Yesss...
It IS always hard to see churches fall apart (is it my imagination and limited experience only, or does it seem like EVERY church ends up dispersing its original members, these days? All 4 churches I attended regularly in my lifetime before CCiPH have been divided up and dwindled.).
I grew up in a Baptist church that was venerable and world-without-end unchanging, but now I hear it's down to under 50 people, most of whom were not members when I was there. It's sad when it happens, and I'm glad to see, Ken, that you feel it can be avoided, even Should be avoided.

Yet, I have to add that in the past I've seen people quit a church and go to another for very good, even godly reasons. Reasons I felt were founded in the will of God, and not merely over a disagreement. Sometimes things happen in a church that are against God's will, and unfortunately sometimes they keep on happening until the members feel they have to leave, if they want to ever be able to do the things that God calls them to do. In fact, I guess CCiPH wouldn't have half its members, if everyone had stayed with the church they started out with! I'm glad I got to meet them and fellowship with them here at CCiPH!

Of course, the reasons for leaving are often more to do with selfish things, as you brought up for an example. the Rest of the Story is that once in a while, it's the right thing to do to walk away from a church and go to another. I can say that I myself never left a church over a battle, but always because God urged me to go.

The hard part is to figure out God's will when you've had your toes squished in a battle of wills with someone else at your church. It becomes PERSONAL, then, and the first reflex is to fight and then leave in a huff. To stay and try to smooth things over is the hardest and yet most loving task a person can do. - It benefits me, when I attempt it, and it benefits the one I'm disagreeing with, and it benefits the body of Christ.

Peace is the blood of the body of Christ- it keeps things flowing as they should, keeps every part healthy and working well.
-cel