When Elders Disagree: A Biblical Framework

Abstract: Phil Howell offers a biblical framework for interpreting and responding to disagreements within the church, with a particular focus on elders. God uses disagreements to strengthen the church, as is evidenced in the book of Acts, and Howell identifies two pathways to unity—agreement and acceptance. He closes by providing reflection questions for elders and all members as they think through how to respond to disagreements in the church.

Picture this: a church member meets with an elder to wrestle with a significant moral or theological issue. Let’s say the issue is along the lines of someone pursuing remarriage after a complicated divorce, doing IVF to start their family, or trying to go to the mission field. The elder listens carefully, agrees almost entirely, and both leave the meeting feeling aligned.

A few weeks later, however, the rest of the elder board discusses the matter and takes the opposite stance. They conclude the member should not remarry, the couple should not pursue circumventive reproductive technology, and despite one elder’s affirmation, the hopeful missionary is told he’s not ready to go.

What now? For members and elders who disagree with a board’s decision, pressing questions arise: Can I serve alongside or be shepherded by someone I believe is wrong on a morally significant issue? How much difference can one board bear? How far should I go to reconcile ethical, political, or pastoral disagreements?

To answer these questions, this essay offers a biblical framework for interpreting and responding to disagreements, with a particular focus on those that arise with elders in the local church.^{11 .}The scope of this essay is intentionally limited to disagreements within the context of a single local church. It will not address broader questions of inter-church cooperation, partnership in parachurch ministries, or determining appropriate levels of separation or unity in relation to the wider body of Christ. These are significant issues but setting them aside here will allow for a more focused treatment of the dynamics and applications relevant to local church life, especially in the concluding applications of this essay. Drawing from the various disagreements among church leaders in the book of Acts, this framework unfolds along two pathways for preserving unity.^{22 .}Apart from Acts and Paul’s confrontation of Peter in Galatians 2:11–14 (which is included in this essay), the rest of the New Testament does not narrate conflicts among or with elders. The following Scriptures are also relevant to this study, even though Acts remains the primary focus: Romans 14:1–15:7; 1 Corinthians 1:10–17; 3:3–9; 8–10; Ephesians 4:1–16; Philippians 4:2–3; 1 Timothy 5:19–20; Titus 3:10–11; Hebrews 13:7, 17. 

First, our hope, prayer, and effort should be that God will use our disagreements to display the unity of the Spirit. This can happen when we either reach a unanimous agreement or extend loving acceptance to one another despite our differences.

Second, when a disagreement escalates into a dispute that divides the membership or elder board, God protects the unity of the church through our responses: either by acknowledging his sovereignty as people separate or by admonishing the unrepentant.^{33 .}A survey of the disagreements that are recorded in the book of Acts reveals two broad categories of conflict within the early church: disagreements that display unity and disputes that divide. Understanding the difference between these is crucial for guiding how churches respond to conflict today. Christopher Landau also makes a distinction between “disagreements” and “disputes.” He defines disagreements as a “want of agreement or harmony; difference; discordancy, diversity, discrepancy” that does not inherently imply hostility or damage. Unlike a conflict or a dispute—which involve active contention, vehemence, and relational rupture—a disagreement marks a lack of unanimity but remains an opportunity for constructive engagement (Landau, A Theology of Disagreement, pp. 17–22). Landau emphasizes that disagreements are often fleeting moments where differences emerge but have not yet become toxic or divisive. His focus is precisely on these initial stages, encouraging the church to cultivate ethical practices that allow disagreements to be faced in a loving, respectful manner, thus preserving peace and unity. Additionally, several episodes in Acts (e.g., 4:1–22; 5:17–42; 12:1–25; 13:44–45) depict disagreements arising from outside the church—whether Peter and John’s Spirit-filled boldness before religious authorities or Paul and Barnabas’s response to Jewish jealousy and public contradiction in Pisidian Antioch. In both cases, the apostles modeled bold proclamation, steadfastness in prayer, and a willingness to move on from unfruitful disputes, showing that mission faithfulness does not require agreement from all hearers. While such passages provide valuable instruction for responding to external opposition, this essay focuses on disagreements within the context of local church relationships. 

How God Used Disagreements in Acts to Strengthen the Church 

Even though disagreements are often discouraging, Luke records several in Acts that display the Spirit’s power to unite his people. In Acts 6:1–7, a complaint arose from Hellenistic widows who felt neglected in the daily food distribution. Unlike Israel’s wilderness grumblings, which bred deadly division, this concern became the catalyst for Spirit-led unity. The apostles appointed seven men to oversee the distribution, the whole congregation was “pleased,” (Acts 6:5) and “the word of God continued to increase” (Acts 6:7). In the post-Pentecost church, complaints that once destroyed God’s people now prompt solutions that strengthen the body.

