SHARP PR & THE BLOGS & WINTER CONFERENCES
Zondervan is drawing on the authors they work with, who are also bloggers, to get the word out about the National Pastors Convention in San Diego (San Diego, February 22-25). For example, Tony Jones and Scot McKnight have become evangelists. Very strategic for Zondervan.
Of course, we Covenant pastors don't make it to the NPC in warm sunny SAN DIEGO very often because we do our Midwinter Conference in cold blowy CHICAGO each February. What does that tell you about our corporate culture?
Actually, I've been pushing for something south for several years. I'd like to do a midwinter cruise occasionally -- and perhaps make Chicago the place where we meet once every 10 years rather than most years. We've briefly discussed doing a conference in conjunction with the NPC once every few years.
Our problem in the Covenant is that we're locked into a particular mode of operation because:
1) We're trying to accomplish more than just a conference. We have lots of board and committee meetings at the same time and there needs to be a place that can accommodate that. (Our Midwinter Conference started out as a Midwinter Board meeting and at one point someone decided to add in a little inspiration and continuing education. Now most people go for the inspiration and education but there are still boards that have to meet).
2) Our style is to use a lot of break-out rooms. To find facilities with such, in a place where everyone is also housed in the same hotel is difficult. (Of course, if you're in San Diego, it's not as important that everyone function out of the same building the whole time.)
3) It's expensive to pay for a lot of administrators and help to set-up a conference in some place other than Chicago. (Chicago is HQ for the denomination). We will, however, be going to Denver for Midwinter 2007. Denver isn't generally relaxing and warm in January-February. But it's inching the right direction.
4) It's hard for North Park Seminary students to attend when the conference is held elsewhere (although, as good as North Park is these days -- and it has become an excellent school -- most Covenant pastors are trained at other seminaries).
5) We still have a bunch of small Midwestern churches which would perceive that sending their pastor to some place warm in the middle of winter is expensive and extravagant -- regardless of the actual cost and the fact that many of the parishioners go south for some of the winter.
6) The denominational structure as a whole is still oriented toward the Midwest -- even though most of the people are now in the West and South.
3 comments:
No kidding? Most Covenant pastors are trained at seminaries other than North Park? Didn't know that. Any idea as to percentages trained where? I wonder how much of the ministerium knows that. Might make for interesting Abet fodder.
Certainly because of our size that has brought about significant structural change, but this fact will bring — is bring — significant ethos change, and that won't happen easily. "Ethos" is what we've prided ourselves on.
I'll bet it also brings about signficant theological shifts. I'll bet paedobaptism and a strong sacramental theology will be out the window.
This ain't your grandmother's Covenant church anymore.
At the annual meeting 2004 there were 4 NPTS grads ordained to specialzed ministry. And only 1 from another school.
However, of those ordained to word and sacrament there were 9 NPTS grads ordained and 25 people from other seminaries ordained. In addition we recognized the ordination of 12 people who had been previously ordained elsewhere -- none were NPTS grads.
That has pretty much been the pattern for the last decade -- maybe more.
The 2005 list was no longer online for some reason but we had the first of the presidential scholars ordained. So there were more NPTS grads than in the past. But I would guess that they were still only half or less than half of those being ordained.
The denominations largest clergy preparation program is CEOP -- Covenant External Orientation Program -- over 300 ministers enrolled -- all who had received primary theological education somewhere other than NPTS.
This should not be seen as a commentary on NPTS -- which has quite a good program. The fact is that NPTS alone could not train enough pastors -- given the current growth rate. And there are many who simply prefer to not do school in Chicago -- regardless of how good the program is.
I suppose it tells us that we are relational - the culture that freezes together huddles together.
But hey- It's been a balmy 56-60 degress all week here in the Denver/Boulder area. Let's pray for such fine weather here for next year's Midwinter!
(and I've been wondering what the perk is for those Zondervan authors- how many signups does it take to win the Cruise?)
-Susan
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