The State of the Conversation

What is the state of this ongoing conversation?
I'd love to hear what some folks think.

Here are a few of my thoughts:

I joined the conversation late. I've appreciated the candor with which people have been able to raise important issues.

I've been personally challenged and stretched as a result of this conversation. I've also 'met' many people I did not know previously.

At this point, I am interested in the conversation partners and the next steps. I've been told that there are many 'readers' of the blog who do not participate, or if so, very occasionally. Additionally, there are some who are busy or don't check back often but weight in when they do. Others are more actively involved.

I think for the future, it would be nice to see more voices. Voices from different backgrounds and gifting willing to be honest and to be challenged bluntly without being personally offended.
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I believe that it is time for this conversation to become constructive in the sense of building consensus about some core values, even if building one at a time.

Does any of us doubt that change is needed? Is not the whole Christian life one of repentance?

Let us repent of any sins of our past and present together and move into a more faithful future.

What core can be agree on? Then let's engage in discussion on applying it together.

That's where I want the conversation to go, but like most real life conversations, planning can be futile.

repentance of passion-less-ness for truth

based on the comment a few comments about the need for a passion for truth, i found this video apropos:



as a.w. tozer said, "what comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us."

has the cGgc lost its passion for truth? if so, how to we cultivate and encourage it? how do we get it back?

Grass Roots Podcast - Episode 20 - CGGC Leadership Initiative

I have spent the last five years in the CGGC like a guy who stumbled upon a sleeping bear in the woods. I froze and have kept my eye on the bear, for the bear, if it notices me, could devour me. Then I started backing away slowly. I have not participated much regionally or nationally, though I've been told by both regional and national directors that I am welcome and would be appreciated at both levels.

Over the past five years, I have become a fan of Reggie McNeal, a former southern baptist denom official in South Carolina, who I believe understands the exact change that the North American church needs to make and who articulates it in a way that churches at large can get a handle.

So while attending IMPACT as a breakout leader (teaching Reggie McNeal's three shifts for the church), I overheard that Reggie was coming out to consult. Rather than a desire to be helpful denominationally, I selfishly have sought opportunities to sit in the same room as Reggie (and I wasn't disappointed). So I asked if I could sit in and was warmly welcomed.

The results caused me emotional confusion. I left hopeful, passionate in fact about the idea of participating in this leadership initiative, hopeful that this could be a prescription for renewal in this denom that I do truly love. Confused, because I've been wary of the bear, pulling me away from what is most important for me -- local ministry.

My fear is that the people who need to be involved in this initiative are also people who have stumbled across the bear and who also have been slowly backing away. I hope these are the people who listen to our podcasts. These (you) are all people who I have found to be intelligent and reflective and I would love to have a conversation with you about the pros and cons of this initiative. But since I can't, I did have a conversation with Lance Finley, Fran Leeman, and Bill Sloat about it. I thought the conversation was helpful. I think it might be helpful to you to listen to it and get some feel for this initiative, which Lance incredibly optimistically would like to roll out in January.

I am not an official representative of this leadership initiative. I'm just a pastor who loves our denom and who heard something that sounds hopeful coming around the bend. This recorded conversation was a frank and honest evaluation of what we know so far.

We invite your feedback.

Download: Podcast - GrassRoots - Episode 20 - CGGC Leadership Initiative

I made a compressed version that plays about 20 minutes shorter. It is the same as the other, just plays faster.

Download: Podcast - GrassRoots - Episode 20 - CGGC Leadership Initiative Compressed

Repentance

Repentance.

Repentance.

Repentance.

Repentance.

Repentance.

Repentance.

Repantance.