Theology and Leadership - Catalyst article

I have known of the Catalyst event that happens in Atlanta each year for a while, but only recently have got caught up on it and what is really happening with it. I got to hang out with Brad Lomenick who leads the event and mission of it when I was speaking at North Point Church recently in Atlanta.

I am going back again to North Point in August to speak at the 7/22 gathering that happens on Tuesday nights. The night I am speaking, it will also be the release of Charlie Hall's new CD and he will be there leading the music.  So that should be a fun night and I look forward to hanging out with Jarrett Stevens and seeing the other North Point staff I got to know when there last.

When I met with Brad, I loved hearing Brad's heart for the Catalyst event, and how it has amazingly has developed over the years. They are looking at developing a west-coast Catalyst soon which will benefit those of us over here for sure.

I was recently asked by Jesse on the Catalyst team to write an article for the Catalyst web site e-zine. What came to mind to write about was the importance of theological thinking for leaders in churches. It is what I have been really thinking about a lot lately, and even spent 3.5 hours talking about it at Willow Creek's Shift Conference last week in the workshop I led. In a culture of rapid change and idea sharing, we need to all the more be thinking theologically as we lead our churches.

I did write a blog entry recently that talked a little about this, but here is the article on the Catalyst web site that I wrote. They named it "Sticks and Stones". 

I also just looked at the whole Catalyst web site when looking at the posted article, and it is really quite a plethora of information for leaders. So I will be returning to it for sure, as they really are engaging what leadership in our emerging culture is about.

OK... hope the article is interesting and encouraging and check out the rest of the Catalyst web site.

Comments

[Zachary]

Dan,
I am a graduate student and lecturer in the philosophy department at UCSC, and I am also a Christian. I had the pleasure of reading your book on The Emerging Church a while back, and I was impressed with the grasp you had on the postmodern cultural environment that the church now finds itself in, for better or worse. One of my teaching assistants attends your church, and although I normally worship at Christian Life Center down the street, I would enjoy seeing and worshiping with the Emerging Church firsthand. I just thought I would take the time to introduce myself, and tell you that I was impressed with your written work and am a regular reader of your blog. Keep up the good work.
In Christ,
Zachary Fruhling

[Chris Martin]

Dan, thanks for that article. You verbalized some thoughts I have had, and I guess concerns. Anytime we turn our brains off when dealing with a new trend, method, or technology we can get into trouble. I appreciate a call to sound, orthodox theology in the context of new ways of expressing those theologies.

~Chris Martin

[jason]

afternoon, tried adding your blog to my feeder but the link you provided does not seem to be working

[sean]

Thanks Dan. I love the questions you're asking. Too, you're a very good writer. Uh...you better be with all the writing you do!

[Jean]

To only find a word that describes Catalyst. It's more than amazing. My husband and I have attended for several years, traveling from MI to GA to experience a life changing conference. To hear about a west-coast Catalyst is more than we can hope for as we're packing up and moving cross country to Seattle this summer and were a bit saddened that we'd possibly not be able to attend Catalyst for several years. I know your post was about theology, but I was encouraged to read there may be a west coast Catalyst. :)

[donsands]

"What came to mind to write about was the importance of theological thinking for leaders in churches."

And not only the younger people, but all Christians need to come back to the deep richness of the Bible's teachings of who God is, who Christ is, and what the Gospel means, the genuine Gospel, the authentic Jesus Christ, and the Triune God of Scripture.

many have strayed from the true God of true God, and true Man of true man: The Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior and Friend.

May the Lord bless you and give you His wisdom to write a powerful article on His theology. Amen.

[Jeffrey]

Theology is important and we need to be careful we do not fall into trends or false teaching. Most younger people today go after music and books that do not raise the theology behind what they write or sing about. So we need to be teaching younger people how to be theologically discerning.