youTheology is a Saint Paul School of Theology Pan-Methodist program that is preparing leaders, deepening faith, providing youth ministry resources, and giving opportunities for loving and serving God and others with high school students and youth workers.
Here is the latest Slant33 post featuring Eric Iverson, Lilly Lewin and yours truly. The question "How have some of the mistakes you have made helped you grow as a leader?"
One of the highlights of the recent Leadership Conference at Duke Divinity School was Andy Crouch. His main presentation was truly profound - a real multisensory learning experience.
Here is a little 2:48 video with Andy talking about the six most influential words for a leadership posture, "We either contemplate or we exploit." It is well worth two minutes and forty-eight seconds of your time.
"Half the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don't mean to do harm -- but the harm does not interest them. Or they do not see it, or they justify it because they are absorbed in the endless struggle to think well of themselves." T.S. Eliot
This quote is used in an article just released on LeadershipJournal.net entitled, "Pastoral Narcissism: The Shadow Side of Ambition" by JR Kerr. So true and convicting... for some of us.
My friend and Chairman of the Youthfront Board of Directors, Dr. Dean Blevins continues to expand his scope of international leadership in theology and Christian Education. Here is the Press Release announcing his two new leadership roles;
Dean G. Blevins, Professor of Christian Education and Director of the
Master of Arts in Christian Education Degree Program at Nazarene
Theological Seminary recently accepted two new leadership roles that
provide new responsibilities for the global church and greater
influence within the academic discipline of Christian Education.
On
November 24, 2009, Dr. Blevins was voted President-Elect of the
Religious Education Association, the oldest organization guiding
professional research and academic teaching in global educational
ministry. The mission of the Religious Education Association (REA) is
to create opportunities for exploring and advancing the interconnected
practices of scholarship, research, teaching, and leadership in faith
communities, academic institutions, and the wider world community.
Founded in 1903, REA now combines professional practitioners,
academics, and research theorists from around the world. Dr. Blevins,
who has been a member of the REA Board of Directors, will serve a
three-year term that includes serving as program chair of the annual
meeting in 2010 and officially taking the role of President in
2010-2011.
In addition to this new profession role, the Board
of General Superintendents also recently appointed Blevins as the USA
Regional Education Coordinator and Consultant for the Church of the
Nazarene. Under this new role, Dr. Blevins will serve as chair and
resource for the USA Regional Course of Study Advisory Committee as
well as serve as USA representative to several global committees
including the International Course of Study Advisory Committee (which
oversees planning for ministry education around the world) and the
International Board of Education. Working with Clergy Development,
Blevins will resource educational institutions in planning ministry
education, and be responsible for other program areas including the
next Global Theology Conference.
Commenting on the two new
positions Dr. Blevins stated, “It is gratifying to have the opportunity
to influence the future of my academic field and also serve the general
church at the same time. I am thankful to NTS for providing a context
where academic passion and ministry dedication merge together. I am
also grateful to an institution that allows me space to serve in these
global positions. Undoubtedly the experiences I gain from these
leadership roles will enrich students and ministry preparation at
Nazarene Theological Seminary.”
Dr. Blevins has maintained an
active role in several academic organizations including the North
American Professors of Christian Education, and the Wesleyan
Theological Society where he has chaired the practical theology section
for nine years. He has also served the general church as a consultant
to children, youth and adult ministries; and recently contributed to a
new denominational study concerning family ministry. In October, Dr.
Blevins was re-elected Chairman of the Board of YouthFront, a regional
youth ministry based in Kansas City with national education programming
in youth ministry and youth spiritual formation.
I saw some of the new showUndercover Bosswhich premiered after the Super Bowl. The new CBS reality series follows high-level
chief executives as they slip anonymously among the rank and file employeesto examine the inner workings of their company.
I thought what a great idea,I should go undercover at Youthfront. Unfortunately, my cover was blown within seconds. I don't know if it didn't work because of my poor disguise or the fact that we only have 45 employees. Stink...
Ed Dobson will be at Youthfront on Monday morning, November 9th from 10:00 to 12:00 speaking to youth workers, pastors and ministry leaders. If you fit in that category e-mail me and I will let you know more details. There is no cost for this event.
It has been more than two dozen years since Ed Dobson has come to Youthfront. He was a frequent speaker at our camps and other events. Ed Dobson was instrumental in getting me to do a M.A. at Liberty University back in the mid-eighties. We both later became disillusioned with fundamentalism and the agenda of the Religious Right. Ed became pastor of Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Ed was also instrumental in planting Mars Hill led by his youth pastor Rob Bell. Ed also has Lou Gehrig's Disease and has made his story all the more compelling.
Ed serves as an advisory editor forChristianity Today and consulting editor for Leadership.
He was named "Pastor of
the Year" by Moody Bible Institute in 1993. Ed has been featured
recently in USA Today, Good Morning America, plus many other national
media outlets. Ed, inspired by A.J. Jacob's book The Year of Living Biblically, just completed The Year of Living Like Jesus.
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