Do different types of religious congregations exhibit different patterns of conflict? This study examines the effects of size, polity type and cultural orientation on conflict patterns in 24 suburban Protestant and Catholic congregations. The purpose of the study is two—fold. The first is to examine the effects of a liberal versus a conservative cultural orientation on congregational conflict. Conservative churches are said to have better maintained their religious authority, to serve as a more stable anchor for personal identity, and to bind members into a close—knit community more effectively than do liberal congregations. If these differences are real, they should directly influence conflict patterns ——the nature of commitment and the clarity of the authority structure should affect both the frequency and the intensity of local conflict. In addition, the study will examine differences in conflict patterns in light of cultural and organizational theories of conflict. Resource dependency predicts conflict will occur when critical resources are threatened —— for example when problems arise with denominational authorities or when demographic changes threaten the congregation’s traditional membership base. Does cultural orientation affect the congregation’s ability to adapt to such crises? Or, are features of local (congregational) history or culture more salient? Conversely, some cultural theories of conflict predict a pattern of diffuse, particularistic conflict triggered by internal cleavages or the application of different institutional logics to the same decision—event. Which type of explanation makes better sense of congregational conflict? Understanding local conflict is an important step in a broader understanding how local religious organizations remain viable. Recasting the effects of historical changes in cultural orientation into theoretical questions is a first step in developing a systematic look at how local congregations inspire member commitment, adapt to community change, and manage conflict over time.