There is something insidious running unchecked in the African American church. It threatens relationships, outreach to the community, organizational effectiveness, and the overall church mission. It is unresolved conflict. Dr. Credle's research is so needed--for clergy, church leaders, members--for anyone who is concerned about building healthy organizations. That's My Pew unearths six areas of conflict in the African American church that account for much of the dissatisfaction with church life.
Written from the heart of someone who is committed to the fulfillment of Christ's mission, this book exposes without condemning, shares the heart wrenching stories of those wounded by "church hurt," and offers practical solutions that lift the burden of conflict resolution from a solely pastoral function to one shared by the body of Christ. The qualitative research identifies conflict in six areas: leadership preparation and training, gender bias and paternalism, power imbalances, financial processes, internal leadership conflict, and the lack of formal conflict resolution processes. That's My Pew will help churches shift the lens through which conflict is viewed and help build effective conflict resolution systems that grow healthy congregations that are both salt and light to the world.