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A Pastor's Guide to Understanding and Overcoming Church Conflict
This book attempts to answer the following How can a pastor wisely evaluate and embrace positive conflict in his ministry? What strategies work effectively when dealing with reasonable people and unreasonable people? How can a pastor best deal with destructive conflict directed towards him by antagonists in the church? What attitudes or actions are helpful to remain positive towards the ministry during times of stress and attack? Where can the pastor find help when he is under assault?
146 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 21, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 30, 2026
Ted Manby first defines and explains the relevant terms, like “antagonists,” shares his and others painful experiences, and notes relevant contemporary frameworks. He then analyzes the dramatic impacts and implications for both pastors and the local church. The heart of this book are extensive and powerful Biblical examples, imperatives, along with the positive perspective and courage needed to cope with and handle the requisite personal and corporate fear and discouragement. Finally, in the final chapters, the principles and advice for all those involved meaningfully tie this book together.
August 8, 2026
This was a fantastic book through and through, even though I do not believe in God myself I felt like reading this book was a transformative experience. I specifically like how the author defines the terms "antagonists" framed the way I thought of conflict differently. I would recommend this book to everybody even if you don't agree with everything the author says I still feel that everyone would gain from giving this book a read.
I was given a free copy
I was given a free copy
June 6, 2025
First distinguish and discern the real origin of the threat to the pastor and the church
Having been a lay church elder, I know of very few pastors who live through what Ted Manby highlights as targeted attacks on pastors within the church by “antagonists” and share their all too often-painful experiences and grieving. Even fewer do the in-depth research of what happened to them and why. Ted Manby takes the challenge further to extrapolate the biblical and practical principles for how to prepare for and handle such attacks.
As an executive change and conflict management consultant for over 50 years, I agree with Ted Manby as he hones in on the key here, which is too often missed. First distinguish and discern the real origin of the threat to the pastor and the church. Specifically, does the church conflict come from unhealthy “antagonists” or members with reasonable concerns or external challengers just trying to help. The biblical and practical responses to such church conflicts are quite different!
Ted Manby first defines and explains the relevant terms, like “antagonists,” shares his and others painful experiences, and notes relevant contemporary frameworks. He then analyzes the dramatic impacts and implications for both pastors and the local church. The heart of this book are extensive and powerful Biblical examples, imperatives, along with the positive perspective and courage needed to cope with and handle the requisite personal and corporate fear and discouragement. Finally, in the final chapters, the principles and advice for all those involved meaningfully tie this book together.
Reviewed by Dr. R. Kraft Bell, MBA, PhD
Having been a lay church elder, I know of very few pastors who live through what Ted Manby highlights as targeted attacks on pastors within the church by “antagonists” and share their all too often-painful experiences and grieving. Even fewer do the in-depth research of what happened to them and why. Ted Manby takes the challenge further to extrapolate the biblical and practical principles for how to prepare for and handle such attacks.
As an executive change and conflict management consultant for over 50 years, I agree with Ted Manby as he hones in on the key here, which is too often missed. First distinguish and discern the real origin of the threat to the pastor and the church. Specifically, does the church conflict come from unhealthy “antagonists” or members with reasonable concerns or external challengers just trying to help. The biblical and practical responses to such church conflicts are quite different!
Ted Manby first defines and explains the relevant terms, like “antagonists,” shares his and others painful experiences, and notes relevant contemporary frameworks. He then analyzes the dramatic impacts and implications for both pastors and the local church. The heart of this book are extensive and powerful Biblical examples, imperatives, along with the positive perspective and courage needed to cope with and handle the requisite personal and corporate fear and discouragement. Finally, in the final chapters, the principles and advice for all those involved meaningfully tie this book together.
Reviewed by Dr. R. Kraft Bell, MBA, PhD
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews