I hope you found my Summit talk stimulating - now I'd like to hear from you. I've posted some process questions and am hoping to get a discussion started around each one. I'll check back often and throw in any comments that I think might be helpful. You can also find resources and information about a workshop I'll be doing.
- Gary




What Questions Do You Have?

What other questions do you have about my Summit talk?

-Gary

08/05/2009 10:17 PM

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Comments
Diane 08/06/2009 09:18 PM
Incredible, incredible talk at the Summit today. So much to think about, will take a while to unpack. Yes! Taking the Church out of the box, with discernment, passion and brilliance. Something I was chewing on afterwards, it is so necessary to be coming up with new ideas/ options/ different ways of doing things... but how do you keep from getting overwhelmed by all the great ideas, from not getting lost down the rabbit trails, from losing focus, from having too many things on the table? I tend to be an idea person, with idea friends, where do you find the balance, how do you discern which ideas to pour your time and energy into?
John 08/06/2009 10:23 PM
Along the same line as Diane's thinking, I sense there are many radically different ideas which remain untapped by the church. I pay a great deal of attention to those churches and ministries, inside and outside of my denomination, which are criticized by our denominational leaders. I try to be discerning as I read about them and examine as many aspects of their organization as possible. GARY...how much time would you spend looking at ideas which fall into this area of criticized methods of ministry?
Jackie 08/06/2009 11:36 PM
Gary - thank you for your talk. WOW. I found myself both inspired and .... tired thinking through the issues you raised. As mentioned previously, I have in some ways become weary of change...Maybe I am part of a church that constantly changes and I feel like sometimes we don't give ideas a chance to play out - a chance to succeed. How have you seen organizations thrive but not kill people in the process with all the latest and greatest ideas? I at times feel so rushed in our culture - and behind??If we don' t have people changing in 40 days, etc - we consider that a failure? ... thank you for any thoughts...
Steve 08/09/2009 10:43 PM
Gary, thank you for your talk and for your work. You mentioned in general terms that there are church models that are a little different than the typical model -- you cited emergent churches and megachurches as examples. But have you observed any churches that DO have different models that are worth checking out? Thanks.
Carol 08/10/2009 08:57 AM
Thank you for a list of ideas and thoughts that expand past the church. As an elementary teacher, I see change as a reaction based solely on the student's performance. We change because of ratings but we don't value the existing things that do work. Have you had any teaching applications on which you could comment. Thanks.
Luke 08/10/2009 09:55 AM
Gary, I am trying to remember that one specific line in your talk. Towards the end. It was about how Christ and the Church are the most out of the box ideas ever. Cheers, Luke
Todd 08/10/2009 11:48 AM
You spoke about "flattening out" a church's hierarchy. It seems that it would be a lot easier to start an organization with a flat hierarchy rather than transition one to that model. What would you propose as a starting point to traisition a staff in that direction? Related to that, it would seem to me that every organization needs a "buck stops here" type of person to ultimately take responsibility. Do you see this need? If not, why not? If so, how does that fit in with the "flattened" hierarchy?
WCA_Training 08/12/2009 03:02 PM

@ Luke, is this the part you're referring to? "Christ is an example. Think of how radically unconventional his message was. A powerful Messiah who surrenders himself to be murdered by secular authorities. It was so far outside the box of expectations that his followers could scarcely get their minds around his message. We need to be as unconventional as we need to be to do his work."

Rahab 08/28/2009 10:22 PM
Gary~Curious again I have some concerns on "How do we while specializing in this type of communicational effort teach members of Leadership the great importances of utilizing nurturing/not babying....but rather nurturing their flock to a profound attention and interst? If , lets say for a moment there needs to be aggressive initiative on "The Hows" we are approaching others?...and the useage types of agendas and stratgies, as well the meaningfullnesses of it with sincereity attached---a vision-as well containing the power of proving our strengths as leaders with strong founded ness in biblical, as well passionate behaviors shown? How? What methods can you offer us Gary?
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