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Church Leadership PodcastEncouraging & Equipping Local Church Leaders Author: Church Leadership Podcast
Hosts Andy Frazier and Mark Gainey have authentic conversations to equip and encourage you as you lead the local church. Language: en-us Genres: Christianity, Education, Religion & Spirituality Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Season 8: Episode 169 - Chris Crain on Navigating Church Conflict & Staying on Mission
Wednesday, 25 February, 2026
In this episode of the Church Leadership Podcast, Mark and Andy are joined by Dr. Chris Crain, Executive Director of the Birmingham Metro Baptist Association, for a conversation about conflict in the church—especially during high-stress seasons like Christmas (recorded just before Christmas 2025). Chris explains common times when conflict is more likely to surface, including busy church-calendar seasons (Christmas/Easter), budget and stewardship campaigns, staffing changes, and when the pastor is away. The group discusses how even good seasons of activity can create a “vacuum” that leads to tension. Chris encourages leaders not to take conflict personally and to view non-essential differences as healthy tension rather than threats, noting how failure to do so can alienate people and even lead to a mass exodus. Chris shares how he prioritized clarifying mission and values at the association, including the mission statement: to encourage, equip, and engage biblically faithful churches in the Great Commission for God’s glory, and five core values: truth, in touch, on mission, on purpose, and for the church.
