A better format in my view is below.
Showing posts with label Revive15. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Revive15. Show all posts
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Programming conferences
The Revive15 conference program was unbalanced in respect of its timing.
A better format in my view is below.
A better format in my view is below.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Evaluate
One thing missing at Revive15 was evaluation. At some conferences I've attended, we've been asked to evaluate each session. That was a bit much. One evaluation for the whole event is sufficient.
For a conference such as Revive15, that is, not work, professional or academic, I think the evaluation should be a light touch, but even so, people should have an opportunity to cover the main parts of the conference.
That should cover it.
All on a four point Likert scale, with a line for optional comment.
Then, of course, sex, age band, educational level and income band (because it indicates occupational attainment and therefore general capability).
For a conference such as Revive15, that is, not work, professional or academic, I think the evaluation should be a light touch, but even so, people should have an opportunity to cover the main parts of the conference.
- Timing
- Content: main speaker/s, workshops (perhaps one line for each workshop)
- Food
- Duration
- Music
- Prayer
- Compere
- Video breaks
- Venue
- Wayfinding
- Meeting people
- Hospitality (did you feel welcomed, cared for, respected)
That should cover it.
All on a four point Likert scale, with a line for optional comment.
Then, of course, sex, age band, educational level and income band (because it indicates occupational attainment and therefore general capability).
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Don't mind me!
I was talking about Revive with a friend today who reminded me of another case of conversational busting in that I had mentioned to him.
During morning tea on day 1 I was chatting with a minister at an outer Sydney church. We were getting along quite well, but that didn't stop a pair of other members of the church he served coming up, breaking into our conversation and talking to him. No 'excuse me', no 'I, do you mind if I ignore you and talk to MY friend...'.
What is it with Christians that they can have the coarsest of manners!
During morning tea on day 1 I was chatting with a minister at an outer Sydney church. We were getting along quite well, but that didn't stop a pair of other members of the church he served coming up, breaking into our conversation and talking to him. No 'excuse me', no 'I, do you mind if I ignore you and talk to MY friend...'.
What is it with Christians that they can have the coarsest of manners!
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Deficit
My conversation with the young Baptist pastor yesterday ended oddly.
He talked about what he does, then asked what I did. I told him some of the things that interest me in my occupation. We had to leave for the start of proceedings, and he thanked me for 'telling your story'. I said 'nice chatting'.
My story? It was as though he saw our conversation not as two men chatting, but as a therapeutic dyad. It destroyed the genuine enjoyment that I had in it. Was I his 'project' for the moment? Did he seek to solve something? If so: patronising to say the least.
Then, reflecting on other similar encounters, the suspicion arose that many Baptists I've met have had a 'deficit' view of relationships: always something to be fixed, usually spiritually. Thus, not a shared time, not just people together, but one on a mission for the other who is in need.
I once had a friendship with a young woman that might have been going down this path: there were moments of genuine unselfconscious conversation, I thought, but there came a point when the course changed. I raised it, she denied...I think I had turned into a project.
This connects with the obsession in some church circles with leadership. Not is this just unreflective aping of the world, but it lacks biblical definition. One of the sessions at Revive was on developing 'leaders'. The only similar thing I find in the New Testament is people ministering. Develop your ministry! Everyone has one, and developing it will build the church, not on a deficit basis, but on a capability basis: what I/we can do, want to do, will do; each different, each contributing.
He talked about what he does, then asked what I did. I told him some of the things that interest me in my occupation. We had to leave for the start of proceedings, and he thanked me for 'telling your story'. I said 'nice chatting'.
My story? It was as though he saw our conversation not as two men chatting, but as a therapeutic dyad. It destroyed the genuine enjoyment that I had in it. Was I his 'project' for the moment? Did he seek to solve something? If so: patronising to say the least.
Then, reflecting on other similar encounters, the suspicion arose that many Baptists I've met have had a 'deficit' view of relationships: always something to be fixed, usually spiritually. Thus, not a shared time, not just people together, but one on a mission for the other who is in need.
