For great info, you can follow the twitter feeds of: Marty Duren, Micah Fries, Trevin Wax and me.

For blogs of the full content, be sure to check out Trevin Wax and Steve Weaver.

Could you tell that I’ve lost my passion for live blogging?  I’d forgotten to even write about Ed until this morning. :)

But I do have several things to offer.

First, Trevin Wax is here and is ready to challenge Timmy Brister for champ of the live blog.  Here are his notes on Ed’s presentation.

Also, here is a link to the tweets I put up at the MissioScapes twitter feed.

Finally, I’d like to summarize my reaction to Ed’s super fast talking.

The gist of it all was that, yes, we will have denominations, but what they will look like has yet to be determined. Nevertheless, churches naturally will find each other and will work together if they have a passion for the Great Commission.

Still, there are benefits and burdens that go along with denominations. The burdens center around our tendency to focus on the mechanisms of our cooperation rather than our common calling.

The benefits are many and, quite frankly, are both obvious and listed in the above links.

What most struck me about the message was the forceful tone he took calling for cooperation.  This might not surprise you, but what might surprise you is that, at one point, Ed suggested that if certain people can’t get along with the rest of us, insist on attempting to run everyone else out or force us to conform, then THEY should leave the convention.

The people about whom he was speaking were obvious to the engaged SBC observer and even to the more disengaged former SBC blogger, like myself.

In terms of pointed rhetoric, Ed was somewhere between his usual provocativity and Marty Duren from back in the old days.  On the SBC spectrum of “lighting it up,” if Micah Fries is a 1 (humbly opinioned) and Ben Cole is a 10 (Shock & Awe), Ed normally resides in the middle at a happy 5.  I’d have to say that last night, Ed jumped up to 8 on a few occasions, which was kind of fun.

Especially because I agreed with him.

Had he been talking more about me (and he did from time to time) I might not have enjoyed it as much.

I mentioned Friday that I was traveling to Jackson, TN for this conference and as you read this, I am on the road.

I mentioned that I would be blogging and twittering from there during the conference.  given that, you might want to check out my twitter feed: twitter.com/artrogers, or the missioscapes twitter feed: twitter.com/missioscapes, or even these guys, who will also be there: twitter.com/martyduren & twitter.com/micahfries.

My plan is to twitter live, either through my own feed or through the MissioScapes feed, or both.  Then I’ll recap thoughts in a blog post later.

Here is a schedule published by Union University that you might consider if you are looking to follow live tweets on particular issues:

*There is one caveat.  I am also dealing with a great many things personal and professional while on this trip.  I am not guaranteeing that I will be at every session to tweet/blog.  I fully intend to be at the ones I perceive as most relevant.  This is not to discount any of the speakers or their topics, but to simply let everyone know that other things may take precedence for me.

Next week, Union University will be hosting a conference entitled Southern Baptists, Evangelicals and the future of denominationalism.

I’m excited to be attending for several reasons, not the least of which is that the topic fascinates me.  I am anxious to hear the thoughts of those being brought in to speak to the issue.

Further, the SBC finds itself in the moment of re-creating itself via the Great Commission Task Force and its impending report in Orlando next year at the Annual Meeting.

I’ll be blogging and twittering from the meeting, but as a primer for that time, I thought that you might be interested in these videos from the B21 Panel at last year’s annual meeting, where the hot topics of the Southern Baptist Convention were discussed by some of the leading voices.

The first video says it’s 80 minutes, but it is only about 40. Total of both videos is about an hour and 20 minutes.

B21 Panel From 2009 SBC Annual Meeting from Sojourn Community Church on Vimeo.

B21 Panel from SBC Annual Meeting Part 2 from Southeastern Seminary on Vimeo.

If you had told me 3 years ago that I would be sitting, at Ronnie Floyd’s invitation, in his church listening to him, Johnny Hunt and Al Mohler talk about the SBC as being in decline and the need for us to deconstruct that which is complex and bulky to get to what is efficient in accomplishing God’s Mission – I would have thought you insane.

But there I sat, front and center, listening to them say some of the things I had been thinking for years.  Even taking some hits from some dude channelling the spirit of Roger Moran until interrupted and chastised by both Hunt and Floyd, being further corrected by Mohler.

