Younger Leaders Summit

Younger Leader's Summit was this afternoon.  This post is longer than most (I have 7 pages of notes).  But I feel it's necessary to communicate what happened.  The audio should be online tomorrow and I will link to that when it's up.  Also check out Joe and Marty for their take on today's meeting.

Jimmy Draper realizes the SBC needs revolution.  Not minor changes.  Not mere stylistic acceptance of younger leaders in younger churches with candles and goatees.  He sees it's much bigger.  He said the conservative resurgence was good and necessary, but today he called for a revolution.  New changes need to happen.  Does Draper fully get what that means?  I don't think so.  But he's understood all he needed to so that younger leaders would have a voice now.

The meeting began with some worship music by Russ Lee.  Great stuff.  Draper told us that Lifeway now has three trustees 30 years old or younger and that 33% of Lifeway employees are under 40.  Obviously he wanted to show the hard work they are doing to get younger generations involved and making decisions and influencing directions.

O.S. Hawkins, president of Guidestone, popped in for a quick selling point...er...encouraging anecdote.  Kidding!  C'mon, that was funny.  Then Robbie Partain, of SBCT, spoke.  He was okay.  Basically he said that younger leaders are about missions.  Our "it" isn't doctrinal changes or loyalty issues or wanting positions in the SBC.  "It" is Acts 1:8 missions.  We want to penetrate lostness through transformational, missional ministry. 

Bob Reccord, president of NAMB, decided to hop on stage.  He said he wanted to "add value" to us.  I hope he means he wants to show our true value, not add value.  I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.  He pointed to changes at NAMB in the areas of mission strategy and evangelism focus.  He expressed his desire to downplay programs and emphasize relational evangelism.  Definitely something I've been desiring to see in NAMB's focus.

Adam Greenway of The Church at Andover in Lexington, KY spoke about biblical diversity and inclusiveness.  He didn't really say anything.  He kind of pointed to biblical basis for diversity (which we already get), but didn't really go anywhere.  He said we need to "pay the price" and "commit to being involved."  Nothing really practical or visionary here.

Kevin Shrum, pastor of Inglewood Baptist Nashville, talked about healthy relationships.  He said in a somewhat helpful way that younger leaders need to  "quit complaining."  That we want to be the kite but not hold the string.  Uh, not really impressed with this idea.  I agree that we get nowhere with complaining without vision and movement, but the string is not the SBC.  The string is Christ (or the gospel or whatever).  But the problem is the SBC is actually the tall building blocking the wind and keeping the string limp.  The speakers in general realized this problem, and I'll bet Kevin does too.

Chris Seay of Ecclesia Houston talked about creative, innovative approaches.  Great talk.  Make sure you listen closely to this one when the audio comes out.  Chris said that we (SBC) are known as people of dogma, not beauty.  We have lost our sense of beauty in truth by making it merely propositions.  We were also able to hang out with Chris afterwards for a bit, and he really has a good grip on the problems at hand and the need for incarnational ministry.

Ed Stetzer of NAMB talked about convention renewal.  He had the place rolling, and is a very compelling speaker.  Ed really laid out the practicals that drove home what Seay was saying.  Great stuff and a must listen.  He mentioned the need for us not to talk with "smarmy comments" about each others churches, but that we should be missionaries (missional) in our cultural contexts.  He really drove that point home, the need to be biblically faithful and missional.  We've had a conservative resurgence and now we need a missional one. 

Jeff Harris of Grace Point Church in San Antonio closed the meeting with a passionate plea that instead of having a convention that is known for what we don't do, that we should be able to say what we are about.  What is the SBC known for?  He also said that he's afraid someone will stand up at the convention and say something that will marginalize them even more.  Very missional/incarnational stuff from Jeff.  He then said two practical things: 1. The 2 year part-time president in the SBC is a stupid idea.  We need a visionary leader. 2. We need the SBC to reorganize behind visionary leadership.

FYI: I'm not blogging tonight at the pastor's conference and neither is Joe.  I'm not sure what I will be attending tomorrow, but I do know that I hope to meet with Chris Seay and Darrin Patrick.  I hope that works out.

Comments

[Marty Duren]

Good summary Steve and thanks for quoting Draper on those Lifeway ages stats; I was busy trying to exercise the shut down gremlin from my computer when those came up.

[Rodney McCarty]

Thanks Steve! Makin me wish I could have come even more now.

[Alex]

Thanks for the summary Steve. Honestly it sounds like I didn't miss much. Of course, it would have been fun to meet you and some of the others.

