Mending the Fracturing Church Invites Congregations to Face Conflict with Courage and Hope
Rev. Dr. Andrew Hale’s Mending the Fracturing Church: How to Navigate Conflict and Build Trust for Thriving Communities Releases February 5, 2026
Across the life of the church, many congregations are feeling the pressure of a changing world. Differences across generations, decline in attendance, rising cultural tension and internal disagreements have left communities of faith searching for ways to remain connected.
Mending the Fracturing Church: How to Navigate Conflict and Build Trust for Thriving Communities by Rev. Dr. Andrew Hale speaks directly to this reality, offering churches practical guidance and tools for strengthening relationships and renewing shared purpose.
Drawing on organizational psychology, Scriptural foundation, theological reflection, and stories from real congregational contexts, Hale invites churches to confront the issues that divide them—not with fear, defensiveness, or avoidance but with curiosity, courage and a commitment to relationship. The book provides tools for identifying biases, communication patterns, emotional systems, and conflict dynamics that underlie the tension many churches are facing today.
Brian Foreman, CBF’s coordinator of congregational ministries, reflects on the book’s value for churches in every season:
“Andy Hale has provided the local church with a great way for individuals and congregations to articulate the tensions of division or conflict they feel while making efforts to lean into the hope the Gospel offers a world that at times feels like it is coming apart at the seams.” Foreman also notes that the book’s exercises encourage proactive care for congregational health, adding: “This work is important whether your congregation is thriving or not. Do not defer maintenance just because you think things are going well enough today.”
A Faithful Response in a Polarized Age
In a cultural moment marked by sharp division, Mending the Fracturing Church calls the church to model a different way of being together—one shaped by humility, patience and faithfulness.
Larry Hovis, CBFNC executive coordinator, affirms this vision, stating: “The rampant polarization in our culture has infected far too many churches. Andy’s new book provides a much-needed alternative pathway. As Bible-believing Christ-followers, churches should be countercultural when it comes to this issue.”
Equipping the Whole Body for Leadership
Rather than focusing solely on clergy, Mending the Fracturing Church is written for entire congregations because leadership within a faith community must be a shared endeavor. Hale emphasizes that healthy churches depend on shared responsibility where members are equipped to listen well, reflect honestly and engage difference constructively. Paul Burgess, senior pastor at University Baptist Church, highlights this emphasis: “Andy is the perfect person to write a book like this. He’s a man with strong beliefs, but the one he holds most strongly is that the Church can only truly thrive if those within it, who represent a diversity of firmly held beliefs, can hold them with sincerity and humility.”
He adds that the book reframes disagreement as a strength rather than a liability: “Our many parts [are] not a bug within Christ’s body, but its most unique and powerful feature.”
Celebration and Gratitude
We at Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina are grateful for the ways Andy has faithfully put this research into practice through his ministry and work at CBFNC, strengthening congregations and equipping leaders across our fellowship. This work is a gift to our fellowship, and we are honored to celebrate Andy in the upcoming release of Mending the Fracturing Church.
Larry Hovis shares his own affirmations: “I’m so grateful for Andy’s leadership and guidance in our fellowship and among our churches, and I commend this work to church leaders and all who love the church as a beacon of light and hope in a dark world.” We offer our congratulations to Andy and invite you to join us in celebrating this important milestone in his ministry and career!
Mending the Fracturing Church is published by Bloomsbury and will be released on February 5, 2026. It is available on Bloomsbury, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.
*Use the following discount code to save 20% on bloomsbury.com/9798881806651: 20% off with promo code: GLR BD8
About the Author
Rev. Dr. Andrew Hale has served in congregational life for more than 25 years as a pastor, church starter, denominational leader, consultant, and coach. He holds a Doctor of Leadership in Global Perspective with a focus on organizational psychology and is the creator and host of the award-winning CBF Podcast Conversation and The Clergy Confessions Podcast. He currently serves as associate executive coordinator of CBF North Carolina, one of the largest state-level entities within the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
Rev. Dr. Andrew Hale is available for interviews, clergy gatherings and denominational conversations centered on congregational health, conflict and shared leadership.
