(RNS) — Church conflict is a growing pressure point for pastors during the coronavirus pandemic, a new report shows.
The report, based on a July survey by LifeWay Research, found that 27% of evangelical and mainline pastors cited maintaining unity and addressing conflict and complaints when asked about the pressure points they are feeling most.
Just 8% cited disagreement and conflict as issues in an April survey, according to the research firm based in Nashville, Tennessee.
The findings appear to be a barometer of the division in the country over the best ways to respond to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
“Shutting everything down was a whole lot less complicated than the debates over how to reopen,” said Trevin Wax, a senior vice president at LifeWay Christian Resources, an arm of the Southern Baptist Convention. “There’s a sense in which the pastor, in trying to care for the congregation, feels beat up right now.”
Wax, a former pastor, said the divides are different from what he saw as a congregation leader. In the past, he said, he saw people of different political parties serving together on the same deacon board because of their greater agreement on gospel issues.
“There are people that are shocked and appalled to find out that there are other people in their congregation that have completely different views on the best way to handle a pandemic,” he…
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