Over the years, you hear stories, unbelievable stories of pastors and the congregations falling out. One young pastor got into a shouting match with one of the elders during the Sunday morning message. The pastor abruptly marches down the aisle right out the front door of the chapel in the middle of his message and never returns to say good-bye. It’s all over in one emotional meltdown. When we hear stories like this, we say to ourselves, “It’s politics, as usual.”

These battles for turf, for control, for authority, are cited as one of the most undesirable elements of pastoral ministry. Many young men and women simply give a sense of pastoral calling a miss because they can’t bear these kinds of altercations. So what can we say about church politics?

Firstly, let’s just think about the word, “politics”. It comes from the greek word, polis, from which we derive the words like police or metropolis, meaning city. It literally means “people”. In other words, whenever people congregate, you will have politics. All politics consists of the art of managing people. Sadly, we often don’t do this very well. We naively think that because God is in this that somehow the people element will simply take care of itself.

Actually, we find the opposite. It’s because God is in this. It’s because we’re dealing with matters of faith and belief that it mean so much to people that the politics in our churches in heightened. Sure, it appears to be a move from hymns to choruses but for many people, this exercise is undermining the very nature of their faith and practice. People feel intensely about these matters because of the meaning and significance in relation to their walk with God attached to these practices.

Knowing all this, how can we in our churches do better? Let me suggest a few steps.

1. Build relationships. Politics can be seen as backroom manoeuvrings and manipulation but much of the unpleasantness occurs due to a lack of trust or a misunderstanding of a person’s intentions. Let’s be wise in our dealings with others, not manipulative. Jesus said, “Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves”. Ask yourself the question, “Do those I work closely with understand my heart?”. In saying this, relationships are built both in the boardroom as well as outside of it. Take time together; spend time listening to one another. For all of our talk about being family and the Body of Christ, when it comes to cultivating solid relationships, some churches stink at it. All of us need to continue to hone our interpersonal skills so that we are growing in our capacity to relate and communicate effectively with one another.
2. Act in a trustworthy manner. Some pastors complain about the way in which they are treated and never ask the question, “What is my part in all this?” Establishing integrity is simple: Do what you say you going to do. When you blow it or drop the ball, admit it. Integrity is formed when we accept responsibility both to act as well as when we fail to act.
3. Build shared ownership in decision-making. Pastors who choose to go it alone should not be annoyed when no one backs the call. If you make decisions in isolation without wide consultation, the consequence is that you can become alienated. Also, the law of ownership states that the more people input into a process, the higher buy in they will have. Reflect on the use of one’s leadership style. Is it consultative, participatory, autocratic? Do you vary your approach given the context and the nature of the decision? Decision-making in an organisation can be like breathing, something that happens without giving it much thought; however, poor processes can lead to a world of hurt and sadness.

Church leaders must learn to manage politics unless we reinvent churches without polis, without people. Ministry is about people; leadership is learning to lead ourselves. Sure, it’s politics, but it doesn’t have to be as usual, we can grow.

Graham Johnston