Thriving Through Ministry Conflict: By Understanding Your Red and Blue Zones

by James P. Osterhaus, Todd A. Hahn, Joseph M. Jurkowski

Book Overview

Church conflict doesn't have to be an enemy that tears a congregation apart. By learning how to handle it wisely, pastors and church leaders can make resistance one of their most valuable allies. Far... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0310263441
• ISBN13: 9780310263449
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: Zondervan Publishing Company
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.4"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

STOP!!!..... Go no further until you read this book.

This book is a must for all pastors and leaders to "face their own stuff" as they lead in ministry. It will challenge and bless you.

An indispensible tool for ministry leaders

As a pastor with 20 years experience in the church and a seminary professor in practical theology, I know of no other resource that is so immediately and practically accessible for coaching ministers through the toughest aspects of our calling. It captures succinctly and deftly so many of the issues surrounding pastoral conflict (and beyond conflict to change-leadership, too). I am having my entire pastoral staff read it, my wife who is a therapist with minister clients is reading it and it is being passed along to other colleagues.

I Wish I Had Read It 30 Years Ago

I wish I had read this book 30 years ago when I first entered ministry. I am now recommending it to all my friends. I hate conflict and have always tried to avoid it. Now I know that conflict when handled well becomes a constructive force for ministry. Our entire staff has benefited from studying it together. It is one of the few books that I continue to read over and over again as I try to absorb the content. It's value reaches way beyond the church to anyone in leadership. It is full of the truth. NOT easy to swallow but spot on.

Very helpful

Internally, I don't handle conflict or criticism well. This book helped me understand why and the internal changes that I need to make even before I work on the tension that might exist between me and others. With its narrative teaching style, "Thriving through Ministry Conflict" is fun to read and easy to learn from. This a great resource that I have already given to friends.

What I needed years and years ago

Thriving is an excellent book for anyone, especially in ministry, but it is truly helpful for anyone. Let's face it, conflict is a fact of life and it is found everywhere - in ministry, at the office, in little league, at home, etc. What is so helpful about this book is the understanding that conflict does not equal personal attack. So often we take all conflict personally, what the authors call "The Red Zone" rather than professionally, "The Blue Zone." The book is enjoyable to read as the material is presented in the form of a story about a pastor's struggle in his own church and family. It isn't a dry list of principles, but an opportunity to discover the core ideas as the main character does. To satisfy the other side of our brain, the authors include a great section at the end of the book with plenty of exercises to apply the principles to one's own life and conflict style. I highly recommend this book. I plan on buying multiple copies to give to friends and colleagues.