How to Deal With an Angry Church Member

Episode #446
July 3, 2018
Rainer on Leadership Podcast Logo

Podcast Episode #446

I get asked this question on nearly a daily basis. Pastors from all over are wanting to know how to deal with angry church members.

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

  • Responding to anger with more anger just escalates the situation.
  • Sometimes people who are lashing out in anger just want to know they’ve been heard.
  • Social media is not the place to try to end a heated argument.
  • The visceral reaction is to argue with someone who is angry with us—the spiritual reaction is to pray for them.
  • Sometimes pastors make decisions that make church members angry. It happens.

The seven ways you can deal with an angry church member are:

  1. Don’t respond in anger.
  2. Listen and repeat.
  3. Consider bringing in a third party.
  4. Try to determine the source of the anger.
  5. Dispel any factual errors calmly.
  6. Offer possible solutions.
  7. Pray with the person.

Episode Sponsors

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Resources Mentioned in Today’s Podcast