Catalyst, NYWC, Open Space and Future Conventions Part 4

Every meeting, every time we gather either transforms us more into who we are made to be, or solidifies us more into our broken past.

But not only every meeting. Every conversation.

I'm still learning this and getting my head around this, so please bear with me.

This has huge implications for both the future of the church and the future of events, conventions and conferences hosted by convening organizations.

I've got big hopes for the future of the church and for events that will transform the church.

Everyday I spend time with Senior Pastors, Executive Pastors, Youth Pastors and of course the non-paid people of the church. I'm convinced that the single greatest barrier to the growth of God's church in America had little to do with stubborn congregations (though there are some) or the unwillingness of congregations to engage in their kids lives (though this certainly happens), but the greatest barrier to the growth of God's church in America is the posture and leadership style of the most mature within the church, most often pastors.

The future of ministry has less to do with the pastor vision for his/her people and much more about the ways in which the pastor brings people together.
Less to do with what the pastor says, than the environment the pastor cultivates.
Less to do with managing power, and more to do with navigating critical conversations.

This has big implications for events like NYWC and Catalyst

The collective wisdom, experience and potential in a gathering like NYWC is staggering. Staggering and humbling. It should bring us to our knees. God is unleashing his kingdom within the world through these folks. Young and old.

It's too bad that we settle (often unintentionally) too often for collecting experts to pass on answers, opinions, and experience to us. We settle because the experts like it this way. We settle because people will pay big money with big hopes for life change from the experts. Don't get me wrong. the experts have their place. Just like the rest of us. We all have something to contribute.
This is why Open Space at NYWC is a small step in the right direction.

But there is resistance to the status quo. More than one expert has challenged my thoughts asking me, "What about the collective ignorance of the people?" To which I ponder for a moment and wonder aloud, "Our ignorance or theirs?"

There were attendees who said things to me like, "I didn't pay $250 to hear from a 30 year old talk about his opinion on something." It's the kind of thing that makes you wonder about professionalism of ministry and the consumption and entitlement the whole system breeds in all of us.

All meetings and gatherings either thrust us into transformation or solidify our past and connection to the status quo.

Put more bluntly: Most solutions offered at conventions only lead back into the problem. They don't transform, they further root us into dependence on the problem. Furthermore, they don't lead us toward faithfulness, but rather entitlement.

Most gatherings in the church or events are information exchanges. Perhaps it's the reduction of the gospel to an idea others need to agree with, or the individualism of our past. It really makes no difference. Those can be deconstructed elsewhere. Information is useless without transformation. Useless is putting it nicely.

Transformation comes from engagement not simply from information.

Transformation is undermined by both the overwhelming need the attendee has to find solutions or wonderful experiences and the Convener to make it worth their while and remarkable or twitter worthy.

How is transformation in the hearts of people passed on in 140 characters anyway?

Both seem like great motivations, but both are transformation killers.

Transformation and entitlement are mutually exclusive.

Transformation and expertise are mutually exclusive as well.

There is a better option for us all.

I'm optimistic that it's coming because I believe both the convener and the attendee are becoming more willing to question the old ways of gathering. They are willing to look at themselves, their motivations, the ways in which they come together and their expectations of each other. Only this will break down the biggest barrier facing the church in the US.

I know I'm ready. Change me God.

more soon.

Open Space @ NYWC

I'm in LA at the National Youth Worker's Convention and I want to write a couple random thoughts about a risky move YS just made today and how I believe it is the beginning of something new.

Open Space is exactly what the church needs.

I believe the future of the church is in gatherings that use Open Space, World Cafe and the like.

I won't try to explain exactly what it is, because you simply have to experience it to understand.

First, Organizations that use Open Space believe in the power and gifts of people. In this case, YS is risking their future, on the very people they serve not because it is flashy, or fancy, or trendy, or spectacular, but because it represents and embodies the very values, and hopes YS has for the church and youth ministry. It appears as if YS believes that the power for shaping the future, is not exclusively found in the hands of experts, (I'd suggest very little is in the hands of experts actually), and that the thousands of people attending the conventions have more collective wisdom, and insight than any of the best speakers, or seminar leaders in the world.

Ironically, this is risky, frankly because many youth pastors (and pastors) don't believe in themselves as much as YS believes in them. There are people who didn't attend the conference because they wanted to hear experts.

YS (and the publishing world) is partly to blame for this NEED for experts to give practical advice. For years they have graded their speakers and presenters on how practical they are. Practical advice from experts is deadly.

People need each other. People need community. People need insight from others. this is completely true. We all need guidance. But...

I'm going to be direct here.
People who NEED experts believe a lie. The Lie: That there is a right way to do ministry out there somewhere, I don't immediately know what it is, and if I can just find the answer, then my ministry will be okay. LIE. That when the experts come in and give you 5 easy and practical steps to.... (whatever) There's a lot of money made by this kind of thing. There isn't one way to do ministry. There isn't A way to do great ministry. There aren't 5 characteristics that must be true about your youth ministry. Youth Pastor after Youth Pastor that I meet with consulting feel the same thing. That their ministry SHOULD be something else. they come to me to find out what it is. What do I tell them?

Stop worrying about all the stuff you think you should be doing, because someone else does, or thinks you should, etc. Look around the halls of your church. Gather some people together who are committed to the mission of your church and ask, what are you passionate about. Whatever they say, That is what your church should do.

NEEDING EXPERTS is a convenient excuse not to take the responsibility that is yours as the youth pastor. If you NEED experts, it's because you are unwilling to own the responsibility for the ministry yourself.

Am I being to harsh?

The Open Space YS creates at their conventions is the start of what the church needs to be about.

If you thought it was a waste in LA and skipped it, you missed out.
If you are going to Cinci, or Atlanta don't miss this. It is kind of thing that will bring about the future of the church.

That is not hyperbole. It is real.

What do you think?