Church splits have been a recurring issue throughout the history of Christianity, both globally and in China, for varied reasons. In Jesus' final prayer, he specifically prayed for the unity of the church, and many churches today follow his teachings, seeking a path toward church unity.
Recently, Pastor Chunlei, who has been pastoring a church in a city in Eastern China for many years, shared his insights on why his church has never experienced a split. He attributes this to emphasizing shared core values and a strong church culture.
The Key: A Leadership Team with Shared Beliefs
Pastor Chunlei stated that they rarely accept "parachuted" workers (those who come from outside without established connections). Instead, most of their staff are locally trained and personally mentored within the church, ensuring they align with the church's values and beliefs.
He explained that some workers have been with them for over a decade, due to their shared beliefs. "Their beliefs are sound and upright, so the issue of splitting doesn't arise. We are all serving God with no restrictions. There's no sense of 'I can't live out my beliefs here, so I need to split and start my ministry.'"
Preventing Conflict: Focus on Relationships and Deep Connections
Pastor Chunlei shared that beyond shared beliefs, the church's focus on nurturing relationships has been critical in preventing conflicts that often lead to divisions. He explained that disagreements can easily escalate into conflicts, which in turn can cause church splits.
At his church, anyone interested in full-time ministry is not immediately assigned responsibilities. Instead, they are encouraged to live and spend time with the pastor and his wife to create mutual understanding and deepen personal growth. In addition, the pastor and his wife invest significant time in caring ministers who are planting churches.
Many staff workers in his church have gone through run-in periods, which helps forge strong relationships. With transparent relationships, they almost have no personal conflicts or barriers, helping reduce the risks of splitting and avoid unhealthy competition. Knowing that the adjustment process takes time and effort, the church also uses diverse methods to ease new workers into their roles.
Empowering Leaders, Not Controlling Them
"On the surface, our church may look like a patriarchy, with my wife and me as 'parents,' but our mindset is all about empowerment," pastor chunlei explained. "If someone feels led to start a new church, we fully support them. We provide funds, ministry fees, and even rent, and they can take believers with them. My goal is to empower, not to restrict."
He pointed out that this mindset was quite different from the patriarchal model, where leaders might suppress talented staff workers to maintain control.
Painful and Anxious Service vs. Joyful and Fulfilled Service
Pastor Chunlei recounted his time serving in a traditional church where he was taught to endure hardship and self-denial. He believes, however, that while the Bible calls for believers to "take up their cross and follow Jesus," it's more of a mindset to have the resolve to suffer but not to live in daily suffering.
He believes that when church workers are happy and joyful, they become confident in their pastoral work, making a difference to others. But if they serve with bitterness and anxiety, it’s difficult for them to pastor others or deliver good sermons.
With this perspective, this pastor emphasized the importance of using their gifts and talents. He advocated for the church to "meddle in others' affairs," as well as care for one another rather than focus on their own ministry. He also organized meetings and retreats to train staff members and cared for their family members, including children and the elderly. Adequate salaries are provided to church workers to support their daily lives.
In such an environment, the church is like a large greenhouse. No one is inclined to split off and start their own ministry. In today's challenging social environment, he argues, it’s more practical and rewarding to work together in harmony, serve joyfully, and make full use of their gifts and talents rather then to build large, separate churches.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
