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Engstrom and Dayton have defined conflict as "when two or more people disagree on a solution or the value of a goal."1 Conflict has also been defined as two or more people trying to occupy the same space. In order to understand this definition better, it may be helpful to imagine two children playing with a box. Both children want to be in the box at the same time and are arguing about who will get to be in the box.2 Obviously, with some appropriate guidance, the range of solutions is broader than which child will get to be in the box.

1 Ted W. Engstrom and Edward R. Dayton, The Christian Leaders 60-Second Management Guide, (Word Books: Waco, 1984), 73.

2 This illustration is taken from G. Douglass Lewis, Meeting the Moment: Leadership and Well-Being in Ministry, (Abingdon Press: Nashville, 1997), 93.

Some degree of conflict is present in all relationships. Conflict is inevitable when people feel strongly about their work and ministry. Hiring creative, highly motivated people will invariably result in conflict, but conflict has the ability to inspire creativity and result in positive change. In fact, conflict is so important that some leadership experts advise that one aspect of leadership is to bring about conflict and become an expert at seeing it resolved creatively!

Conflict is one of the inherent risks that we take when we express ourselves. When we are in positions to express ourselves often, conflict will result. Whether conflict is positive or negative depends on the manner in which we, and others with whom we work, deal with it.

When another hinders any of our needs (i.e., physical, emotional, ego, or status), conflict will result. We become frustrated because our needs, wants, and values may be in jeopardy.3 Someone will oppose any idea that is considered, and you can always count on opposition.

Types of Conflicts

Kilinski and Wottord outline the following types of conflicts:4 Role Conflict – Role conflicts occur when roles are not clearly defined, and conflict arises over who should accomplish a task or make a decision. When a minister of music sees his/her role as setting direction and determining broad range goals with some degree of autonomy, and the pastor sees the minister of music's role as managing an existing ministry and only making decisions with the pastor's help, conflicts will immediately result. Role conflict also arises when each of two people feels that a task or responsibility is within his/her role.