How did I get here?  Am I dreaming?

Some will complain that these guys are just classic middle adopters, attempting to lead from the middle.  Others will say that they’ve offered nothing new.  I’ve heard others say they are simple politicians, finding the flow of the crowd and getting out in front.

Those things may be.  I can’t tell you, but you see, the thing about a middle adopter is, he’s adopted.

These guys seemed pretty genuine to me.  If not, time will tell.  The telling of their sincerity will be in Orlando and it is something for which they asked.  Judge us by Orlando.

Fair enough!

Before I quit blogging about the SBC, I said that if the statesmen of the SBC stood against the wall while I stood to the mic, then the SBC will fall away into decline and there would be no stopping it.

The big deal about the principles and ideas being put forth by the GCRTF is that those speaking are not on the fringe of power within the SBC, but they are the leaders and statesmen.

About time.  Well done.  Thank God.

Yep, I’m going.

I’m not sure if I’ll bother live blogging, but I might tweet.

If you are interested follow my twitter or the MissioScapes twitter feeds.

I’ll probably write a post event perspective for later in the week.

Missional pastor/author/speaker/blogger David Fitch speaks to the difference between Church Planting in the Post Christendom era that America is now in and strikes the contrast against the way it was once done when the Kingdom of Christ was perceived to overlap the kingdom of men in a more substantial way than today – just a few short decades ago.

Interesting to note early on his commentary about the perception of America Culture by American Christians and how it varies from region to region.

Dave Fitch – the Cultivate Talk on Missional Orders from Bill Kinnon on Vimeo.

David Fitch has announced a Missional Non-Conference (no fees, no one selling anything) in Ft. Wayne, Indiana January 3.

If you are interested in attending, he’d like for you to email.  You can get more information at David’s blog:

Missional Non-Conference.

Geiger is paralleling the shutting down of Starbucks for three hours in the middle of the week – all stores nationwide – to retrain the employees on how to brew great coffee.  They had gotten so diverse that they had forgotten the main thing.  They also have cut out all breakfast sandwiches because they compete with the smell of the coffee.

Does your church look more like yahoo (homepage) which is busy or google (homepage) which is simple and clean.  Is it more distracting with a million things offering the next greatest thing or simplicity that allows you to focus on why you came there.

He reads a letter from the Yahoo CEO in response to a critique from a newpaper.  Simply put, he says that they lack a cohesive vision.  We try to do so much that we do nothing well.  You can search for it.  It’s called the Peanut Butter Manifesto from Yahoo.

Matthew 16:13-19

Peter, you are the petros (little rock) and on this huge rock (petra – assume Christ is the big rock) I will build my church and … our programming is going to be awesome!!!  You see the point.

The church is to be a driving force that would break through the gates of hell, but we aren’t seeing that in North America.

Doing the research in Southern Baptist Church the original parameters for a growing church were to be 10% growth for 3 consecutive years, but there were only 117 churches that fit into that group and it wasn’t enough for a solid sample.  They had to back down the parameters to 5% growth for 3 consecutive years just to get a sample.

The perception was that the churches that were really growing were the ones that were more simple and not those that were trying to do everything.

The research turned out to be outstandingly reliable that the observation was correct.  It was verifiable at the .001 level, which is super accurate.

A Simple Church is a congregation that is designed around a straightforward and strategic process that moves people through the stages of spiritual growth.

The keyword is not “simple” but “process.”  You can’t simply eliminate stuff, though.  You have to start with your process and find what you need to begin to reduce.  It is not a model.  You get a simple and clean process.

4 keys to a clear and simple process

Clarity   1 Cor 3:9-11, 14

1.  I am God’s builder. Eph 4:11-12

2.  Building the body of Christ is an Ongoing Process. Col 2:6-7

3.  Our ministry needs a clear ministry blueprint.

4.  I must ensure there is a clear “How”.

5 Essentials

1.  Define your process – a) Determine what kind of disciple you wish to make.  Narrow the list as much as possible. b) Describe your purpose as a process.  (Place your key words in order.)  c) Decide how each weekly program is a part of your process. (If it is not a part of the process, then reduce. It is sideways energy.  Anytime you have stuff in addition to your core process, you are competing with yourself.  When you say yes to the side stuff, you say no to the main stuff.)