[kaleobill]

Thanks for the update, Steve! I hope you get to connect with Darrin tomorrow - he's a great guy... got to hang with him last week at the Acts 29 pastors retreat. Looking forward to hearing more!

[Steve McCoy]

By the way, met D.R. Randle and his lovely wife. Spent some time with THilton too.

[jason smith]

Great stuff. With Seay and Stetzer there, that would have been enough to keep you chewing for a few days. Throwing around words like revolution though? Hmmmmmm....Sounds like you're having fun.

[Jeff T]

Steve, thanks for bloggin for us. I wish I was there to enjoy the good fellowship with you guys. Kevin Schrum has expressed my concerns about what I am seeing amongst young leaders. Perhaps, it is part of the transition (I try to make allowances for that) However, my greater concern is again--what are we going to do as leaders? Where are the plans? Where is the vision? Are we doom to eternal discussion on what we wish the SBC should be? Perhaps it is there and I haven't seen it. Thanks keep us posted, wish I was there.

Jeff

[Trevin Wax]

Thanks Steve for the update. I can't wait to hear the audio. Wish I'd been there!

Trevin

[Joe Thorn]

Jeff,

It is there, and you are missing it. The truth is some of us have been in this conversation for a while and we do have plans - big, practical, visionary plans but we don't think it is wise to throw everything out there until we have it fleshed out. Some of us are dialoging about this again today.

[Alex]

Then I take it back and wish I was there to see what's going on and what people are really thinking. Oh well...

[Steve McCoy]

Jeff, Joe is right. We have been discussing vision and plans for some time, and especially in the last month or so. There are a few of us who have built relationships, and we are all here dreaming about the future together. Thanks for your concerns about this stuff.

[Jeff T]

Joe and Steve, thanks for letting me know. This changes things for me now I know that we aren't just all setting around complaining about things with no agenda. I'll be praying that God gives you wisdom and direction about the future of the SBC! Let me know what I can do to help! I'll try not to complain about the complaining :) Jeff

[Ryan Abs]

Steve, Joe, et al,
I am so jealous that you guys are in the midst of all of this. Thank you so much for working so hard to keep the rest of us in the loop. Keep up the good work.
Abs

[Jeff T]

I have finished with my sermon work for today. I can only do so much with my brain. I want to take time to say how much I appreciate this blog, and the updates from Nashville! I am aware that at times I come across negative toward those who I perceive as "complaining." It's not that I am trying to be hard to get along with, but I am struggling with these issues on a foundational level. Many of you have worked thru these things or are at least ahead of the game. I appreciate the grace, and mercy that this blog (esp Steve) extends to someone who is learning to be a "compassionate" right-winger. :0) Thanks Jeff

[David Price]

Steve,

I thought it was a good meeting yesterday. It was positive that at least we heard leadership talking about openness to hearing younger voices. That's a major change from only a few years back.

For some reason, I've not been able to connect with you, plus I got caught up in several other conversations in the cafe yesterday and didn't get a chance to look around. Stuart and I are here. Hopefully, we'll be able to connect before this thing is over.

I didn't blog on the event as such, but I posted on personal convictions for me and what I hope is the result of some of this dialogue.

David.

[Brad Williams]

Steve,

I just found your blog by surfing about the web. I am curious as to part of your commentary here. What do you mean by having lost "the beauty of truth by making it merely propositions"? (I am a pastor of an SBC who is 30, by the way, I guess that qualifies me as emergent leadership.) In the meantime, I'll check out some other things written to try and catch up to you guys. Thanks.

[Rick Marshall]

Steve, super post and great comments. What I am going to say might not be too popular, but I feel I must say it anyhow. I think a little too much emphasis is placed on the whole age thing. The young leaders are frustrated that their voice is not being heard. But, the emerging church isn't about age, but rather about worldview. I have read a lot of posts regarding the SBC lately and they all point to younger leaders being frustrated that they don't have a voice. I agree that the younger leaders don't have a voice, but I think the blame lies on both sides. The SBC is hesitant to pass the leadership baton on to young leaders, and the young leaders don't feel they are being paid attention to. I don't see the issue as an age thing. It shouldn't be looked at as an old versus young division, but a worldview division. I guess I get a little sensitive when a person in their late 40s with an emergent worldview like me doesn't fit into either camp. I side with the emergent camp, but age shouldn't be the overriding issue in this battle.

[Steve McCoy]

Rick, I largely agree with you and you make a great point that few make.