teaching

On Monday I was at a meeting in Walnut Creek to develop a teaching seminar for pastors and church staff in the Covenant as part of the "Sustaining Pastoral Excellence" initiative. I was surprised when I was asked to be part of the team and then I was anxious. I wasn't sure what I brought to the table and I didn't want to do it because I would just be gaining notoriety as a teacher of teachers. So I let the leader know I was there to observe. But I really enjoyed being part of the team. I was impressed with the material that had already been gathered for the pilot event at the Midwinter conference in February (the annual conference for Covenant leaders: about 1000 attend every year) and I really engaged with it and added a lot to the discussion. And I was impressed that the seminar was being offered in the spirit of being co-learners, not as experts. So I did offer to help teach at least one of the 4 seminars that will be offered in the coming year.

I was also impressed with the efforts on the part of the Covenant to help church leaders. The attitude is that the denomination exists to serve local churches and leaders, not vice versa. I'm glad to be part of such a denomination.