I once had a friendship with a young woman that might have been going down this path: there were moments of genuine unselfconscious conversation, I thought, but there came a point when the course changed. I raised it, she denied...I think I had turned into a project.
This connects with the obsession in some church circles with leadership. Not is this just unreflective aping of the world, but it lacks biblical definition. One of the sessions at Revive was on developing 'leaders'. The only similar thing I find in the New Testament is people ministering. Develop your ministry! Everyone has one, and developing it will build the church, not on a deficit basis, but on a capability basis: what I/we can do, want to do, will do; each different, each contributing.
Saturday, May 16, 2015
Revive reflections
In the end, I found Revive far better in anticipation than experience. I was looking forward to it for some time, but my hopes were dashed.
How could it have been better?
A wag might say by having fewer Baptists there! It was too enclosing, I thought. A reflection of the size of the denomination, but also its less than catholic embrace of traditions and theological approaches (I mean 'catholic' as universal, not RC). There may also be a Baptist demographic that doesn't match mine.
Food: Revive put effort into the music, into selecting the speakers...but the food not so: why not? The pre-paid lunch was not value for money. If the menu had been advertised at the pay point (the website) I wouldn't have purchased. In fact the food generally was not great. Yesterday I had a sausage sandwich: much better in prospect than fact. For a few cents more decent bread could be used instead of the polystyrene horror that was served. Suggestion: outsource food to the Seventh Day Adventists, they have the touch.
Music: Polished and capable music squads, but all one style and dominating, attractive at first, but tiresome as it wore on. The stage lighting needs attention so as not to pick out the instruments left on stands while a speaker is at work. I do wish singers wouldn't embarrassingly stick a hand in the air. It looks like they're asking the conductor for a toilet break. There's something about huge staged music; it makes it look like the conference sessions are an addendum to a concert. This needs to be straightened out, seriously.
Timing: I think lunch should be shorter with 30 minutes for morning tea.
Prayer: Opportunity for structured prayer before the speaking sessions started would be great. If it were Anglican I'd like an abbreviated Morning Prayer...the Baptists need to take something from the church's past to touch the traditions of the broader faith.
Program: I know discipleship was the theme, but it can be more broadly couched. I've covered in my second Revive post some of the breadth that would be suitable.
Wayfinding: The route to every location within the venue needs to be clearly marked with big coloured direction signs. Yesterday I was roaming around lost until I could ask someone. There need to be helpers who are clearly identified: coloured overshirts with "ASK ME" would work. The person giving out pre-paid food was also a mystery...could have been anyone, this too should be clearly identified, as should the pick up location.
How could it have been better?
A wag might say by having fewer Baptists there! It was too enclosing, I thought. A reflection of the size of the denomination, but also its less than catholic embrace of traditions and theological approaches (I mean 'catholic' as universal, not RC). There may also be a Baptist demographic that doesn't match mine.
Particulars
General flow: I liked it, I liked the video clips at the start of the day. Overall it was polished.Food: Revive put effort into the music, into selecting the speakers...but the food not so: why not? The pre-paid lunch was not value for money. If the menu had been advertised at the pay point (the website) I wouldn't have purchased. In fact the food generally was not great. Yesterday I had a sausage sandwich: much better in prospect than fact. For a few cents more decent bread could be used instead of the polystyrene horror that was served. Suggestion: outsource food to the Seventh Day Adventists, they have the touch.
Music: Polished and capable music squads, but all one style and dominating, attractive at first, but tiresome as it wore on. The stage lighting needs attention so as not to pick out the instruments left on stands while a speaker is at work. I do wish singers wouldn't embarrassingly stick a hand in the air. It looks like they're asking the conductor for a toilet break. There's something about huge staged music; it makes it look like the conference sessions are an addendum to a concert. This needs to be straightened out, seriously.
Timing: I think lunch should be shorter with 30 minutes for morning tea.
Prayer: Opportunity for structured prayer before the speaking sessions started would be great. If it were Anglican I'd like an abbreviated Morning Prayer...the Baptists need to take something from the church's past to touch the traditions of the broader faith.
Program: I know discipleship was the theme, but it can be more broadly couched. I've covered in my second Revive post some of the breadth that would be suitable.
