Living and learning. . .

I heard it said by someone not impressed with the plethora of theological conferences and the few liturgical and musical conferences hosted around the Missouri Synod that it was preaching to the choir.  I suppose it is possible to get that idea.  Each conference has its own confederates who have rallied around a cause.  To some extent these conferences are designed for those already in the know- the professionals.  That said, there are a host of them not simply accepting the ordinary folk from the pew but creating themes and seeking speakers who will appeal not simply to the professional class but to those in the pew.

The criticism seemed to be laid especially at the feet of those who promote confessional Lutheran theology as opposed to missional (whatever that term has come to mean) and those who promote liturgical worship as opposed to evangelical style (again, not a precise term).  Perhaps that is true on some level but all conferences are organized around a central principle with an appeal to a certain audience.  I guess the question here is whether these conferences have practical appeal or whether they are not simply a reunion for folks with the time, money, and interest to get together.  Perhaps there is a little truth to the old friends character of these but that has always been the culture of the Missouri Synod.

My point is that what once constituted an academic or professional topic has become decidedly practice because we live in a world of wars.  We have morality wars that are not simply about whether things are good or beneficial but right or wrong.  We have sexuality wars that are not simply condemnations of those things that conflict with Scripture but provide a way for Christians to respond to what is going on out there and to find a way through the challenges laid at their feet and the feet of their children and grandchildren.  We have truth wars not simply about which truth is true but whether there is anything that can be labeled truth beyond the individual or the moment.  We have education wars that are not about how best to educate but what will be taught and where that education takes place (public school, home school, private school).  We have life wars not simply about abortion or reproductive technology but about existential questions of life, its origin, its beginning, its end, and its value.  We have worship wars not simply about style but about whether there is a liturgical identity that reflects our confession or not and how uniform or diverse this practical application should be on Sunday morning.  I could go on but I think you get the point.

Many if not all the conferences in our church body, official and unofficial, are about how we find our way through these wars, about providing not simply information but fellowship for a people increasingly embattled  and weary of the many struggles.  Perhaps the most important thing that happens in these conferences is that relationships too often defined simply by digital connections become personal.  I know that is the case for me.  The time I spend at circuit winkel or conferences is time well spent as we engage, challenge, and support each other as pastors and in our parishes.  The time we spend in church is much the same.  We reconnect, engage, challenge, and support each other in the Christian life of living and learning.  Even when we cannot be there in person, there is a benefit to the many videos made available.  If you are like me, you are not only listening to the speaking but scanning the room for the faces of those you know.  All in all, I think this is justification itself for the 2-4 days spent at a conference.  There are some pricey ones but most are rather reasonable.  The cost is worth it and the benefits accrue for the wider church as well as those who actually attend.