WillowCreek Leadership Summit

I attended the Willow Leadership Summit a few weeks ago. I need to be honest. I have always kind of avoided the Willow Leadership Conference. I am not certain why. I think it is because I have the nagging suspicion that most Christian leadership books and conferences nowadays understand leadership principles as being neutral, something that we can learn from business, corporate CEO's, and heads of state - because leadership is leadership. I think we need to think critically through that issue. Is there a really not ANYTHING different about being a Christan leader?

However, by the way, I really enjoyed myself at the Willow Conference. While I did see some things that I would like to think through more thoroughly - I did sense the Lord doing some really cool stuff there. The speakers, by and large, were thoughtful and inspiring. I learned a great deal.

I want to end with this comment. I noticed that many of the speakers, and much of the emphasis this year (I don't know about years past - because I wasn't there) was on huge issues such as poverty, AIDS, missions, and even (dare I say it) - peacemaking. Wow! Way to go Willow. Times are a changin'.

Here is my final puzzler. I noticed that when Jimmy Carter was introduced to talk about his work for peace, justice, and poverty - that Bill Hybels had to spend about 10 minutes explaining to the crowd why he was there!!! Why was that? Was it because he is a Democrat? Was it because he was an unpopular president? Was it because he has taken an unpopular position regarding the Israeli/Palestinian crisis? Why did Bill have to explain so feverishly why Carter (who is working tirelessly for peace and is a major spokesperson for Habitat for Humanity) was invited to join our little conference.

I noticed that Bill Hybels explained very little of why a Harvard (agnostic) professor was addressing us - or a filmmaker (seeker). But he had to explain profusely to our evangelical crowd why Jimmy Carter deserved to be listened to....why is that. Please tell me ... why is that?