Guess what I got in the mail?
Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 3:57PM 
I found a strange package at my door the other day. When I opened it up I remembered that it's promotion time for Catalyst Conference. The huge tin contained a noise maker toy, a bendie toy thing, a promo DVD, and tons of posters. My eight-year-old son loves it.
One of the speakers promoted on the side of the tin is Shane Claiborne from The Simple Way, who speaks about simplicity and ministry to the poor. The irony of this sort of thing isn't lost on Shane:
All the time, I get invited to speak at conferences on simple living, and I'm offered nice honorariums to do it! People write books on simplicity and make lots of money. It's a weird thing...There is nothing more sickening than talking about poverty over a fancy dinner. Or how about this one: I once saw an advertisement for a dialogue on global starvation, and the sign boldly read, "Refreshments will be served." (The Irresistible Revolution)
Reader Comments (7)
So... are you going to go?
It depends on the honorarium. ;)
But is there a way to get the message out to those who need to hear it without going through the ways and means that they are accustomed to: dinners, conferences, etc. Jesus feasted with the sinners and fed the poor as well. He had wealthy women benefactors who supported him in his ministry. Don't won't to offer any excuses-I see the irony. Peace.
I don't really mind using conferences, even though I'm a little conferenced out. But I did struggle a few years back when they used stretch Hummers to shuttle us to the venue. I enjoyed the ride - but it felt really strange. Same with the whoopee cushions and other gizmos they hand out. Wait a minute, they're marketing to me like I'm in the same demographic as my 8-year-old son. What are they saying??? These promos are fun but they are expensive and make me feel a little uncomfortable, especially with a guy like Claiborne speaking. Maybe it's good for me to struggle with the irony.
Why even go to that conference then. Don't you pastors ever go to any doctrinal conferences?
Kim: Never said I was going. You're right - a conference on theology and praxis has a lot going for it.
I remember thinking that Catalyst was a little over the top, but a lot of good came out of it for me that year. All the glitz notwithstanding, they raised alot of money for wells the year before last as I recall. And their catalyst podcasts are pretty good too. If you go, I might be interested in jumping in, Darryl. Who could forget the "more balls than hands" juggler? hehe.