Comments on: Adventures in Ecclesiology: ELCA Churchwide Assembly http://mattcleaver.com/2009/08/12/adventures-in-ecclesiology-elca-churchwide-assembly/ youth ministry, reimagined Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:26:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Matt http://mattcleaver.com/2009/08/12/adventures-in-ecclesiology-elca-churchwide-assembly/#comment-9926 Matt Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:00:23 +0000 http://mattcleaver.com/?p=1355#comment-9926 Brian, thanks for your perspective. Yes, it is my first churchwide assembly. My eyes will be wide open the whole time! Brian, thanks for your perspective. Yes, it is my first churchwide assembly. My eyes will be wide open the whole time!

]]> By: Brian Smith http://mattcleaver.com/2009/08/12/adventures-in-ecclesiology-elca-churchwide-assembly/#comment-9925 Brian Smith Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:55:57 +0000 http://mattcleaver.com/?p=1355#comment-9925 it is a necessary evil to have to tend to the business of the church, it begins in the first book of Acts and continues throughout the books of the New Testament and beyond. This one small event, though historic, is no different and not directly reflective on the love shown in our home congregations for the body of Christ. Just to say, if this is your first assembly, you are in for an eye opening event. May the Spirit guide you in your endeavor. it is a necessary evil to have to tend to the business of the church, it begins in the first book of Acts and continues throughout the books of the New Testament and beyond. This one small event, though historic, is no different and not directly reflective on the love shown in our home congregations for the body of Christ.
Just to say, if this is your first assembly, you are in for an eye opening event. May the Spirit guide you in your endeavor.

]]> By: Adam Lehman http://mattcleaver.com/2009/08/12/adventures-in-ecclesiology-elca-churchwide-assembly/#comment-9924 Adam Lehman Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:59:15 +0000 http://mattcleaver.com/?p=1355#comment-9924 I once spent a day listening to Willow Creek staff talk about their church and ministry. They ALL complained about the slowness of bureaucracy that comes from the size and scale of their ministry. There college ministry director said, "Some churches are like super nimble ninjas. And ours is like a huge giant wrecking ball." They move slowly. Frustratingly slow, but when they're lined up in the right direction, they can do a lot of damage. Makes sense, when Willow Creek started working on reaching unchurched, they nailed it. When they decided to support aids in Africa, they raise millions and millions for the cause. So, I understand the frustration with bureaucracy and I can see when it's beneficial. That being said, please don't sign me up for a position in a massive bureaucracy. I once spent a day listening to Willow Creek staff talk about their church and ministry. They ALL complained about the slowness of bureaucracy that comes from the size and scale of their ministry.

There college ministry director said, “Some churches are like super nimble ninjas. And ours is like a huge giant wrecking ball.” They move slowly. Frustratingly slow, but when they’re lined up in the right direction, they can do a lot of damage.

Makes sense, when Willow Creek started working on reaching unchurched, they nailed it. When they decided to support aids in Africa, they raise millions and millions for the cause.

So, I understand the frustration with bureaucracy and I can see when it’s beneficial.

That being said, please don’t sign me up for a position in a massive bureaucracy.

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