The problem is that with a religion "power-play" will inevitably descend into bickering, because there are very few ways in which power can be siezed and enemies removed, especially when both sides are supported by priests. SA is so big that any potential schismaics are too afraid to start their own orders and so what you get is a broad church containing various opposing factions that will always bicker.
Nevertheless I would say the current controversy is merely the usual byproduct of a democratic election. The real problem occurs in-between elections when we get the same old controversies repeated over and over again, with Elders unable to act for fear of causing a storm.