The thunder clouds of dissent and dissatisfaction are gathering. You hear (and likely feel) the tremor that eventually becomes a rumble, and finally the undeniable earthquake of a church on the brink of a split. This is that perilous season where wise leadership can sometimes prevent a split, and often reduce the damage if one still happens. The months leading up to a potential church split are about slowing things down, lowering the emotional temperature, and leading with unusual clarity and humility.
Here’s practical, field-tested advice for that pre-split season.
Impending Church Split: The Warning Signs
Here’s what church leaders often miss until it’s too late: Church splits do not come out of nowhere. There are signals and signs months—sometimes years—in advance. There are key indicators that a run-of-the-mill church conflict has taken root and that real division may be approaching.
Relational Warning Signs
- Private meetings increase; public meetings become tense or avoidant.
- Leaders stop socializing or praying together.
- Longtime members begin taking sides in perceived or real conflicts.
- Groups or cliques seem to be forming.
- You can sense burnout or anger among typically stable congregation members.
- Newer members who seemed enthusiastic may sign on for groups or leadership roles only to step down.
- Long-time congregation members stop attending without explanation.
Communication Warning Signs
- You hear phrases like “people are saying…” or “I’ve been getting texts…”
- You see increased social media commentary or passive-aggressive posts.
- Requests for “clarity” are actually power struggles.
- People stop responding to you or other leaders.
- People overreact or become overly emotional over simple issues.
Leadership Warning Signs
- Decision-making shifts from consensus to urgency.
- Leaders begin protecting their turf instead of the shared mission.
- Authority is asserted more frequently but trusted less.
- Leadership becomes more closed off and a sense of team falters.
- Motives are questioned and distrust can take root too easily.
Spiritual Warning Signs
- Prayer becomes procedural rather than relational.
- Scripture is used to win arguments instead of to seek wisdom.
- Repentance disappears from leadership language.
- Anger, resentment, distrust, and dissatisfaction are common emotions.
- The church’s mission seems to be lost.
Structural Warning Signs
- Financial giving becomes reactive to decisions.
- Ministry participation declines quietly.
- Exit conversations increase, even if attendance looks stable.
- Straight answers are harder to come by and harder to give.
- Processes and systems that have been in place begin to fail or break down.
