I feel like I am finally regaining some equilibrium after the Forge Summit. I was so wiped out I actually cancelled our leadership team meeting that was scheduled for last night. I couldn’t get focused on what it was we needed to discuss.

That’s a significant shift in itself from where I used to live. We don’t have to ‘get there tomorrow’ anymore. Its as important that we ‘get there and enjoy the ride’. Last night I decided to take the slower road.

After my session on Apostolic leadership on Sunday I spent some time chatting with the girls who were in the group. They commented that it felt quite blokey and testosterone charged (my words). We began to discuss whether there was a feminine form to the ‘apostolic leader’. Is the female apostolic more compassionate, merciful, pastoral etc? The girls would say ‘yes’.

Dan has made some interesting comments on the broader female question within the EMC and has pointed out some of the tensions we are working with:

– the absence of women in church leadership generally

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– the historical factor – typically we haven’t valued women

– the nature of leadership doesn’t always attract women

There is some interesting debate in the comments as well. Al Hirsch suggests that apostolic leadership actually taps into a more masculine energy and there is also some debate on the thoughts Mike Frost presented on the feminisation of worship.

Mike’s comments on this area were a highlight of the summit for me. The idolatry of romance in western society has seen love for God translated to ‘intimacy’ of a romantic / feeling nature to the exclusion of love as action and obedience.

As always the truth probably lies in a bit of both, but it was good to hear someone give words to what I have felt in my gut for a while. I have been wondering for a while now if when we ask one another if we ‘feel close to God’ if we are in fact asking the wrong question.

But I am wondering about the apostolic women… Do they take a more compassionate shape than the blokes? Or is that simply something in the male/female make up?

If attendance is the measure of success then the National Forge Summit this weekend was supremely successful.

Over 600 people (yes – that’s the latest accurate figure) attended some part of the event and somewhere in the low 500’s were there the whole time.

The attendance does say at very least, that people are interested in what they perceive Forge to be on about. While at best it marks a landmark occasion and a galvanising of people for missional action in our nation.

Of course the question that hangs is ‘what will happen now?’ What will change because a bunch of people came together to network, hear stories, be inspired and re-think mission? If it doesn’t translate to action on the ground then nothing – yes nothing of substance has really occurred. Learning must translate to changed behaviour

If it does… then look out.

I am very optimistic about the impact of the weekend – partly because I sense this is something the Holy Spirit is doing and partly because I think we are well set up to facilitate and develop the action that has been catalysed as a result of the weekend.

Whatever else gets said this is probably as good a place as any to pay tribute to the work of Alan Hirsch as a leader and pioneer in the whole area of missional church. I have only known Alan for 3 years, but we have become really good friends and I am grateful for both his influence on my life and his friendship. I understand that he and Forge were pretty pointy in the early days as they sought to present an alternative imagination of church and that they gave a fair bit of ‘stick’ and also copped it back from others.

It takes great courage to keep leading when you are going against the flow and when others are calling you a fool and a heretic. As this weekend passes and there is a growing acceptability for the EMC it would be easy to forget the pain of birth that Alan and others have endured as they have led the way here.

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I Thank God for both Alan and Frosty who put their balls on the line and led the way in calling us to dance to a different tune when it was not popular to do so.

I have a sense that Australian Church History will remember Alan as one of the greats and one of the true pioneers and revolutionaries. Yes… that’s a big rap, but I have a feeling that we are seeing a huge shift occurring in the church and we need to say thanks to God and to the people who have the courage to lead where he calls.

Good on ya Hirschy. You’re a bloody legend!

Its been great to make some new connections at Forge this time round, as well as deepening some friendships that I’ve had a for a while.

It was really good to catch up Mike and Rachel for dinner tonight, to meet Digger, Andrew McKenzie and Steve Barrington for the first time. As an introvert I have found myself ducking for cover every now and then as I have been all peopled out. The only problem is that there is very little cover!

I think my elective session went reasonably well. It was looking at the heart of an apostlic leader.

The eight qualities I listed (mostly from 1 Cor 9) were:

1. A compelling desire to initiate, pioneer or start new ministries.

An apostolic type loves starting new stuff – apostello = sent one – unreached people

2. Usually task focused and therefore needing to function in a team setting

Paul always worked in teams – got the job done, but prob had a few pointy edges

3. Courageous… Singled minded” resilient”

Focused on the gospel – not willing to let anything stand in the way – willing to suffer

4. Willing to pay the price of effectiveness

Training self to be godly – takes resp for personal spiritual formation

5. Will establish DNA and fight for truth

lays theological and philosophical DNA and will fight for it / guard it as needed

6. Empowering Others and relinquishing control

looks to raise up and trust people to do the job so can move on

7. Enjoys a regional/wider influence

tends to find one local role a bit restrictive – enjoys wider scope of ministry and influence

I was reading Bob Clinton’s stuff on the presence of ‘power / miraculous’ gifts among the apostolics, but I’m not sure were that fits…

We have one day left of the Summit and then two days after with the 60 interns and .acom students. As good as it is I am now one of those people who misses his family and would rather got home sooner than later.

I think that’s a good thing!