Today the Strategic Planning Council wrapped up in Nashville. I wasn’t there, and I have not yet been briefed by the delegates from our district, but I have heard from a few individuals who were in attendance. Obviously we need to get a full report, but from what I have picked up from some who there the reviews are mixed at best.
Apparently, they had some excellent speakers who challenged the delegates, and the opportunities for fellowship are always enriching. But, I also heard concerns about the whole process, which did not really address some of the real, pressing issues that we face (including some of the ones I mentioned). Some were just plain frustrated with the breakout sessions and how the discussions were handled and ultimately processed. In any case, it sounds like there were some important affirmations regarding leadership development, and some emphases on evangelism.
While I truly pray that this gathering will bring positive results for the Church of God I have some serious concerns about the process itself. I really question whether it is possible to bring together a wide range of people from across the continent for less than 48 hours and expect to accomplish serious, effective strategic planning that is going to facilitate Kingdom expansion? Brainstorming and dreaming, yes. But, strategic planning that will shape our direction?
Anyone who was there want to comment or provide us more information?
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4 comments:
Not the post I wanted to read LLoyd. Hopefully more clarity will come in the days to come that will provide more hope for the future.
Lloyd and others, I was privileged to attend the SPC last week. My comments, directed specifically to the congregation I serve as pastor, are found in this blog post (link).
More conversations are needed by those of us who were in attendance - and by those who were not. This was my first SPC, but already I am curious to know if this format is really appropriate for the task at hand.
It was a good conference, but it left me with a lot of concerns. We need a more appropriate forum to wrestle with the issues facing us - and that task must come before casting vision!
Interesting article on the CNN website regarding about a decade long study of American attendance at church/mass/temple. Needless to say it is not good news for the church. I did not attend the SPC but I would argue that at this point the COG is bailing water with a bucket that's too small. Like it or not the emergent church will increasingly become mainstream and more conservative churches will go the way of those churches who failed to modernize worship in the last 25 years. Which is to say they will become increasingly irrelevant. All the SBC in the world, 48 hours or 48 weeks will not change that.
I think this is typical of the Church of God--looking for quick fix solutions. A short meeting with a tiny sampling of Church of God people that is supposed to give us a vision or convince us that the COG is pursuing a vision. The idea that a movement (denomination) this large could re-ignite itself through this format is pretty ridiculous.
These kind of events strike me as p.r. more than an honest wrestling with where we are and who we are. They blow off steam and re-assure people that this vision stuff is being thought about.
But in reality, vision has to come from leadership and a united group of people following that vision. We do not have visionary leadership. We have status quo and in-over-their-heads leadership.
As for unity--we don't have that either. We are a large group of very different bodies under the name COG. These groups would not all unite under one vision even if one compelling vision was put forward.
So things like the conference in Nashville really aim to do nothing. They ceed the vision to a small, powerless body and aim to include absolutely everyone. Needless to say, that will go nowhere.
The COG wants to make everyone happy and make no hard decisions. So people are deciding on their own by disconnecting. It's the old adage: "try and make everyone happy and you will make no one happy."
A real visionary leader would end up losing many people in the movement. That's not what the COG wants. It wants the status quo and for people to get excited about that status quo.
I'll bet if I published this comment at www.chog.org it would get taken down. The COG is not a safe place for real dialogue and I think that is at the heart of the issue. I don't even feel safe posting my name. That says a lot.
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