Resolving Conflict Creatively
- davidwperk
- Jun 25
- 6 min read
Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Proper 7, the week of the second Sunday after Pentecost
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrase for reflection from today’s Acts reading.
6:1Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food.
(You will find the full text of today’s Acts reading at the end of this reflection.)
Daily Office Readings (BCP, 972)
AM Psalm 101, 109:1-4(5-19)20-30; PM Psalm 119:121-144
1 Samuel 7:2-17; Acts 6:1-15; Luke 22:14-23
Today we celebrate the Feast of James Weldon Johnson. (See below.)
David's Reflection
Conflict resolution specialists talk about the ping-pong ball vs. bowling ball issues in a conflict. The ping-pong ball issues are those matters being batted back and forth across the table. The underlying bowling ball issues roll beneath the ping-pong table (who's in charge, who likes whom, and so forth). If you watch only the ping-pong balls, those rumbling bowling balls under the table can do serious damage to your ankles.
The earliest faith communities wrestled with serious conflict issues. Most of Paul's letters were responses to conflict in churches he had planted. (See especially Galatians and 1 and 2 Corinthians.) In today’s Acts reading, some of the widows in the community were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. Widows were particularly vulnerable financially because there were so few ways for an adult woman to support herself and women had little legal standing in Roman culture and even less in Jewish culture.
So, the neglect of the widows gave rise to the ping-pong ball issue. But, when you look at the names of the seven appointed to minister to them, all the names are Greek. The underlying bowling ball issue had to do with the place and role of the Greek-speaking Jews in the Acts faith community, those who were not native to Palestine. They brought a different philosophy to the early communities, especially about the place of nonJews in those communities. Resembling Paul, they advocated for a more moderate practice of Jewish ritual law with more porous boundaries for nonJewish people.
Almost to underline that point, the person whose ministry comes to the front immediately is Stephen, one of those seven. Luke tells the story of the conflict in our reading mainly to get Stephen and Philip (another of the seven) onto the stage of the story in Acts. Stephen's speech in Acts 7 got him stoned, primarily because he recited a litany of great acts of God that happened outside Judea. Stephen had the temerity to suggest that God always had been at work among the Gentiles, even in the time of Abraham, and that the Temple as a central sanctuary was not nearly so important as some of the stricter pious Jews believed. Philip provoked discomfort among the Palestinian Jewish Christians by taking the Christian message to Samaritans (Acts 8).
Conflict arises as an inevitable byproducts of missional endeavor. Strong
community bonds make it easier to normalize the experience of differences and of conflict itself. Differences over mission can deepen the bonds of community and sharpen a church’s missional focus. We can respond to difference by treasuring it and learning from it.
These new faith communities reported in the Acts account resolved conflict in creative fashion. They dealt honestly with the issues and found a way to bring closure, and their way of resolving conflict put mission and service at the center Would that we could do the same and do it well--pay close attention to the ping-pong balls and look for the underlying bowling ball issues, the feelings and needs of the people involved. Community and mutual understanding will grow if we do.
Treasuring difference and resolving conflicts to enhance and further the mission of sharing the Good News of Jesus would have us following the example of the earliest believers. (For another example of resolution of conflict in favor of mission, see Galatians 2:1-10.)
Collect of the Day, Proper 7, the second Sunday after Pentecost
O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 230)
Today we celebrate the Feast of James Weldon Johnson, educator and poet (died 26 June 1938 CE).
Collect of the Feast of James Weldon Johnson
Eternal God, who gave your servant James Weldon Johnson a heart and voice to praise your Name in verse: As he gave us powerful words to glorify you, may we also speak with joy and boldness to banish hatred from your creation; in the Name of Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
A Collect for Grace
Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100)
For the Diocese
O God, by your grace you have called us in this Diocese to a goodly fellowship of faith. Bless our Bishop, our priest and deacon, and all our people. Grant that your Word may be truly preached and truly heard, your Sacraments faithfully administered and faithfully received. By your Spirit, fashion our lives according to the example of your Son, and grant that we may show the power of your love to all among whom we live; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 817)
A Prayer for Light
Lighten our darkness, we beseech you, O Lord; and by your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, Jesus Christ, Amen. (BCP, 111)
A Collect for Mission
Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. (BCP, 101)
Daily Office Epistle, Acts 6:1-15
6:1Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. 2And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, 4while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.’ 5What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 7The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
8 Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. 9Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. 10But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. 11Then they secretly instigated some men to say, ‘We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.’ 12They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council. 13They set up false witnesses who said, ‘This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; 14for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us.’ 15And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer
Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer
Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer
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