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The author of Firestorm knows firsthand what he writes about. A church devastated by conflict invited him to serve as interim leader, to help them recover and prepare for a new leader. At the end of his term, its elders emphatically agreed with his idea to write a book about the lessons learned. “If our trouble can be turned around to help other churches,” they said, “it will make our victory doubly wonderful.”

The topic of Firestorm is conflict, and Susek tells stories—compilations drawn from true stories—full of suspense and plot twists. Some of the dialogue reads like screenplay from a dramatic movie.

Susek uses story to illustrate what he calls the lifecycle of a firestorm. For those in the middle of church conflict, it’s a useful roadmap, and a reassurance that others have survived the experience.

Understanding that there is a lifecycle is key. From the perspective of the church member and even some church leaders, the firestorm appears suddenly, as if started by lightning strike. Everything seems fine—then seemingly without warning there are dramatic threats of firing or resignation. Last week’s small group leaders meeting was mind-numbingly routine; this week people shout at each other and some leave the room in tears. Churches that grow year after year—fearing nothing worse than a slowdown—lose ten years of work in one month!

However, Susek shows that firestorms aren’t started by lightening strike, even if it feels that way to most of us. The seeds of devastating conflict are sown years in advance. “Water” that could be used to extinguish a firestorm is slowly drained with no replenishment. Fuel for the flames gather bit by bit; sparks ignite and small fires are allowed to smolder, gathering heat. What seems to be a sudden conflagration is, in fact, often years in the making.

Susek gives practical advice on dealing with a firestorm, but in truth, once a firestorm has erupted it’s usually too late to stop it, and it runs its destructive course. Accordingly, most of the teaching is geared towards the aftermath. Survivors survey the damage and ask, is it really over? Will the church ever be like it was before? Why did this happen? What now?

I read Firestorm in 2003, a year of upheaval in our fellowship of churches. Four years later, the latter chapters of the book mean more to me now. Susek describes what both churches and church leaders need on the other side of a firestorm:

What Post-Firestorm Churches Need from Leaders:

• Courage. “Unanswered questions create fear that will make the congregation overly cautious, even resistant to recovery efforts….Boldly address the questions and fears head-on with sound biblical explanations.”
  

• Confidence. “If the leadership is to take flak, let it be over the truth and not for some made-up reason….Do not respond in panic, however, every time a member challenges a decision or action. If…based upon biblical reasons and carried out in humble obedience to God, it generally will prevail and quiet the disturbance.”
  

• Faithful Vision. “Faith must be awakened and positively challenged….practical steps must be put into place to focus the people’s hope on a fresh vision. The congregation will extend a period of grace to the leadership if it sees a plan of action being put into place….While discouragement will exist in the congregation, there is no place for it in the leadership.”
  

What Post-Firestorm Leaders Need from the Church:

• Reconciliation. “It is critical that the church makes an honest assessment of the damage done to the pastor. The issue is not whether the pastor was right or wrong but the church’s treatment of the pastor. It is vital to make amends for any improper treatment…or the seeds of destruction will reside in the church. God will not bless the church that tries to bring a harvest out of poisoned ground.”
  

• Encouragement. “A church must minister to its minister for Christ’s sake….The work of the church must be redemptive in every aspect, especially in it’s treatment of pastors. Only when churches care for their pastors can they bring security to the sheep. And only then will the church encourage the best of its pastor’s potential, since no one ever works well in fear and insecurity.”
  

Military strategist Carl von Clausewitz used “fog” as a metaphor for the uncertainty that descends over a battlefield once fighting begins. The church is on the front lines of a spiritual war. Church firestorms are dense fogs of confusion and disorientation. Susek helps readers see through the fog when the battle lines move from “out there” to inside the church.

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FIRESTORM: PREVENTING AND OVERCOMING CHURCH CONFLICTS

By Ron Susek

252 pp. Baker Books, 1999.

While working as a student intern for a small church, an older man half-jokingly told me, “Kelcy, there are only three kinds of churches: churches that are getting over a serious problem, churches that are in the middle of a serious problem, and churches that are about to experience a serious problem.”

He was exaggerating for effect, but these were wise words. After all, we expect conflict between the church and the world. But we’re taken by surprise when the battle lines into the very church itself.

We prepare young Christians for battle with the world, and steel them for persecution. Can you imagine a class for young Christians about conflict in the church? It’s just not something we anticipate.