David's Willow Creek experience
The Revd David Somerville, rector of Drumgath & Drumgooland and the Revd Arthur Young, rector of Tullylish accompanied by Bishop Harold, attended the recent Willow Creek Leader's Summit in Chicago.
Here's what David had to say about his first Willow Creek experience:
As first incumbents Arthur Young and I took up Bishop Harold's invitation to attend "Lead where you are" the Church Leaders Summit in Chicago during August '07. I'd heard of Willow Creek. I've used their books in Bible Study and followed up a recent outreach using their stuff but nothing prepared me. It was a case of hitting the ground running.
Bill Hybels, Willow Creek's Executive Pastor, is the man with the vision since the summit's inception 12 years ago. It involves world-class speakers from the Church and the world. Bill's idea is that Church leaders need first-rate leadership skills from world-class leaders wherever they occur. To that end the conference includes talks from Colin Powell (retired US secretary of state) Richard Curtis - (Producer of Notting Hill, Mr Bean and the brains behind Comic Relief) and Jimmy Carter (retired US President). These guys have been there and done that when it comes to leadership at the highest level. They were humble and inspiring.
His choice of Church leaders was every bit as impressive. Floyd Flake is the leader of the Greater Allen AME Cathedral New York. His congregation numbers 23,000 and reaches out to its community in a very practical way. It runs a private school, a large senior citizens home and a housing programme for hundreds of members & community residents. Floyd served as a US congressman (from ‘86-‘97), is the president of Wilberforce University Ohio and has written widely on church leadership. The other one to catch my eye was John Ortberg Pastor of Menio Park Presbyterian Church California [author of "If you want to walk on the water you've got to get out of the boat" and much more] He gave the best Study on the book of Esther I've ever heard. He's a riveting speaker.
That's just a taster. Each of the 10 session of the Summit was broadcast live to 67 centres around America (total live audience of 100,000). The presentations included warm up items from people like - the African Children's Choir, singer Kirk Franklin and the most amazing blind pianist/singer Patrick Henry Hughes.
To say I was impressed is an under statement. It was more than the culture shock between rural Co Down and the leafy suburbs of South Barrington; more than slick presentation; more than impressive facilities and church plant. Bill Hybels burns with a vision from the Lord. His style and enthusiasm is infectious. If I can take just a little of that back to Drumgath & Drumgooland Parishes it will all have been well worthwhile. If you get the chance to go next year, or to see it all replayed at Bangor Elim later this year - jump at it.
David Somerville - Rector of Drumgath & Drumgooland
August 2007
Photography by Bishop Harold Miller