think-tank!

I really wondered how this thing called a ’think-tank’ would work, or rather could it work? We're meeting at Luther Seminary, hence the picture. So far it’s been a remarkable experience. There’s a about 75 people engaged with the whole thing – and I mean engaged. Partly that’s the North American obsession with work, which wont let you off the hook – 8.30am – 9.30pm with minimal breaks (both in terms of their number and length). However, it’s a well worked out process, which is helping everyone to find their voice here, but also find their voice in their own context. That’s something I’m finding very interesting to think about because whilst there are loads of nationalities represented here, I remain the only one from the UK. There is really an awesome collection of people and, frankly, you can’t move without tripping over somebody’s PhD. We meet in our designated cohorts, so I’m in with a group of ‘Missional Executive Leaders’, which basically is a few bishop-type people – Presbyterians, Mennonites, Lutherans, Episcopalians – feel I’ve found some new friends here and fascinating to hear other people’s journey’s. We also have cohorts for such groups as ‘leaders under 35’, founding generation leaders and national/churchwide leaders – a rich tapestry infact. If there is an imbalance, my hunch is the academic world is over-represented, but there is no desire to over define, or narrow and no desire to limit others without expression. Where is God’s preferred future for the Missional Church? I’ll have to wait till tomorrow to find out the answer to that one!