The Rev. Dr. Joyce Ann Mercer is the Horace Bushnell Professor of Christian Nurture and Professor of Practical Theology and Pastoral Care at Yale Divinity School. Her work focuses on practices of care in diverse contexts, and she is a former member of the Congregational Studies Team.
The recent General Assembly of the United Methodist Church has resulted in much soul-searching and debate – and it raises the possibility that some local congregations may encounter conflict as they decide how to move forward. Nancy Ammerman has written about the many layers of conflict that can face a denomination at a time like…
Question: We are watching congregations all around us be torn apart by conflicts. How can we prevent this from happening to our church and stay out of conflict? It sounds like you are concerned that if your church has a conflict, it necessarily will be torn apart. Not all conflicts need be so destructive: there…
