Theological Conflict: A Perspective from the Early Church by Gary Neal Hansen
Hansen is Associate Professor of Church History at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary.  He writes, "We are in a time of theological conflicts in the PC(USA). ..People on opposite sides of the issues look at the Church and are shocked. ..Conflict has always been a part of the life of the Church....this article will look at two examples of lengthy conflicts from long ago: The Donatist controversy and the Arian controversy from the early centuries of Christianity. We will see that the Church fought hard battles, that he battles were on the most foundational issues imaginable, that the battles lasted not merely for years but for centuries, and that God remained the faithful shepherd of the Church throughout."    Sep/Oct 2001 Theology Matters p. 1