I thought, and I fought long and hard. I love Brian McLaren, I own, and have read every book Brian has written. I have wrestled with his musings on theology, and missiology...it has had a profound effect on my journey. But, the " live " Brian I can't afford at the moment, or really justify spending that much. Others in conversation this week have expressed the same comments.
Brian is coming to Victoria BC, to Christ Church Cathedral May 29th as keynote speaker on a conference titled, " Evangelism and Transformation in a Secular Society." I would have hoped that the conference organizers would have made the conference a little more progressive in terms of technology. Creating a site and live streaming the conference could have made the conference more accessible and affordable to a greater number of people.( Theology after Google streamed all their talks live...for free, and most recently Transform was free and posted the video talks to anyone interested in the conversation) In know in the past of having Brian on the island, by the time you add Ferry costs, and hotel, and meals...it's expensive. I know Brian is an advocate of using technology to increase the scope of accessibility to his teaching.
Evangelism is about critical mass...somehow if organizers had a greater imagination on connecting using the tools of the secular society they are trying to engage they could create more gravity.
Anyways, I'm not putting down Brian, in a church that struggles to find it's way in postmodernism and post Christendom he is a voice of wisdom, a voice that stretches and encourages. He calls all to an open table of conversation in humility, hospitality and grace. So, if you have 100$ hidden in the recesses of you pockets...go see Brian. Prepare to be challenged.
Be blessed Brian, maybe, in wild act of fate we'll bump into each other on the street.
