• The Power & Promise of Regional Gatherings for the Equipping of Missional Churches

    October 20, 2009

    A bit of background to this post…

    I used to want to be the next Rick Warren or Bill Hybels.  What student pastor in the late 90’s didn’t?  As I look back, my misaligned, youthful arrogance was fueled in large part by the national conferences I was attending.  Predicated on the modern notion that bigger is always better, these conferences communicated and celebrated the paradoxical and lamentable reality of “Christian celebrity.”

    These conferences sprang up from and in turn sought to facilitate the modern megachurch phenomenon.  And, in my opinion, did/do more harm than good.  In the Christian world, when it comes to conferences, the national variety tends to capitalize on the “cool factor,” something that seems grossly out of place to me now for those who follow a crucified Savior.

    At national conferences there are typically big name speakers, higher attendance and more bells and whistles.  (Maybe even a dude jumping into a foot of water from 35 feet up?)  National conferences, at least the better ones, can have value for inspiring people I suppose, but I would venture to say that regional gatherings possess far more power and value in terms of their ability to help shape and equip the church and her leaders.  Here’s just a few reasons why I say that.

    • Relationships are more easily cultivated and sustained
    • With greater ease and interest, topics of conversation move from the theoretical to the practical
    • Traveling costs are much lower
    • Conference costs are much lower (if not free like Verge LA which my friend JR Woodward (@dreamawakener) is helping to put together
    • Conversations regarding context and culture gain more immediate traction
    • The loss of the “cool factor” translates into a higher caliber of fellow attenders
    • Virtually everyone gets to participate in meaningful ways
    • There is greater access to gifted people who would probably never get invited to present at a national gathering because they are w/o book deals and cult followings
    • There is no hype to distract from the more important issues being addressed
    • Young and impressionable leaders aren’t made to feel inadequate or handed delusions of grandeur

    For these reasons and still others, I am hopeful that we will see more and more groups who exist to strengthen the missional church and her leaders investing in regional gatherings.  And where and when national gatherings continue, my hope is that they will focus on supporting regional networks, leaving the hype behind.

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    Posted in: church, conference, leadership, missional, modernity, networking, preaching/teaching, stewardship, sustainability, western culture

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Recent Comments

  • Stewart said...

    1

    After reading your post a few times, I agree with your assessment of large national conferences as most are produced today. I'm not sure you can put all national conferences in the same "cool factor" boat though. But I don't think that was your intention.

    I do take issue with one of your reasons for producing and attending regioal conferences. You say: "The loss of the “cool factor” translates into a higher caliber of fellow attenders". Maybe it's just me, but this sounds a little prejucial toward those of us who may not be up to a certain "caliber". I don't think you intend to imply that caliber equates to value. So what do you mean by "higher caliber"?

    10/20/09 2:28 PM | Comment Link

  • jrrozko said...

    2

    Hey Stew. I was thinking/hoping someone might ask that. By "higher caliber," I mean that after weeding out the folks who just attend conferences to stoke their own egos, try to make a name for themselves, and rub shoulders with big names, you are left with the people who are most concerned with whatever whatever the focus of the gathering actually is. In my mind, these are the truly high caliber folks. You're just my kind of caliber friend ;)

    10/20/09 2:37 PM | Comment Link

  • Steve K. said...

    3

    Great points, JR!

    FYI – I'm helping organize a free regional gathering on missional community formation that'll be held at Wesley Seminary in Washington, D.C., April 30-May 2, 2010. More details TBA – please follow me on Twitter to get updates as more info becomes available ;-)

    Shalom,
    Steve K.

    10/20/09 3:09 PM | Comment Link

  • Tweets that mention The Power & Promise of Regional Gatherings for the Equipping of Missional Churches -- Topsy.com said...

    4

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    10/20/09 9:17 AM | Comment Link

  • Regional Gatherings: Power, Promise said...

    5

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    10/20/09 9:37 AM | Comment Link

  • Stewart said...

    6

    I'm just a 22 in the midst of 50 cals. Good for target practice, but not much else. Next step is a 9mm.

    10/20/09 5:05 PM | Comment Link

  • Ben Sternke said...

    7

    JR – great thoughts, man! I whole-heartedly agree. JR's VERGE 09 is a wonderful example of the kinds of events I think are going to become vital and important for those truly interested in leading and equipping missional churches.

    You know this, but I attended that kind of meeting this past week in New York (graciously hosted by Trinity Grace Church. The "conference" was free (we paid our own expenses), and the 30 or so people who attended were ALL "high caliber" according to your definition: people in the trenches doing this stuff. Everyone contributed something, and it was a truly mutually edifying time. We're trying to do something like it in Fort Wayne in January 2010.

    10/21/09 1:13 AM | Comment Link

  • jrrozko said...

    8

    Thanks Ben. Rest assured, I'm there.

    10/21/09 2:59 AM | Comment Link

  • @mrudzena said...

    9

    JR — i generally agree with you and think you have been able to articulate well the negative aftermath created by national hype-oriented gatherings. i still think there is a time and place for the kinds of conversations and issues that are addressed at many of the national gatherings. i believe the desire to get as many people as possible exposed to the conversations and issues is admirable.

    unfortunately, these organizations often resort to the same consumer methods of hype that tend to be manipulative and coercive. one wonders if the "big crowd" doesn't subtly become an end in itself with revenues often skyrocketing with the sale of attendee contact lists to christian organizations wishing to solicit.

    i too went to the church planters roundtable in NYC hosted by Trinity Grace Church and was deeply refreshed and stirred by the conversations. The smallness and robustness of the group allowed for shared experiences and meaningful relationships to emerge that will prove in our story to be irreplaceable.

    the best part of the national gatherings for me has typically been the meals and conversations during breaks and at night with comrades in the trenches. why not organize concentrated times of this kind of interaction among practitioners?

    10/21/09 5:10 PM | Comment Link

  • jrrozko said...

    10

    Hey Michael. I get what you are saying, my concern is what we might inadvertently be sacrificing in our quest to "expose as many people as possible" to the issues addressed at national gatherings. In one sense, it may actually be more fitting to think on an even grander scale with more intentionality and planning. For instance, Amy was chosen as a delgate to the 2010 Lausanne conference in S. Africa. which will be HUGE, but the format, structure, and scope of it is so different than the sort of thing I am talking about here, that it doesn't fall prey to the same criticisms. I am not so cynical so as to presume that good never results from normal national conferences, even of the sort you described. But, I am trying to add my voice to the mix of those who would dream of something different altogether.

    10/21/09 7:57 PM | Comment Link

  • geoff holslcaw said...

    11

    hey guys, JR Woodword told me that his Verge gathering was inspired by the Missional Learning Commons meetings in Ft. Wayne. So now we have to one-up him and make our midwest unconference even more unconferency so that it is the most miniscule and non-national conference ever!!!! hah, but really, I'm looking forward to the january meeting here…

    10/22/09 12:13 AM | Comment Link

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