I think we can all learn from the humility of Scott Thomas of Acts29 Network regarding the recent controversy over the Mark Driscoll church planting video. I emailed the guys at Acts29 for their comments, and this is what I got. I guess there is a difference in being AT the conference, and being INVOLVED in the conference (for all of you who commented against the video and Acts29). Here is Scott’s comment:
“It is interesting how a story gets blown up out of proportion when it is passed along in the blogosphere. The video WAS shown as planned but after Bill said what he did, the organizers decided NOT to hand it out. They were left in a suitcase in an inconspicuous location and not handed out as determined before Bill’s underhanded comment.
I was informed of the decision while Bill was talking. I respect the decision and I love the organizers as brothers. I refuse to further damage the unity of the body of Christ by “setting the record straight” because that is the job of God.
This is how I and the director of the conference perceive it:
This year’s Exponential Conference generated much more controversial buzz during the closing session than was necessary or intended. The truth is that we don’t have to agree on every point to cooperate together for the advancement of the gospel. We were impressed with the wide span of quality people pulled together for the largest gathering of church planters in America. The purpose of the conference is to inspire and unify, not to divide or create theological debate. With over 60 hours of incredible teaching from over 35 national leaders, let’s not be polarized on just a few minutes. The other speakers and the conference coordinators are friends and we are honored to be a part of the National New Church Conference and look forward to next year’s focus, The DNA of Reproducing Churches. Let’s get back on the mission to which Jesus called us.”
It’s difficult to argue with that. This comment can also be seen in its original context here.
Thank you Scott, and Acts29 for you sincere and humble comments regarding this issue. I have the utmost respect for your desire for unity, and your love for those in charge of the conference.
Now let’s take Scott’s advice and just get over it.
In fact, let’s take his advice and “get back on the mission to which Jesus called us.” And with that in mind, check out our 25 Theses for the new Southern Baptist Reformation here.
*The image at the top of this post is from Reformissionary.
P.S. As for my calling Bill Hybels a pansy, I apologize, to Bill and to all.
A Christo Regnante,
Chris Gates.
May 6, 2007 at 5:17 pm
Hi Chris,
I was amazed at this whole saga and posted about it on my site. I am a big Driscoll fan and wrote an article about the real controversy about what happened.
Nice article BTW.
May 6, 2007 at 9:39 pm
LayGuy,
Thank you for your comments, and thanks for reading our blog. Never a dull moment in the blogosphere
May 10, 2007 at 11:16 am
If the purpose of the conference was to “inspire and unify, not to divide or create theological debate,” then why was the video so in-your-face with such a divisive issue?
May 10, 2007 at 3:22 pm
The video does not contain a divisive issue. He simply stated that most church plants fail and that we need strong men to stand up and stand strong. Weak men cannot plant churches they cannot stand up to the heat. Mark never anything about women, Bill just took it that way. Plus the one planting the church will normally become a pastor or lead pastor so therefore cannot be a women.
May 10, 2007 at 4:47 pm
Thanks for demonstrating why it seems that Hybels’ comments were a necessary counterpoint. And to refer to what he said as “underhanded” seems to be wanting one’s cake and eating it too.
May 10, 2007 at 7:21 pm
One question. Are there any MEN out there who can think soundly and biblically about church planting? Are there any men who can stop taking there cues from how the women around them FEEL about something like this. Where are you guys? Come on guys, where is your sense of biblical manhood? Why are you so afraid of stepping on someone’s toes?
It’s time to stop prancing around the ministry like little children, always looking to your mum before you take the next step. Either stand up and be men, or else I would seriously consider whether or not ministry was for me.
Some of you need to take two weeks off from the ministry, and then give it up all together. Either way, do something.
May 10, 2007 at 7:26 pm
Dan, why do you think Driscoll was being “in your face” about the fact that men need to be men. The fact is the men are not being men, and so someone needs to stand up and say something about it. Can you imagine what it would have been like if David had asked waited for a woman to kill the giant. That’s what most men in the church do today. They let their women fight their battles for them. If it is in your face, maybe it needs to be.
May 10, 2007 at 7:27 pm
As most of you will be able to discern, I am in a particularly good mood tonight, so I think I’ll just make everyone happy
May 10, 2007 at 7:36 pm
Scott, there is a place for women in the ministry of church planting. In regard to church planting, I would not stop a lady from doing just about anything, if I were convinced that God had called her to do it. But that doesn’t mean that what Mark said in that video was not true. It is more true than many of us would like to admit. Sure, he may have been a little over the top with the sexual references and such, but that is just his style. His basic thesis was correct. There need to be more men involved in church planting, and there need to be more God-centered, tenacious, in-it-for-the-long-haul type men in church planting. And not only that, we need to be reaching out to men. Who do you find it easier to witness to at your job, or at the store, a man or a woman? Churches and bible studies are filled with women and children because men fail to reach out to other men. Men fail to stand up and be men, telling other men they need to repent and believe the gospel. Mark’s point was that when we reach the men of our generation, and those men become leaders in the church, then you end up reaching the women and the children as well. Men, reach the men. That’s the way God designed it.
I wonder . . . does your wife keep the check book?
May 10, 2007 at 8:42 pm
What the friggin heck does keeping a checkbook have to do with either church planting or manhood? I’m entirely convinced that questions like that are more concerned with Ozzie and Harriet than they are about scriptural roles. Uber-machismo does not a Godly man make. Good night, gentlemen.
May 11, 2007 at 3:37 am
I don’t know about Ozzie and Harriet, but I know about leadership and manhood. Too many men have relinquished their God-given roles as husbands and fathers and church leaders. We need to “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong(“1 Cor. 16:13). The check book bit was a bit of a joke, and has little to do with biblical manhood. But the principle of male leadership is true. How many men have relinquished their role of taking care and providing for their families in our society today. Most men wouldn’t want to think of living without their wives income, even at the expense of their children. Men must lead in financial areas (under most normal circumstances I mean), and they must lead in spiritual matters as well. That’s what I mean. I meant you no offense.
May 12, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Chris, I wasn’t referring to Driscoll’s exhorting men to be men. The divisive, in-your-face element of the video is his taking pains to emphasize that church planters have to be male, so no women need apply. It’s fine if he believes that, but it wasn’t fine to rub that in the faces of the people of both sexes attending the conference for the purpose of helping build God’s Kingdom.
It is important to note that Driscoll is not being picked on because of his beliefs; he is being criticized for his behavior. It’s quite possible to have a complementarian theology without belittling women the way he does.
May 12, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Dan, you may be right about Mark’s behavior. I don’t think he always handles things the way he should. But I think his basic intention was not to belittle the women at the conference, or women in church planting. He gave the stats about the majority of people involved today in church planting being women, not to belittle them, but to “belittle” the men who are not involved. I think it needs to be understood in that context. Men are not involved to the degree that they should be. It should encourage women church planters that Mark is out there preaching this stuff.
Thank you for your comments, and thank you for taking the time to visit us here at Vintage. We appreciate your concern for these issues. God bless.