Wayfinding: The route to every location within the venue needs to be clearly marked with big coloured direction signs. Yesterday I was roaming around lost until I could ask someone. There need to be helpers who are clearly identified: coloured overshirts with "ASK ME" would work. The person giving out pre-paid food was also a mystery...could have been anyone, this too should be clearly identified, as should the pick up location.
Revive day 2
I had the hang of it today. My friends and I arrived in good time for a coffee before the sessions. I sat with a young pastor from an outer Sydney church. We had a nice chat.
I dawdled to the session to avoid having the music squad inflict its aesthetic on me again, and was pleased to have been partly successful. I still caught the last song but at least the gyrating 20 something singer was not there.
Before the speakers we heard a couple of children read the Bible, and well done too. Also a video from Nowra profiled the wonderful YAC (youth at church) program: keeping younger people growing in the church. But I remain of the view that a more structured induction to Christian faith is necessary.
The first speaker was Allan Demond, a pastor at NewHope Baptist church in Blackburn, Victoria. One thing I like about the website is no mention of the paid ministers as a special class, truly the site is about the church. He was very encouraging and wonderfully animated about Christians as those who take God's grace to where they are...in whatever amount. I like his refrain of the 'ancient faith practices': prayer, reading the Bible and stewardship (he said 'giving' but it still works).
I skipped the next 'workshop' having been under-impressed by yesterday's efforts. Instead I relaxed, chatted to a friend at one of the exhibits and read my book (De Joinville's Memoirs of the Crusades, from about 1309). It was wonderful to read the godliness of the times, even though we might not follow their practice (and acknowledging that they didn't either)!
The lunch routine worked for me, although hungry I had to wait until the mystery lunch clerk turned up. Being there early I got the sandwich and fruit of my preference, but had to supplement the rations with extra purchased food. I've no idea why my pre-paid included a bottle of water when the taps were full! Consumerist nonsense.
After lunch the session was taken by Leon Stead. I was impressed by his talk yesterday, but not so today. He is a polished and impassioned speaker, but he did not connect with the audience, I thought, and delivered the harangue! I thought that I'd escaped that, and it left me feeling despondent and discouraged...could I measure up to the standard that he applied? Of course not! We're back to works it seems and Christ is displaced.
The 'workshop' following was Allan speaking on Following Jesus through the Disciplines. I had great hopes for this, thinking of the deep traditions of prayer, Bible study and reflection across Christian history. I was disappointed to find that it was a lock-step approach that I must say left me cold: formulaic and uninviting. Allan admitted that this was just one way, but I feel that it could have been done far more attractively. I left part way through as I had to get to another appointment.
When my taxi arrived I felt relief as I rejoined the world of everyday. Discussing the conference with a friend, I felt he put his finger on it in his question: "was it more Baptist than Christian?" Yes, more's the pity.
I dawdled to the session to avoid having the music squad inflict its aesthetic on me again, and was pleased to have been partly successful. I still caught the last song but at least the gyrating 20 something singer was not there.
Before the speakers we heard a couple of children read the Bible, and well done too. Also a video from Nowra profiled the wonderful YAC (youth at church) program: keeping younger people growing in the church. But I remain of the view that a more structured induction to Christian faith is necessary.
The first speaker was Allan Demond, a pastor at NewHope Baptist church in Blackburn, Victoria. One thing I like about the website is no mention of the paid ministers as a special class, truly the site is about the church. He was very encouraging and wonderfully animated about Christians as those who take God's grace to where they are...in whatever amount. I like his refrain of the 'ancient faith practices': prayer, reading the Bible and stewardship (he said 'giving' but it still works).
I skipped the next 'workshop' having been under-impressed by yesterday's efforts. Instead I relaxed, chatted to a friend at one of the exhibits and read my book (De Joinville's Memoirs of the Crusades, from about 1309). It was wonderful to read the godliness of the times, even though we might not follow their practice (and acknowledging that they didn't either)!
