I’m in Sterling, VA this week for a Cool Event even though not many folks have signed up. It’s about shifting meetings (which have become the business equivalent of breathing) from deadly wastes of time to spiritually energizing gatherings. That’s not the official name of the event, but that’s what I’m calling it.
I could spend my life attending events:
Heck, I’d like to go to Burning Man once in my life although my family frowns upon this idea.
Many of these spiritual/church events feature the usual talented leaders. You know who they are. The energy among participants is contagious. The FB and Twitter feeds buzz with comments. People leave refreshed and dizzy with cool ideas.
Of course I have limited time to do these things. There are events I pretty much have to attend (Board of Pensions Benefits) and those I really want to attend (Q1012).
Like meetings that go nowhere, I hesitate to attend events that I fear will go nowhere in terms of solid tools for change in the church. Yes, some events are meant to enliven us and offer sabbath, but events that promise to point us to A New Way actually point us to not so new ways.
What conferences/events are you attending in 2012? And why?
A Church for Starving Artists 
I have a group at church working through Mark DeVries book “Sustainable Youth Ministry” (which is about so much more than youth ministry) and one of the things he says is that there’s no lack of good ideas. Every church has zillions of ideas, and every conference gives us more good ideas, and ultimately they don’t do us any good, no matter how cool the conference or gathering or idea, because it’s the structure and system that need work, not the ideas.
I love a good conference, but I confess that I rarely go for the ideas anymore. Mostly I go for the change of scenery, the change of people, the opportunity to bounce the ideas we already have around and look at things from different angles. I go for the Sabbath, the companionship, and the change of pace/perspective.
I just came from the RevGals Big Event (love!)….not sure what else I’m going to do this year. I love the Unconference for all the reasons named above, but I can’t quite make it fit in the schedule this year. Looking forward to hearing what other people are doing!
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Thanks Teri. My hope for tomorrow’s How to Do Meetings in a Transformation Way (again, not the official name) will work on the structure and systems. Will let you know.
I agree that we have too many ideas – although sharing ideas spiritually nourishes me in spades.
Others: please share. What are you doing in the Conference/Event World this year?
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I can’t wait for the Festival of Faith and Writing at Calvin College in Grand Rapids. This year it’ll be April 19 – 21 with Marilynne Robinson, Chimamanda Adiche and many more. It’s always phenomenal. http://festival.calvin.edu/festival-2012
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