Dear Friends,
For some time, I've been praying and thinking about my schedule for 2008, and together with a group of friends, I recently reached an important decision.
Rather than accepting invitations in 2008, I'll join a creative team of friends to develop and present about ten regional gatherings, half in the winter/spring and half in the fall. These gatherings will be called "Deep Shift 2008."
The gatherings will begin on Friday morning and conclude Saturday afternoon. They'll include special tracks for pastors, church planters and leaders, faith community and cohort leaders, worship leaders, children's and youth ministry workers, and others – anyone who has read my books and anyone who has an interest in grappling with the deep shifts going on in our cultures, churches, and world.
DeepShift will call people to a deep shift in their thinking about faith, church life, mission, ministry, art, justice, leadership, community, and worship. It will emphasize deep personal inner transformation integrated with deep organizational transition as well, in the context of the "Generous Orthodoxy" I write and speak about. And unlike many conferences, this gathering will put special focus on the "yes, but how?" question.
For each event, DeepShift will be seeking a host, co-sponsors, sponsors, artists, and volunteers to participate in various ways: Host church or organization: The host organization will provide a meeting room for 750 to 1000 people, along with space for break-out sessions, meals, an art show, and displays. They will also supply required technical needs and volunteers. Medium- or large-sized churches or college campuses would be ideal hosts.
Co-sponsors: These organizations will provide publicity to their constituencies. They will also provide volunteers to help with the event, and may present a display table to represent their organization. Their names and web addresses will be included in promotional materials and gathering literature, and they will receive a number of free passes for the gatherings. Churches, charitable organizations and mission agencies, networks and denominational agencies, colleges and seminaries, campus ministries, and other organizations may wish to be co-sponsors.
Sponsors: Other organizations may sponsor refreshment breaks or meals, or may provide funding, free books, CD's, or other resources.
Volunteers: Individual volunteers will receive free passes to the gatherings.
Artists: In each city, we'll be seeking local talent – musicians, painters, actors, poets, storytellers, photographers, writers, and more.
To inquire or apply about participating in one of the capacities, please contact us.
Preferred Cities:
We are especially hoping to come to the following U.S. cities in 2008-2010. If you would like to consider being a host or co-sponsor, please contact …
Northwest: *Seattle, *San Francisco, Portland, Sacramento
Southwest: *Los Angeles area, *Phoenix, *Denver, San Diego/Orange
County, Las Vegas,
Midwest: *Chicago, *Kansas City, *Cincinnati, *Minneapolis, Grand
Rapids, St. Louis
Northeast: *New York, *DC/Baltimore, New Haven, Boston, *Philly,
*Tidewater/Richmond
South: *Dallas, *Atlanta, *Houston, *Orlando/Tampa, *Durham/Chapel
Hill, *San Antonio, *Nashville