Rev. Daniel Torkelson
Torkelson describes a ministry marked by congregational conflict and his search for a pastoral rather than a psychological approach to it. He surveys the family systems model of Bowen, Friedman, and Steinke, notes its useful observations, and warns against its dangers, including the temptation to analyze the congregation and to treat power as authority. He argues instead for treating conflict as the care of souls: living a holy life in the office, distinguishing sin from its consequences, and visiting and listening to the people before conflict arises.