Every congregation needs a little conflict. Why? Because congregations without conflict are dead or dying. Conflict is a typical, common component of life. A byproduct of conflict is energy and passion. Conflict forces decisions and action. I have written this piece to introduce congregations to the possibility of developing the capacity to handle the inevitable conflicts that come along. If congregations will develop this capacity during times of healthy conflict, they will be equipped to handle periodic unhealthy conflict situations.