Informative | Interactive | Provocative | Imaginative

The Teaching Fish to Walk: Church Systems and Adaptive Challenges workshop will have no elephants in the room. We will explore with participants in an open and provocative way the future of the Christian faith in the context of the great velocity and reach of change in North America.

We have no “golden” answers. But we believe that a vital, realistic yet encouraging and collaborative conversation needs to happen. The church faces many adaptive issues, not unlike the early church had to contend with such as defining leadership roles and establishing its own lexicon to define words to convey fresh meaning regarding what they believed and who they were.

Adaptation means making structures or situations more suitable to the environment. Adaptation is evolutionary, and evolution is always messy. In Germany, for instance, arborists have discovered that certain types of trees are beginning to grow “anxiety shoots.” With changes in climate, trees are adapting with new root systems. Could we do less?

“We” are two Lutheran pastors (veteran church leaders). The Rev. Dr. Jon Lee is the former Senior Pastor at King of Glory, Dallas, and a past president of the Dallas Clergy Association. The Rev. Dr. Pete Steinke is an internationally respected church consultant and author/speaker. Together, they will offer presentations, guide group activities, and learn alongside of others.

Remember what William Deming said: “Your system is perfectly designed to give you the results you are getting.” We will start from there.

Cost:

Early Registration: $40 per person (Sept 28th deadline)
Regular Registration: $50 (or $45 for two or more from the same congregation)

Check payments to be made to New Visions Workshop, or Pay online