregation who are supported the government does not happy in to the meeting about the arrested patriarch therefore they manage to divert the conflict in to theological issue. After an hour argument inside the church the priest and his flowers announced to the congregation Rev yohannes should not be lead in to ministry in Eritrean orthodox churches because of his teaching is unorthodox.
On this day the church divide in two and most of the congregation supported Rev yohnnes for he was able to persuade people with the evidence in open and honest discussion through the details of the arguments between the church leaders. After that the new priest and few people left the church and plant another church with the same brand name and also they claims publicly this is the right Eritrean Orthodox Church. Eritrean embassy also gives support to the new church by using campaign and also sending people to frightened people from attending in to the pervious church.
Therefore in this case I personally feel confident and right decision within the conflict to support my church in to the position to stand for justice and always focus most attention on the most important things, what Paul calls the matters of first importance and that means the gospel, with all its rich intertwine, its focus on Christ and his death and resurrection, its setting people right with God and its power to transform is the only way to survive from the evil political agenda of the country.
From this experience I believe using the conflict transformation process the church should be provide a safe, resolution program such as healthy system I agree with (Williams,14,16) stated that A healthy system is an open system- one which the parts interconnect, are responsive, and sensitive to one another, and allow information to flow freely, communication is direct, clear, specific. Therefore in my opinion the Eritrean Orthodox Churches should invite people to teach the Gospel of freedom and liberation within unjust situation happening inside the church and the political system of country.
The conflict is much bigger in the moment because most the Eritrean church leader is not really interested to speak face to face to challenge against the government policy, for a number of reasons and interests for that reason personally fully support to my church in creating open and honest discussion within theological understanding and social justice of the Eritrean society. Obviously my point is clear if we need to resolve conflict we need to prepare listen open criticism from both parties and learn from that, I believe healthy debate can transform people from misunderstanding on the issues.
Conclusion
Conflict is a fact and present in reality weather in a big or small church. The task of the leadership pastorally therefore seems to me it is not to eradicate every single conflict happening in the church but to help people to resolve the conflict in the way beneficial to the people, honour Christ and manifested love among the congregation. In order to achieve this leadership of the church must be proactive in recognize the escalation of the conflict because any unresolved issues can be dangerous and destroys people relationship easily. Therefore the first thing that I want to say is any church must to be encouraged actively to speak and communicate openly and honest about the disagreement and able to work toward mutually agreeable solutions. Another thing is also
Within a big or small church many issues can cause tensions and conflicts. For example People have conflicts over values and goals or they disagree over issues of power and authority. Another thing also Conflicts can be arises because of people who are discouraged and morally low. These issues can undermine unity within the congregation effectively if we respond badly in resolve conflict.
While conflict is normal and cannot be avoided, we need to create an opportunity of growth and understanding ourselves within different issues around us. The gift of conflict can be the opportunity of new situation and new understanding for the benefit of the wider social structure.
As these different opinions collide, in my opinion the most important thing to do as the church should provide safe ground for reconciliation within the congregation and community. In my understanding the church should able to have important witness, not by taking sides in the cultural battles, power interest or remaining indifferent to them, but by demonstrating healthy or clear ministry of reconciliation among people and pointing people to spiritual reconciliation with God ‘’But all things are of God, who has made us at peace with himself through Christ, and has given to us the work of making peace’’ (2 Corinthians 5:18).
Bibliography
Lederach .J.P (2003) Conflict Transformation: Good Books: USA