About the Book It is the contention of this book that the majority of propositions perceived as cultural compromise (heresy) are, in fact, merely a step towards effective contextualisation rather than a settled formulation. This being the case, an understanding and application of Hegel's three-step dialectic will serve to hasten and enhance the process and minimise the accompanying conflict. Accordingly, it is the responsibility of ecclesial to personally model the dialectical process and to equip their members to participate. It concludes with four essential principles of a dialectical strategy: advance preparation, training in critical assessment, commitment to communal synthesis and the acceptance that this is a continuing need.

This book will be meaningfully used by the scholarly world the Academics who are involved in educating the ecclesial leadership; the Students of theology, ministry, church history and Intercultural (mission) studies; Ecclesial Leadership Pastors, Ministeries - and their Superiors; and above all the Christian population in general.

About the Author Rev. Warren G. Ison [Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, Diploma of Teaching, Bachelor of Ministry, Master of Ministry and PhD (candidate)] has spent more than 30 years in leadership ministry, including army education officer, school teacher, Bible college lecturer, youth pastor, senior pastor, CEO of a welfare organisation, teaching elder, administrator and denominational leader. He is currently the Head of the Perth Campus of Tabor College in Australia. Warren is married to Ann and they have three married children and six grandchildren.

Introduction A simple perusal of history reveals numerous instances of Church division resulting from disagreements over theology or praxis. Gene Edwards (1984:1) suggests that approximately four percent of protestant congregations in the United States will divide in a twelve- month period. "affecting the lives of at least a million professing believers." In Preventing a Church Split (1987), he declares that his readers either recovering from, in the midst of or about to experience a Church split.

**Contents and Sample Pages**