The lunch routine worked for me, although hungry I had to wait until the mystery lunch clerk turned up. Being there early I got the sandwich and fruit of my preference, but had to supplement the rations with extra purchased food. I've no idea why my pre-paid included a bottle of water when the taps were full! Consumerist nonsense.
After lunch the session was taken by Leon Stead. I was impressed by his talk yesterday, but not so today. He is a polished and impassioned speaker, but he did not connect with the audience, I thought, and delivered the harangue! I thought that I'd escaped that, and it left me feeling despondent and discouraged...could I measure up to the standard that he applied? Of course not! We're back to works it seems and Christ is displaced.
The 'workshop' following was Allan speaking on Following Jesus through the Disciplines. I had great hopes for this, thinking of the deep traditions of prayer, Bible study and reflection across Christian history. I was disappointed to find that it was a lock-step approach that I must say left me cold: formulaic and uninviting. Allan admitted that this was just one way, but I feel that it could have been done far more attractively. I left part way through as I had to get to another appointment.
When my taxi arrived I felt relief as I rejoined the world of everyday. Discussing the conference with a friend, I felt he put his finger on it in his question: "was it more Baptist than Christian?" Yes, more's the pity.
Friday, May 15, 2015
Revive day 1: speakers
I've already mentioned the first speaker, but a little more. He spoke on Mark's theme of the Kingdom of God manifested in Yeshua's reversing the fall at every point through the narrative, upending our expectations of fallen patterns.
Des Ong spoke on discipling. He referred to 'brain science' as though the pop neurology that he brought to his cause was a meaningful contribution. Unmentioned was the materialist physicalism that underlies the contemporary quest to reductionistically resolve ethical behaviour into chemistry. It has echoes of old style mechanical determinism that evolutionism harbours. It was an amazing gaffe that this took ground in a Christian conference.
He also seemed to paint discipling as a short horizon activity, whereas in the biblical pattern it is a very long run occupation.
Alan Demond from Victoria spoke well on the 'ancient disciplines' of Christian faith: prayer, Bible reading and giving. He urged us to find someone to teach, spend six months and encourage them to do similarly. I liked it. I was much encouraged that Alan told us a couple of times that he 'served' a group of Christians, that he 'served' a local church. The cool ones would have said that they lead....they do not! The Holy Spirit leads.
Des Ong spoke on discipling. He referred to 'brain science' as though the pop neurology that he brought to his cause was a meaningful contribution. Unmentioned was the materialist physicalism that underlies the contemporary quest to reductionistically resolve ethical behaviour into chemistry. It has echoes of old style mechanical determinism that evolutionism harbours. It was an amazing gaffe that this took ground in a Christian conference.
He also seemed to paint discipling as a short horizon activity, whereas in the biblical pattern it is a very long run occupation.
Alan Demond from Victoria spoke well on the 'ancient disciplines' of Christian faith: prayer, Bible reading and giving. He urged us to find someone to teach, spend six months and encourage them to do similarly. I liked it. I was much encouraged that Alan told us a couple of times that he 'served' a group of Christians, that he 'served' a local church. The cool ones would have said that they lead....they do not! The Holy Spirit leads.
Revive: the musical
The band at Revive is quite good, listenable with mostly good stage manners. The stage set is also modestly appealing, despite the casual dishevelment of instrument cables, instrument brand names overly obvious and the visual domination of the band.
I'm not sure if the band is to entertain, draw our attention, or support our singing to one another. The way the lead singer deported herself with self-obsessed histrionics was little different from the manipulation of a pop concert. Her sexualising clothing was distinctly out of place: more orgiastic pop vamp than modest and humble cantor serving the congregation.
The humble stage presence of the rest of the band impressed, attracted and even moved me; even so I could see why the medievals had the choir not facing the congregation: it was not for performance!
As I posted earlier, her misplaced judgements of the superior and capable speakers: experienced and educated Christians, was pathetically insulting. It seems to have always been the case that a dose of minor celebrity amongst Christian pop singers lends a misplaced self appraisal of one's learning and spiritual experience.
