| Rhett Smith:. Transitioning Life's Journey – Reflections on Writing, Therapy, and Faith | Tag Archive

Tag Archive - collaboration

ReThinking How We Do Conferences

March 12, 2009 in Ministry-Theology, Technology-Social Media with 7 Comments

A couple of months ago I started a series called ChurchTechCamp-8 Things To Know If You Want to Help Organize One. You can see my last post, with the previous posts at the bottom. I actually did have 8 posts within me, but got distracted which is easy for me to do. I could continue those posts, but I think I’ve made my point….(and to be honest, it’s part of my letting go process of perfection…I don’t need to finish 8 posts…haaa).

Conferences are changing, and the traditional way of doing them will disappear for many, but the few elite ones.

Church Crunch had a recent post, Hey Where’s My Conference?!?!

Eric Jones writes:

Has anyone else out there become aware of all the church conferences going on around the US? We’ve got leadership conferences, worship leader conferences, youth ministry conferences and more. It seems like every time I turn around I see a new conference popping up for my pastor, associate pastors, church staffers, worship leaders etc to attend.

I like to check out these sites to see what, if anything am I’m missing. The speakers are all people I typically am aware of and have much respect for. The topics are as expected, slanted towards church leadership and church staff.

But then I started to wonder, what about me? What about the church attender? Where is our conference circuit?

Cynthia Ware at The Digital Sanctuary says this in The Idea Camp Lives On (Idea Camp):

The entire event (free, of course)is still openly challenging all of us who are used to paying for conferences to see speakers we can listen to rather than those we can collaborate with.

And yet, Generation “We” seems to clearly resonate with a new set of values. Open source cross-pollenation, dynamic conversational collaboration, elevating innovation, celebrating creativity, participating, dreaming, designing, doing.

A taste of things to come.

So I’m wondering where you stand on all of this conference stuff. I know some people are frustrated with the sheer number of “conferences” or “unconferences” popping up, while others are thrilled.

ChurchTechCamp-8 Things To Know If You Want To Help Organize One-Part 3: Collaborative Planning

January 21, 2009 in Ministry-Theology, Technology-Social Media with 5 Comments

Collaboration is a recursive process where two or more people or organizations work together toward an intersection of common goals — for example, an intellectual endeavor[1] [2] that is creative in nature[3]—by sharing knowledge, learning and building consensus. Collaboration does not require leadership and can sometimes bring better results through decentralization and egalitarianism.[4] In particular, teams that work collaboratively can obtain greater resources, recognition and reward when facing competition for finite resources.

This is at the heart of ChurchTechCamp. A coming together of people, sharing of their gifts and resources, to bring a greater impact to the Church through the use of technology. This is not something that one person, or one organization can do, but rather is best brought about by a number of people with a variety of gifts.

When planning for a ChurchTechCamp in your area one of the early things to think about is the collaborative nature of the event and who are those people that can get the ball rolling, as well as usher in a presence and demeanor to everyone else on the fringes to participate and give fully of their gifts. Put another way, “Who can help make this a shared event, and not a one or two person show?”

To pull of ChurchTechCamp:.Dallas collaboration was key. It began as I have mentioned before in a Twitter conversation. Tony Steward knew that John Saddington was coming to Dallas and that I was interested in having it in Dallas. So it began as a collaborative effort among the three of us, but was really encouraged by others who commented on the Twitter conversation. We helped organize, but it was the attendees, in person and online, who before and after the event brought the true meaning of collaboration to the event. A few simply helped get the ball rolling, the rest was done by all of you. Thank you to all of them.

Register for ChurchTechCamp:.Dallas—NOW!

December 21, 2008 in Ministry-Theology with 1 Comment

ChurchTechCamp:.Dallas Website

ChurchTechCamp:.Dallas Registration

The Twitter and Blog tag for this event is:
#ctcdallas

Becoming a Heretic on Church Ministry: Church Leadership

November 6, 2008 in Ministry-Theology with 3 Comments

The Context
This is Part 2 in the continued series, Becoming a Heretic on Church Ministry.

Last week we looked at Becoming a Heretic on Church Ministry: The Sermon.

When we think about what a heretic on/in Church ministry is, I am taking a cue from Seth Godin’s book Tribes: We Need You To Lead Us. See my review for Leadership Network here.

Godin says:

Challenging the status quo requires a committment, both public and private. It involves reaching out to others and putting yourideas on the line. (Or pinning your Ninety-five Theses to the church door). (pp. 49)

and later in the book, Godin says:

Religion and faith are often confused. Someone who opposes faith is called an atheist and widely reviled. But we don’t have a common word for someone who opposes a particular religion.

