Antagonists in the Church: How to Identify and Deal with Destructive Conflict

The Study Guide turns the book Antagonists in the Church into a course so a leadership team can learn, discuss, and apply the principles together.

Course and Book Contents

Part One: Defining the Issue

1. Is There an Antagonist in Your Midst?
2. What Is Church Antagonism?
3. Levels of Church Conflict
4. Why Antagonism Happens in Congregations
5. A Biblical Perspective
6. A Question of Values

Part Two: A Guide for Identifying Antagonists

7. Personality Characteristics of Antagonists
8. Red Flags of Antagonism
9. Warning Signs and How to Recognize Them

Part Three: Dealing with Antagonists

10. Coping with Invisible Antagonists
11. Handling Indispensable Antagonists
12. Dealing with Antagonists in Group Situations
13. Five Leadership Strategies
14. How to Conduct Meetings with Antagonists
15. Confidentiality and Documentation
16. Public Communications Regarding Antagonism
17. The Value of a Confessor-Confidant
18. Personal and Family Variables
19. Denominational Support Structures
20. To Leave or Not to Leave
21. The Aftermath

Part Four: Preventing Antagonism

22. How to Maintain an Anti-antagonist Environment
23. How to Relate to Dormant Antagonists
24. Educating the Leaders of the Congregation
25. The Last Temptations