In Acts 10–11, Peter faced criticism from Jewish believers for eating with Gentiles. Instead of withdrawing, he patiently explained the events that led him there. His clear account silenced critics and moved them to praise God for granting repentance to the Gentiles (Acts 11:18). Wrongly criticized because of misunderstandings, Peter answered with grace and clarity. As a result, the Spirit turned criticism into worship.

A weightier example appears in Acts 15, when “no small dissension and debate” arose over whether Gentile believers must be circumcised to be saved. The apostles, elders, and congregation heard testimonies from Peter, Paul, and Barnabas, followed by James’s scriptural reasoning. Together they reached a Spirit-led consensus that preserved unity without compromising the gospel. Even large disagreements can be resolved through biblical dialogue and submission to the Spirit.

Finally, in Acts 18:24–28, Priscilla and Aquila met Apollos, an eloquent preacher who knew only John’s baptism. They “took him aside and explained . . . the way of God more accurately,” enabling him to refute opponents even more powerfully (Acts 18:26, 28). This shows how correction, given and received humbly, can make preaching more fruitful and strengthen a church’s witness.

Two Paths to Unity When We Disagree 

1. Agreement 

As these examples in Acts show, God often works through local church disagreements to produce Spirit-empowered unity. Ideally, the Spirit unites us by bringing us to unanimous agreement, having all things in common (Acts 2:44) and being “of one heart and soul” (Acts 4:32). In our day, amid widespread disunity and polarization, we need God’s Word to remind us that his Spirit is still uniting hearts and lives in deep fellowship and conviction.

Yet unanimity is not the only way the Spirit displays his unifying power.

2. Acceptance 

At other times, unity comes through acceptance. Even when convictions differ, believers can embrace one another in love, refusing to divide unless God’s Word requires it. Acts 10–11 provides a prime example. After receiving a vision and being led by the Spirit to Cornelius’s household, Peter declared, “God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean” (Acts 10:28). Later, at the Jerusalem Council, Peter testified that God “made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith” (Acts 15:9) and concluded, “We believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will” (Acts 15:11).

Therefore, the unity within local churches must not be based on ethnicity, education, or social status, but on the Spirit’s work of cleansing the hearts of all who put their faith in Christ. This radical redefinition of who is acceptable in God’s eyes requires us to embrace everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself (Acts 2:39). If we submit all our differences under the lordship of Christ, God’s Spirit will lead us either to full agreement or loving acceptance of one another, even amid a whole host of disagreements.

This should be especially true for elders in a local church. If strong disagreements about weighty moral and ethical issues exist on your elder board, this may not be a cause for concern. It can be healthy for elders to hold differing convictions while maintaining unity and modeling loving acceptance.

Some members may initially be troubled to learn that their elders disagree on significant issues (e.g., vaccines, child education, alcohol use, political views, or theological interpretations), but Paul’s exhortation in Romans 15:5–7 is critical. After a lengthy discussion about issues of conscience, he did not require agreement on his views about food sacrificed to idols; rather, he urged the Roman Christians to live in harmony and welcome one another amid diversity. Likewise, elders should exemplify love, unity, and patience, even when holding strong convictions on matters not explicitly addressed in the church’s statement of faith or covenant.

Reflecting on Disagreements: Questions for Elders and Members 

With that in mind, if you are an elder or member facing disagreement with your church leadership on significant issues like remarriage, fertility treatments, or missions, consider the following reflection questions:

• Do I believe the Holy Spirit can bring unity to the members of my church, despite our disagreements?
• Am I listening to both sides of the argument, recognizing that my disagreement might come from incomplete information, misunderstandings, or a need for further teaching from God’s Word?
• How do your church’s foundational documents (such as the statement of faith, church covenant, or constitution) and position papers written by the elders address the issue of disagreement?^{44 .}If your church has not adopted robust foundational documents, it should consider doing so. These documents provide essential guidance for handling disagreements, helping the church perform “theological triage” by distinguishing core gospel convictions from secondary or emerging issues. They also assist leaders in “finding the right hills to die on,” ensuring that unity is preserved without compromising the essential truths of the gospel.
• While divorce, remarriage, abortion, and missions qualifications have been discussed for generations, newer issues like IVF, embryo adoption, and artificial intelligence may take months or years for churches to understand and apply God’s Word faithfully. Is this issue likely to become added to or an amendment of your church’s statement of faith?
• Is the disagreement a direct application of your church’s official doctrines and documents, or does it involve several steps of interpretation or implication?^{55 .}In my experience, American members and pastors would benefit from deeper relationships with Christians from other cultures and should consider seeking their counsel. Many pastors and missionaries worldwide serve in contexts where faithful church options are scarce or distant, making transfers or moves impractical. In such settings, leaders must carefully discern which doctrinal or ethical issues are significant enough to warrant division. Observing how churches navigate disagreements under these constraints can help American believers prioritize unity, distinguish core gospel convictions from secondary matters, and exercise patience and humility in conflicts that might otherwise lead to separation. 
• Before resigning my eldership or membership and moving to another church, am I willing to give this situation extra time, prayer, and patience?