For some reason, spiritual ecstasy makes younger people, and some older ones, stick one hand in the air. Some go the whole hog and do the Countdown arms (Countdown: ABC pop music show of the 1980s where the studio audience waved their arms in the air like a bunch of Quon Streamers: refer to The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy if you don't follow). This is of no moment, although weird in the congregation, but definitely out of place and distracting when the music squad does it.
I'm not sure if the band is to entertain, draw our attention, or support our singing to one another. The way the lead singer deported herself with self-obsessed histrionics was little different from the manipulation of a pop concert. Her sexualising clothing was distinctly out of place: more orgiastic pop vamp than modest and humble cantor serving the congregation.
The humble stage presence of the rest of the band impressed, attracted and even moved me; even so I could see why the medievals had the choir not facing the congregation: it was not for performance!
As I posted earlier, her misplaced judgements of the superior and capable speakers: experienced and educated Christians, was pathetically insulting. It seems to have always been the case that a dose of minor celebrity amongst Christian pop singers lends a misplaced self appraisal of one's learning and spiritual experience.
For some reason, spiritual ecstasy makes younger people, and some older ones, stick one hand in the air. Some go the whole hog and do the Countdown arms (Countdown: ABC pop music show of the 1980s where the studio audience waved their arms in the air like a bunch of Quon Streamers: refer to The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy if you don't follow). This is of no moment, although weird in the congregation, but definitely out of place and distracting when the music squad does it.
Revive day 1
The end of a long and frustrating day! (see also Which Revive)
Some things that puzzled or concerned me:
The first speaker, Leon Stead gave an engaging and brilliantly structured talk (and I am pleased that the linked website eschews the word that is misapplied in Christian circles 'leader'), the music group drifted back on stage to give a patronising and trivialising back announcement. So a 20 something singer whose life experience is that of one of Stead's children has the contumely to think that a crowd of experienced Christians has any use for her judgement. This was then repeated by the double act compare. Far better to just move on. There is simply no need for continual back announcements, they kill the moment.
Before all this happened I was speaking to a fellow, I think he was the pastor of a church, and we were conversing quite well when a couple of the fellow's friends came up, ignored me and engaged the fellow in conversation. The pastor forgot me, turned to his friends and took up that new fresher and obviously more interesting conversation. Later he brushed it aside as something he had to attend to; but surely good manners, you know, how we respect each other, has to get into the way of peoples indulgent self-importance. Why do church people steam-roller conversations to get their bit of time? No excuse me, no waiting politely, just their internally brewed urgency.
Some things that puzzled or concerned me:
- The now obligatory greeting to dead Aboriginal elders and the anachronistic attribution of land custodianship in government circles has eaten its way into the church; why do we participate in their ancestor worship? Its hardly Christian.
- We have multiple 'keynote' speakers! This honour is handed out meaninglessly at commercial conferences to build a market position at low cost (no cost, probably) as draw cards are added to the speaker list. Surely the idea of 'keynote' is one special person to launch a theme?
- "If worship is your pathway to God..." Is there any other 'pathway' to God? The speaker meant singing swoony songs, of course while slowly rocking to the rhythm with one hand in the air. But this has nothing to do with how the Spirit teaches of worship in the Bible.
- A pray-er gave God 'permission' to act, calling the time "[to God] your space to shape us..." My understanding of the Bible is that God will shape us through the entire spectrum of his effect on us in every way as he grows us through the vicissitudes of life in this fallen world. We don't give God delimited permission! God is not in our pocket.
- We have, it seems, a 'target' of 1000 churches. If this is the level of strategic capability in Baptist circles, I pity them! Targets are management in reverse. Far better to understand the required capability for the mission and to build it critically.
The first speaker, Leon Stead gave an engaging and brilliantly structured talk (and I am pleased that the linked website eschews the word that is misapplied in Christian circles 'leader'), the music group drifted back on stage to give a patronising and trivialising back announcement. So a 20 something singer whose life experience is that of one of Stead's children has the contumely to think that a crowd of experienced Christians has any use for her judgement. This was then repeated by the double act compare. Far better to just move on. There is simply no need for continual back announcements, they kill the moment.
