What kinds of conflicts can and cannot be addressed by a Peacemaker intervention team?
Churches from virtually every Protestant tradition seek assistance from Peacemakers for all kinds of conflicted situations (e.g., style of worship conflicts, pastoral leadership conflicts, board conflicts, church school conflicts, financial conflicts, theological disputes, property disputes, and conflicts over church government and structure), and Peacemaker Ministries is able to help. It is important to note, however, that when a Peacemaker team intervenes in any such conflict, it is not an arbitration body. That is, because the final responsibility and authority for decision-making rightly lies with the officers of the church, it is neither biblical nor lawful for that responsibility or authority to be delegated to an intervention team. Our own submission to the lawfully called and ordained leadership of the church means our authority stems from the efficacy of God’s Word as it is taught and applied. Even though we work in submission to the church leadership, if an intervention team
