Learning Styles follow-up

The U.S. educational system was designed with the assumption that all people learn auditorally. Not true, of course. A minority of us learn that way. If Zoe asks me to please do something for her while I'm out running errands, I often forget to do it. If she gives me the request written on a note I will do it almost every time. I'm part visual learner and part conceptual learner. If I see it, and especially if I grasp the concept behind it, I get it.

Several years ago, a married couple teamed up on a research project. They traveled around interviewing people in church parking lots after Sunday morning services. They asked questions like, "How was the service?" The answer was usually some form of "Great." They asked, "What did you learn?" The answer was usually silence or stammering and stumbling to come up with an intelligent answer. They later published a book, Why Nobody Learns Much of Anything at Church and What to Do About It. Great read. Preaching assumes that the audience is composed of auditory learners. Thankfully, things are changing: PowerPoint, skits, etc. are helping people actually learn something at church.

Had Enough About Conflict?

But we live with conflict every day. For example, if two vehicles approach the same intersection at the same time, whether from right angles or one behind the other, conflict occurs. Unless the drivers make correct decisions and appropriate actions, a crash may occur. The conflict is neutral. The results of the decisions and actions that are made when the conflict occurs make the difference.

Other causes of conflict:
1. Change
2. Scarce resources
3. Unresolved grief
4. Obeying God (not always popular with everyone)

Conflict is. We need to learn how to manage it in healthy ways.

Conflict can be good

My wife, Zoe, and I went to a play Valentines Day evening. The romantic comedy, "I do, I do!" was fun, but it was also realistic about the struggles that come with long-term relationships.

Conflict is not bad, per se. It is actually normal. And it can be an opportunity for growth and positive change.

While unresolved conflict may destroy relationships, conflict can be managed in a positive way, so that relationships can be maintained both during and after a dispute is settled.

But working through conflict can be hard work. For example, unless you can convince the other side you understand how they see it, you probably cannot explain your side to them. That requires both skill and work.

The alternative--unhealthy or broken relationships--pains me. If we avoid conflict, we avoid relationships. They go together. Struggles are normal in relationships. Good relationships require love: accepting, living with, even appreciating the peculiarities of other; and forgiving and being forgiven. I need help with that. How about you?

Snow and Ice and Answered Prayer

I'm in Princeton, Indiana, snow-iced in - bad winter storm. Brrr. It's supposed to get worse tonight and tomorrow. I'm supposed to be teaching an intensive week-long Leadership course for D.Min. students at nearby Oakland City University. Instead I'm holed up at the Hampton Inn. Oh, shucks. Free breakfasts here. Indoor swimming pool and jacuzzi, workout room, HDTV, and plenty of good reading material. Oh, shucks. And I'm being paid for this.

The ten-week Connections that Count. Forming First-Rate Relationships online course begins Feb. 10, and I need at least a couple more students so the currently enrolled students get the full benefit of good class discussions. The course is designed to have open, vigorous discussions that enhance learning. Because of the design, introverts enter the discussions as much as the extroverts, and extroverts cannot dominate any discussion. In the process students (and professor) develop warm friendships.

So, since we're missing most of our classroom time here in Indiana, I'm negotiating with the Dean to allow my students to

• take the Connections that Count. Forming First-Rate Relationships online course (at no cost)
  
• turn in their regular homework for the Leadership course (which covered the material in the Connections course plus much more)
  
• read material that covers the remainder of the Leadership course content
  
• complete an evaluation for the Connections course in lieu of a Case Study
  
• make recommendations for the Connections course in lieu of an Integrative Paper
  

The President of the University and I had already begun a discussion about me offering the Connections course to his undergrad students. Now, I can attach the course evaluations and recommendations to a formal proposal to the President. Hey, hey, hey!

Now, I have enough students to produce the desired level of fun and meaningful discussion in the Connections course. Hooray!

Thanks, Abba!

Churches as Businesses

Unfortunately, most seminaries focus on theology, philosophy, and theory. For example, seminary graduates, especially pastors, soon find themselves as CEO's of sometimes large non-profit corporations. But their seminary did not include business skills training, and they really struggle with that part of their job.

The new educational component of All Saints Outfitters includes courses in Leadership, Administration, Finance, and Discerning Vocational Aptitude. The challenge is to get church people to admit they are a business. Most energetically deny this.

I spoke to a former pastor on the phone yesterday. After 15 years as a pastor they recently made a change to work in a completely different venue. They emphatically agreed that the church is a business and affirmed that they had no business skills training and paid a price during those fifteen years pastoring a church (leading a non-profit business). Hmmmm.

Why a New Seminary?

On a recent road trip, a friend asked me to refresh his memory about what All Saints Outfitters is all about. I explained the seamless three-component vision, and told him we're about to launch the second component - the education component, including a seminary. He then asked me why we're starting a new seminary. I told him how we're going to be very different from other seminaries - practical - teaching important concepts and practices that can be applied immediately. He then asked why we didn't just work with another existing seminary. I told him, "Because they want nothing to do with us."

"Why not?" he queried.

"Because we're practical," I explained, "Unfortunately, that's the norm in Academia, including Seminaries."

I told him of my experiences teaching solid, biblical, courses as adjunct professor at seminaries. The students raved about the benefit they received from the courses. They also repeatedly went to their Deans and other seminary officials asking that one course in particular be made a required course in their Master of Divinity curriculum. They wished they had learned the material before they were sent out "to the wolves." The request always fell on deaf ears. I told him we have entered collaboration discussion with more than one seminary, but they showed absolutely no interest in what we want to do. He, a seminary graduate, former church planter, and now a businessman, was amazed.

I am too. We're not that radical, really - unless you compare us to other seminaries.

Our dream is to spark a new Reformation and Great Awakening.

You can get a glimpse of our new curriculum by going to our website: www.allsaintsoutfitters.org, then going to the ASO2 wiki.

Playing Tag

Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Playing tag...

My buddy, Kevin, tagged me, so I will play along this time...just this once (because I like Kevin).

Here are the rules:

* Link to the person who tagged you.
* Post the rules on your blog.
* Write 6 random things about yourself.
* Tag 6-ish people at the end of your post.
* Let each person know he/she has been tagged.
* Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

Six random things about me:

1. I love to travel and have been to Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Germany, and China as well as all over the U.S.A.
2. I'm an Aggie - Texas A&M University
3. I missed my calling - being a basketball coach - so now I'm a business and ministry coach.
4. I believe scripture teaches that we are not to call anyone other than God, "Father", but...
5. I am an ordained Anglican priest (so technically I am Fr. Chuck)
6. I don't believe the Bible teaches ordination as currently practiced by most denominations
7. (bonus)I feel a little like a hypocrite, but I became ordained because I believe God directed me to. Hmmmm.


I'm tagging: Zoe, Susan, and Kevin (back at you)
You're it!