Summer Institute: Stimulating a New Imagination
By Scott Boren

When pastors attend conferences, most expect to walk away with a set of practical steps or guidelines that they can implement quickly and easily when they return home. And most church leadership conferences meet these expectations. Thankfully, the Summer Institute chose another route, one that did not provide empty promises of quick fixes or immediate result.

Instead, the training aimed to stimulate a new imagination within church leaders. It challenged us to rethink what the church can be. To accomplish this task the presenters led us on a journey of theological engagement. They painted a picture of what the church could be by stimulating our theological imaginations, something demanded by the radical transition in which the church finds itself today. Old theological categories learned within the paradigm of Christendom don’t prove helpful when seeking to lead God’s people into new ways of being the church. And simply providing people with ready-made programs learned at a conference doesn’t address the deep issues that we face.

As we were stretched to re-imagine the church, new patterns of leading the church became evident. In this way, the practical creativity of the Spirit provided the initial steps for each attendee that is unique to each of our situations. Some found hope for their troubled churches. Others discovered a new way to communicate God’s vision for the church. Others had their eyes opened to some of the root issues that the church faces.

While the greatest attribute of the Summer Institute was its focus on stimulating our theological imaginations, it did not leave us “flapping in the wind” without practical direction. The practical direction I received was on the topic of setting up Missional Action Teams. Those on other tracks discovered guidelines for participating in Partnership for Missional Church, while others learned more about what it means to be a missional leader.

My hope is that more will set aside time for the Summer Institute. Such experiences will form the foundation of the future of the church.