Heretic will have to do.

If faith is the foundation of a belief system, then religion is the facade and the landscaping. It’s easy to get caught up in the foibles of a corporate culture and the systems that have been built over time, but they have nothing at all to do with the faith that built the system in the first place.

Change is made by people, by leaders who are proud to be called heretics because their faith is never in question. (pp. 84)

Church Leadership
One of the areas that I want to look at is “church leadership” which is such a broad topic and can literally mean anything. As we look at this topic, I want us to remember…I want to remember…that this is really an exploration on looking differently at some areas in Church that we have often taken for granted, or have always performed the function the same way. And I’m wondering, and believing, that we need to re-think, re-imagine some new ways to do things. As we look at this list you will see some of the strong influence I have received from the world of technology and social media, and how the tools they provide are setting the agenda for a new way of leadership…actually, I think it takes us back to a more Biblical form of leadership (minus the internet). So here are just 5 areas that I have been thinking about…that I think need tinkering, re-imagining, etc. What do you think? I would like to hear your thoughts on these ideas that seem heretical in some circles…but may be common sense to you.

How?

Participatory: Church leadership canvtake cues from the world of technology and social media and understand the need and desire for participation. The reason that Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Yahoo Answers, blogs, etc. are so popular is that it offers individuals the ability to participate. Not only can they participate in regards to their own content, but they have an opportunity to participate in the larger content…larger narrative of what is happening around them. They participate in the content they manufacture online, and they participate in causes, both global and local that have their source in origin in the content of others. I think most churches would love for everyone to participate. In fact, they hope they do. It’s just that church leadership doesn’t structure itself in such a way that communicates or makes it possible for everyone to participate. Participation is not about a few people telling others how to participate…participation is about opening up the avenues that allow others to participate more fully with the gifts, desires and skills that God has blessed them with.Does your chuch leadership structure itself in such a way that it communicates to the whole church that participation by everyone is important? How?

Pending Reviews: Soon to Come

April 29, 2008 in Uncategorized with 0 Comments

I am really behind in some reviews, but here is what is on deck:

Sex, Sushi, & Salvation: Thoughts on Intimacy, Community, & Eternity by Christian George.

I am almost done with this book and will have a review shortly. But so far, I really like what I see. George has a very “Donald Milleresque” style of writing about him. Which I love. When I first got the book I chuckled at the title because sex and sushi are really popular in Los Angeles. That is what sells in this town. Not so much salvation, though I think that’s what many are unknowingly looking for. Good combination of words that speak to so many people’s needs, desires and wants. As I said, I will post that review shortly.

The Vision Deck: 52 Exercises to Inspire Visionary Teams by auxano.

This is taking me a little while to review, since I’m trying to take all 52 cards in, and actually use them, rather than just read through them. So I will have a full review soon. But what lies at heart in this deck is what I’m passionate about (i.e. team building, collaboration, vision casting, ministry, etc.)

Sexless in the City: A Memoir of Reluctant Chastity by Anna Broadway.

Very popular blogger’s blog writings become a book. I have known her for about 15 years or so, so I’m excited to see her writing published. This is a fascinating topic for many people, and Broadway is a great writer. A review will follow soon.

A Leader Becomes A Leader: Inspirational Stories of Leadership For A New Generation by J. Kevin Sheehan.

This book just came in the mail today and I’m very excited about. Very good looking book. Great photography, stories, anedotes, thoughts, etc., from some of the greatest leaders in a number of distinct fields. I think the influence of these multiple voices on various topics of leadership should be a great read.

Collaborative Resources

April 28, 2008 in Technology-Social Media with 3 Comments

I think most of you know by now, I have become a huge fan of the New Media and Web 2.0. But there is one aspect of it that I am most excited about: collaboration. With immediate access to amazing and simple tools we are able to collaborate more rapidly and effectively with one another than before. Collaboration is not only taking place amongst friends and co-workers in the same office, but is happening on larger scales both locally and globally.

To get some perspective on this aspect of the New Media and Web 2.0 there are a few books that I have been reading, and that I highly recommend. They are all varied to some degree, but they are saying essentially the same thing: people are now able to collaborate on a mass scale like never before.

Check Them Out

The Starfish and the Spider: The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations by Ori Brafman and Rod A. Beckstrom.

Amazing book on the power of mass collaboration, and how it is creating and sustaining organizations that are leaderless. They give good examples of leaderless organizations, as well as looking at hybrid organizations that have some structure in place, but are pretty much led by the leaderless communities that support them.

Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations by Clay Shirky.

This book I’m still working on. But I’m particularly intrigued by his chapter “Publish, Then Filter.” In an instant world with mediums such as blogging, people publish first then go back to filter and edit, but through the help of the community. In the collaborative conversation, the community does the filtering, editing, and correcting. This is so upside down from the old media which only publishes after tons of edits, corrections, etc., if it publishes at all. Many are uncomfortable with this new mentality, but in the new media, what were once perceived as big mistakes are no longer big mistakes, but are easily dialogued about…and if needed, forgiven by the public (some of this is my own commentary).

Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything by Dan Tapscott and Anthony D. Williams.

Great book. Very in depth. This really gets technical about mass collaboration and explores many aspects from economics to science, and how mass collaboration is revolutionizing these fields and others.

Facebook for Pastors: How To Build Relationships And Connect With People Using The Most Popular Social Network On The Internet by Chris Forbes

I love Facebook, I am a pastor, and I love ministry. So this book is a must read. Very quick and free. How can you beat that. My chapter in The New Media Frontier: Blogging, Vlogging, and Podcasting for Christ is “Navigating the Evolving World of Youth Ministry in the Facebook-MySpace Generation.” I didn’t really touch on collaboration which was sort of new to me when I wrote it. Now if I could go back, I would talk on this more.

Getting Real: The smarter, faster, easier way to build a successful web application by 37 Signals.

Awesome, awesome book. Really a manifesto. Short and is free online. This really changed my views about the necessity for simplicity and less is more attitude in the onslaught of new media and design. They are some real nuggets in there.

Wikinomics is blowing my mind…

March 17, 2008 in Technology-Social Media with 9 Comments

One of the things on my mind most recently is the concept of collaboration, and how the Church can better harness this synergy within its congregations and in its communities. But my biggest fear is that many churches will continue to maintain hierarchical structures out of fear of losing power and will be unable to adapt to the emerging online world (for lack of a better phrase). Many church structures are steeped in polity, organizational styles, etc. that often don’t allow them to adjust.

In their book, Don Tapscott and Anthony D. Williams state that the Net Generation, born between 1977 and 1996 will dominate the 21st century, and I think that many churches will look around at their age demographics and fail to take this into consideration. Instead of seeing thousands of young people who are wanting to contribute and participate in the Church, seeking a voice to make change, many churches and organization instead will continue to reinforce power and status through hierarchy, outdated ordination requirements, etc. Tapscott and Williams reiterate again and again that those organizations, companies, etc, who fail to adapt and change to this generation will do so at their own peril, because this generation is different.

I wish I had read this book before I wrote my chapter in the soon to be published book The New Media Frontier: Blogging, Vlogging and Podcasting for Christ. It seems like I’m gathering more information and finding more sources after my chapter already went to print, but I make the case that youth culture who has been raised in the world of Facebook and MySpace will no longer go through the traditional channels in the Church (i.e. pastors, directors, etc.) to accomplish tasks, get permission or initiate change. Rather, they will see those traditional structures as hindrances to what they can do already online and in their networks. So churches must learn to adapt and innovate along with this generation, and if they do, they will harness a generation that can bring great life and innovation to the Church both locally and globally.

All generations in developed (and increasingly, developing) countries use the Web. Seniors, for example, have time to spend and new motives for going online–communicating with their grandchildren may be the most important. However, a new generation of youngsters has grown up online, and they are bringing a new ethic of openness, participation, and interactivity to workplaces, communities, and markets. For this reason, they merit special investigation. They represent the new breed of workers, learners, consumers, and citizens. Think of them as the demographic engine of collaboration and the reason why the perfect storm is not a flash in the pan but a persistent tempest that will gather force as they mature…

Rather than being passive recipients of mass consumer culture, they Net Gen spend time searching, reading, scrutinizing, authenticating, collaborating, and organizing (everything from their MP3 files to protest demonstrations). The Internet makes life an ongoing, massive collaboration, and this generation loves it. They typically can’t imagine a life where citizens didn’t have the tools to constantly think critically, exchange views, challenge, authenticate, verify, or debunk. While their parents were passive consumers of media, youth today are active creators of media content and hungry for interaction…

They are also a generation of scrutinizers. They are more skeptical of authority as they sift through information at the speed of light by themselves or with their network of peers. Though they have great self-confidence than previous generations they are nevertheless worried about their futures. It’s not their own abilities that they are insecure about–it’s the external adult world and how it may lack opportunity.

Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything by Dan Tapscott and Anthony D. Williams, (pp. 46-47)

Categories

Recent Posts

Archives