Before all this happened I was speaking to a fellow, I think he was the pastor of a church, and we were conversing quite well when a couple of the fellow's friends came up, ignored me and engaged the fellow in conversation. The pastor forgot me, turned to his friends and took up that new fresher and obviously more interesting conversation. Later he brushed it aside as something he had to attend to; but surely good manners, you know, how we respect each other, has to get into the way of peoples indulgent self-importance. Why do church people steam-roller conversations to get their bit of time? No excuse me, no waiting politely, just their internally brewed urgency.
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Which Revive?
Which Revive 'workshops' [I know, the links will probably be short lived] do I think that I'll attend (like, I think it was Alexi Sayle, when 'workshop' is used outside light engineering, I get suspicious--I'd prefer 'forum' myself, but that ain't about to change anything)?
Friday: Making Disciples, Lifelong Faith, He Restores my Soul in the morning; Making Poverty Personal and Engaging Relationally in the afternoon.
I think I'll opt for Lifelong Faith in the morning. Making Disciples refers to 'current research on brain and behaviour'; I'm all for current research, but this sounds like the fake fresh insights that I'd expect on the ABC. He Restores my Soul has 'reflective worship'. I expect not worship as Paul teaches in Romans12:1, but worship as pop-US theology has it: swooning singing of low-content songs as though 'worship' is the same as Hollywood romantic movies.
Making Disciples would be great if it was firmly rooted in the Bible, the history of the church (after 2000 years somethings working), and engaged wisdom, although research can be useful to flush out folk nonsense.
Lifelong Faith looks good apart from that we will 'unpack the 10 key pillars...' If there are 10, then how 'key'? "Key" would be one. How many keys do you have to your front door? Anyway, I'm with Don Watson on the dulling ubiquity of 'key' in public language...sounds like a public service pamphlet. If there were alternatives, I'd not go to something that was going to 'unpack' anything. Discuss? And 'pillars'? Do I detect the borrowing of the way Islam frames its practices?
The afternoon: probably Engaging Relationally. The blurb is rich with buzz words and thus skinny on meaning, but it might be up to the mark.
Saturday: Seeing and Responding, Developing Leaders, My Work Matters and The Big Story of the Bible in the morning, and three more with blurbs that could have popped up in a management seminar in the afternoon. Gag me with a spoon!
I'll probably do Seeing and Responding in the morning, as I have contempt for the idea of 'leadership' in the church which seems to have displaced the biblical one of 'ministry'. I also avoid sessions that involve 'reflection', as it sounds disconnected. I'm undecided on the afternoon, but the one on Evangelism might be the go.
Disappointments: nothing on current moves in theology, critical social analysis, contemprorary criticism of Christian faith, counter faith movements, perspectives on Christian history, patterns and pressures on Christian belief....a pile of substantial topics there for the taking.
I'll be the one madly scribbling notes, like a reporter (I know we call them 'journalists' these days, but 'reporter' it is), so that I can report, like a reporter, on this here blog. For this I will use paper (a) because I've left my Ipad at the office and am on leave, and (b) for such things paper is better, although voice notes on Evernote could be useful.
Friday: Making Disciples, Lifelong Faith, He Restores my Soul in the morning; Making Poverty Personal and Engaging Relationally in the afternoon.
I think I'll opt for Lifelong Faith in the morning. Making Disciples refers to 'current research on brain and behaviour'; I'm all for current research, but this sounds like the fake fresh insights that I'd expect on the ABC. He Restores my Soul has 'reflective worship'. I expect not worship as Paul teaches in Romans12:1, but worship as pop-US theology has it: swooning singing of low-content songs as though 'worship' is the same as Hollywood romantic movies.
Making Disciples would be great if it was firmly rooted in the Bible, the history of the church (after 2000 years somethings working), and engaged wisdom, although research can be useful to flush out folk nonsense.
Lifelong Faith looks good apart from that we will 'unpack the 10 key pillars...' If there are 10, then how 'key'? "Key" would be one. How many keys do you have to your front door? Anyway, I'm with Don Watson on the dulling ubiquity of 'key' in public language...sounds like a public service pamphlet. If there were alternatives, I'd not go to something that was going to 'unpack' anything. Discuss? And 'pillars'? Do I detect the borrowing of the way Islam frames its practices?