God commands us to speak and act toward one another with grace and kindness, even amid disagreement. The New Testament repeatedly calls us to wage war against our sinful flesh, which produces strife, jealousy, and division that undermine the church’s witness (1 Cor. 3:3; Gal. 5:19–21; Eph. 4:31–32; Phil. 2:14–15; Col. 3:5–8). Yet when approached with humility, prayer, and love, God can use disagreements not only to preserve unity but also to strengthen the body of Christ. By pursuing agreement when possible and extending gracious acceptance when not, we reflect the Spirit’s power to bind the church together in genuine, godly unity.

God Works Through Disputes That Divide to Protect Church Unity 

While Acts encourages agreement and acceptance amid disagreements, it also offers sober examples and helpful instruction for when disputes escalate and divide the membership of local churches. As Paul warns in Acts 20:28–29, “fierce wolves” will arise from within to harm the flock, making vigilant and courageous shepherding essential to maintaining church health and unity.

Luke’s candid record of early church conflicts teaches that when sharp disagreements become divisive disputes, we must carefully discern whether we should acknowledge God’s sovereign purpose in the separation or admonish the unruly to protect the rest of the body. The following examples from Acts and Galatians 2 illustrate these two necessary responses to safeguard the unity and mission of the church.

First, in Acts 15:36–41, Paul and Barnabas experienced “a sharp disagreement” over whether to include John Mark on a missionary journey. No matter what we conclude about whether Paul or Barnabas was in the right, this dispute was not resolved and resulted in them parting ways. Yet it doubled their missionary effort. Barnabas took Mark to Cyprus, and Paul partnered with Silas to continue elsewhere.

Similarly, in Acts 21:10–14, Paul faced a difficult disagreement with his companions who warned him of impending danger in Jerusalem. When persuasion failed, his companions submitted to God’s sovereign will, recognizing their human limitations and trusting God’s providence. This account shows us that sometimes honoring God’s sovereignty means accepting that unanimity is not always possible and painful separations are part of God’s plans.

This story of separation reminds us that sometimes we need to simply acknowledge God’s sovereignty in sending, moving, and governing the affairs of his people. Therefore, when local church unity or fellowship is no longer possible—whether for good reasons like church planting or sending out missionaries, or because of less encouraging reasons like disputes dividing elders and members—we need to preserve the unity that exists in the broader body of Christ.

On the other hand, the early church also faced internal threats that required firm admonishment to protect its unity. In Acts 5:1–11, Ananias and Sapphira’s deceit regarding their offering threatened the communal unity of the Jerusalem church (Acts 4:32–37). The Holy Spirit’s swift and severe judgment served as divine discipline. This story should caution elders from avoiding necessary confrontations with the members of the church. To guard the body from further harm, God’s people need pastors who are filled with both courage and compassion. They need the very courage that Paul demonstrated when he publicly confronted Peter for withdrawing from fellowship with Gentile believers under pressure (Gal. 2:11–14). Peter’s hypocrisy compromised the gospel, and Paul’s admonishment was necessary to maintain the unity of the Spirit centered on the gospel. Therefore, preserving the church’s unity sometimes requires admonishing unruly leaders or members to prevent them from dividing the rest of the church.

When these examples of disagreement in Acts are considered together, they show that conflicts can become opportunities for the Spirit to display his unifying power. God may lead us either to agreement or gracious acceptance of one another despite our differences. When disputes escalate and threaten the church’s health, leaders must discern God’s will—whether by acknowledging his sovereignty in necessary separations or by admonishing those who undermine gospel unity.

In sum, elders and members facing significant moral, theological, or pastoral disagreements are called to patience, careful attention to Scripture and church foundations, and trust in the Spirit’s work. Rather than rushing toward separation, we are to pursue reconciliation, safeguarding the unity that both honors God and bears witness to the world.