2.  Illustrate your process.  The illustration must show progression.

3.  Measure your process.  a) What gets measured gets done. (Measure quarterly not weekly) b) View numbers horizontally and not vertically.  (Vertical numbers are measured through the lens of the program – x in Awanas last year, and y this year.  Horizontally is measured in the process, not the program.  Example:  35% growth in worship and 10% growth in small groups would look like a success in small group growth if measured vertically.  Horizontal measurement reveals that not all the growth in moving through the process.)  c) Measure each stage in your process.

4.  Discuss your process

5.  Increase understanding. a) Articulate corporately b) Share interpresonally c) Live personally (whatever vision you seek to impart – you have to live it.  Be a tour guide and not a travel agent.  Go on the journey with them.)

Movement in a Simple Church 2 Cor 3:14, 17-18

We are not like Moses who hid a faded glory behind a veil, because we never leave the mountain.  God is always with us.  The glory is not decreasing, but increasing.

1.  Only God can transform.

2.  Spiritual transformation moves people to greater levels of commitment.

3.  Our ministry must place people in the pathway of God’s transforming power.

4.  I must design a process that partners with God to move people through the process of spiritual growth.

Five Prescriptions to Remove Congestion

1.  Strategic programming.  a) Begin with your clearly defined process. b) Choose one program for each phase of your process. c) Design each program for the specific aspect of the process.

2. Sequential programming.  a) Order the sequence to reflect your process b) Designate a clear entry point.  c) Identify next level programming

3. Intentional Movement  a) Create short term steps b) Capitalize on relationships c) Consider the “Now what?” d) Connect people to groups

4. Clear next step for new believers  a) New believers are the greatest evangelistic resource – they still know lost people. b) What is our strategy to move new believers?

5.  New members’ class  a) Structure the class curriculum around your process – teach through it b) Ask for a commitment to the simple process

Alignment

1.  Unity reflects the nature of God

2. Unity is attractive

3.  God is passionate for our unity

4.  I must align people around our simple process

*disagreement most often happens over methodology.

5 Essentials to Alignment

1.  Recruit on the process a)look for philosophical alignment, not just theological alignment b) look for a similar ministry approach, not just a similar doctrine

2.  Offer accountability a) Job descriptions should be tied to the simple process b) Individual ministry goals should be aligned to the overall church direction and ministry process

3.  Implement the same process everywhere a) Understanding is increased b) Unity is promoted as silos are eliminated c) Families experience the same process

4.  Unite people around the process  a)Remind people of the process b)highlight contributions to the fulfillment of the process

5.  Align new ministries

Focus

1.  The tools for worship can become the objects of our worship.

2.  God applauds the removal of anything that hinders spiritual transformation.

3.  Programs can become an end in themselves instead of a means to an end.

4.  I must focus our energy, resources, and attention on the process God has given our church.

*Once you have it – stay focused on it.

5 Essentials to Focus

1.  Eliminate non-essential programs.  a) Elimination is a matter of stewardship of money b) Elimination is a matter of stewardship of time

2.  Limit adding programs a) Use existing essential programs for special emphases b) Less is more c) Limit adding programs, not options (multiple worship services)

3.  Reduce special events (competes with the essential) a) Funnel the event into an existing program b) Combine the event with an existing program c) Use the event strategically

4.  Ensure the process is easily communicated

5.  Ensure the process is simple to understand a) Choose simple language b) Be brief

*”I am as proud of the things we have not done as I am of the things we have done.” – Steve Jobs of Apple [Note from Art - Macheads really love that]

Ok, so I arrive at the church for the Simple Church conference and find that my camera battery is completely drained but there’s unsecured wireless internet in the sanctuary.

I’ll take it as a sign from God to live blog.  :)

We’re just getting set up and it looks like we’ll be starting soon.  They are graciously allowing drinks in the Worship Center, so caffeine addicts are soothed and stirring.  Geiger has his own presentation set up and they are getting it together with the screen currently present.

The group behind me is having a good time.

Cole Hedgecock, one of the least tech savvy guys I know, is setting up the projector.  I was going to type that we may be a while, but he finally got it and is welcoming us.

Preliminaries are done and we”ll be starting next.  Back with more in a few.