The afternoon: probably Engaging Relationally. The blurb is rich with buzz words and thus skinny on meaning, but it might be up to the mark.
Saturday: Seeing and Responding, Developing Leaders, My Work Matters and The Big Story of the Bible in the morning, and three more with blurbs that could have popped up in a management seminar in the afternoon. Gag me with a spoon!
I'll probably do Seeing and Responding in the morning, as I have contempt for the idea of 'leadership' in the church which seems to have displaced the biblical one of 'ministry'. I also avoid sessions that involve 'reflection', as it sounds disconnected. I'm undecided on the afternoon, but the one on Evangelism might be the go.
Disappointments: nothing on current moves in theology, critical social analysis, contemprorary criticism of Christian faith, counter faith movements, perspectives on Christian history, patterns and pressures on Christian belief....a pile of substantial topics there for the taking.
I'll be the one madly scribbling notes, like a reporter (I know we call them 'journalists' these days, but 'reporter' it is), so that I can report, like a reporter, on this here blog. For this I will use paper (a) because I've left my Ipad at the office and am on leave, and (b) for such things paper is better, although voice notes on Evernote could be useful.
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Revive
I'm off to the Revive conference this week, and I'm almost a complete blank slate. I don't know what to expect, but have anticipations, of course, and think that the idea of the conference is fabulous.
I don't think I've ever been to a church conference before ( leaving aside youth camps and mission group conferences)! There is a lot of 'before' in my life, so I could be wrong. This will also be a little unknown for me as I'll know almost no one there apart from people from my church.
In old days, if I went to a church conference I would have expected to know a few people: in either Churches of Christ, Presbyterian or Anglican ones. I've lost touch with Presbyterians, but would still know people in Churches of Christ, I would think, and possibly Anglican, but depends on which flavour for the latter. I know a small number of Baptists from the deep past, and wonder if I'd run into (or even recognise) them; we'll see.
It will also be interesting to compare with the work related conferences I attend. I guess we won't be having a sponsor-hosted cocktail party on Friday evening. Pity, I like a glass or two of wine. I also guess that we won't be prancing around in our Zegna suits showing how polished we all are.
I could imagine that we would be open and brotherly with each other, so fellowship would be high on the agenda, but not suspending our critical apparatus listening to speakers. I'd also think that the sessions won't be the empty show-pony sessions that we are often inflicted with at commercially promoted or industry conferences (although having spoken at various industry conferences, I must say, I give content).
What I expect, but hope I don't get, is internalised, disconnected, de-contextualised waffle that assumes I live on two planets: the planet were I eat, and the planet where church conferences are held. I hope not.
I'll post reports.
I don't think I've ever been to a church conference before ( leaving aside youth camps and mission group conferences)! There is a lot of 'before' in my life, so I could be wrong. This will also be a little unknown for me as I'll know almost no one there apart from people from my church.
In old days, if I went to a church conference I would have expected to know a few people: in either Churches of Christ, Presbyterian or Anglican ones. I've lost touch with Presbyterians, but would still know people in Churches of Christ, I would think, and possibly Anglican, but depends on which flavour for the latter. I know a small number of Baptists from the deep past, and wonder if I'd run into (or even recognise) them; we'll see.
It will also be interesting to compare with the work related conferences I attend. I guess we won't be having a sponsor-hosted cocktail party on Friday evening. Pity, I like a glass or two of wine. I also guess that we won't be prancing around in our Zegna suits showing how polished we all are.
I could imagine that we would be open and brotherly with each other, so fellowship would be high on the agenda, but not suspending our critical apparatus listening to speakers. I'd also think that the sessions won't be the empty show-pony sessions that we are often inflicted with at commercially promoted or industry conferences (although having spoken at various industry conferences, I must say, I give content).
What I expect, but hope I don't get, is internalised, disconnected, de-contextualised waffle that assumes I live on two planets: the planet were I eat, and the planet where church conferences are held. I hope not.
I'll post reports.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)