Ep. 316: When elders disagree with each other

Ep. 316: When elders disagree with each other

From Trench Talk by Practical Shepherding

February 24, 2026 · 30 min

About this episode

This episode discusses the dynamics of disagreement among church elders and the importance of unity in decision-making.

(02:36) Biblical Framework for Unity and Disagreement (05:00) Different Kinds of Elders & Influence vs. Authority (08:12) Helping Quieter / Younger Elders Speak Up (10:14 Categories of Decisions: Must Agree vs. May Differ (11:39) Decisions that Require Unanimous Agreement (13:38) Membership and Church Documents (14:49) Pulpit Access and Preaching Priority (17:41) When Majority Rule Is Appropriate (19:35) Practical Areas of Disagreement (Money, Mission, Benevolence) (21:50) Conscience, Yielding, and the “Dr. No” Elder (23:39) The Centrality of Trust and Relationship (25:05) Being Heard vs. Being Agreed With (27:05) The Joy of Healthy Plurality (28:30) Final word & Prayer

Topics covered

  • unity
  • disagreement
  • elders
  • church governance
  • decision making
  • trust
  • plurality

Keywords

  • biblical framework
  • authority
  • membership
  • pulpit access
  • majority rule
  • practical disagreement

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