ACM follow-up
Let's break temporarily from the book [momentary pause to enjoy LeRoy's solo performance of "The Hallelujah Chorus"] and spend some time reflecting on ACM. (If you have thoughts/suggestions about the conference format/infrastructure, we want to hear them, but not here. Please email those thoughts to Kevin or me.) Here on our blog, I'd like to discuss, reflect upon, process together whatever was hitting us from the content of ACM. For example, for those of us working in local churches, how do we figure out where our "feet are heading"? I know it cannot be reduced to a formula, but what are some of the ways we could assess whether our churches are spiraling inward or outward?
As always, the point of this is not to answer my questions, but to engage one another in meaningful conversation about topics of common interest.
So, as you're hoisting your backsides into whatever your current saddle looks like, what's sticking with you from ACM--what's nagging you, exciting you, provoking you, working in you?
posted by Brian Emmet @ 9:24 AM
6 Comments:
Although I enjoyed the conference, as I usually do, the most exciting aspect for me was the exictement that the people who traveled with me felt: Joe and Sandi McQuaid, Bob and Doris Desrosiers, Fred, and Lynn Meckley were all DEEPLY impacted! Of course, after the IOM time Saturday, which I missed being in Chicago, Lynn was on tremendously blessed. All this to say, that when others are blessed, I am blessed. Also, I connected with two different individuals (Bob Rannells (Steve's brother) and Ken Ostrander, both of whom I had not seen for about 10 - 15 years. I had a very moving conversation with Ken, whose wife died within in the past two years after a four-year battle with cancer. Bob and I enjoyed a breakfast together and did a lot of catching up. I am already looking forward to next year.
Good point as we think about next year: we "always enjoy" ACM, but perhaps forget how important it could be for some of our folks, esp. our leaders... perhaps we need to keep making this point (not that we haven't been, just that we may want to do so even more strongly).
Thank you to all who made this ACM conference one that I will never forget. I have been to five in the last fourteen years that I have been with Covenant Ministries. Experiencing a peice of the stories from old with my wife and others from the next generation made a place for us. We have the baton!!! You men are incredible mentors and teachers. Thank you for your example and sacrifice.
Thanks, Bret! I'd be interested to hear some more from you on the things you find most significant in "our tradition" and the things you suspect we (or maybe you and your generation) need to lay aside or move beyond.
I know there's no fool-proof techniques that will guarantee that I will not crash-and-burn Haggard-style, but I'd still like to know how it was that he got so locked into denial and self-deception. Perhaps it's because homosexual tendencies pop up on as "an unpardonable sin" on many of our 'sin lists,' kind of on a level with pedophilia... so that's a ton of unspoken (or even spoken) pressure working against someone who is struggling with homosexual drives/temptations. Especially for men, how do we create safe environments where these sorts of things can get aired and addressed before they splat all over the front page? I suspect I've got some guys in our church with, for example, significant porn problems, but despite my best efforts, we don't seem to get around to talking about it, confronting it. Further thoughts?
OK--I like LeRoy's starting points: pastors setting an example of honesty, forthrightness, vulnerability and transparency (although the limits/borders for these could probably use some clarification); teaching and leading in ways that extend "pre-forgiveness" to those hiding in or trapped in darkness; and keeping men motivated, involved and engaged in the work of the kingdom. Any other thoughts, suggestions?
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