What is the ARC leadership Conference anyway?
I thought maybe folks might want to know where a bunch of us went this past week. Every year there is a gathering of leaders that convene in Mansfield, Ohio which bring together elders and emerging leaders for a time of fellowship and teaching.
Several days before the conference begins there is a time where the MMC (Missions and Ministry Council) gathers to discuss the health and direction of the over all ARC (Alliance for Renewal Churches). This gathering includes a number of senior leaders from the United States, Brazil and Poland. The purpose of this time is to build up and strengthen the growth of churches in the ARC both domestic and international. For example we are charged with the responsibility of helping Rick Widener as he returns to the US from 3 1/2 years in Brazil. We also plan the next years leadership conference, review church plants and potential church plants, hear reports on missionaries and together seek the Lord for direction for the ARC in the year to come.
The ARC conference this year was taught by a well known N.T. Scholar, Dr. Craig Bloomberg. There were parts of his material that was encouraging, however Dr. Bloomberg holds some points of view that differ from the ARC. (For example he doesn’t have a strong view of the role of elders, and tends towards an egaliterian view of women in church leadership). The conference suffered a bit from two problems – one, the speakers plane was delayed and we ended up having to sort of smoosh things together. And second, we didn’t have a long enough time for worship and ministry to one another. I think that made the conference a little “flat,” at least for me.
I’m really excited that next year we are planning on having David Bryant. I am hoping that he will be able to join us.