Thoughts on Foursquare Convention/Connection
I just returned from a week of gathering with other leaders from my extended church family. This convention is something that I have tried to attend since I became a pastor 17 years ago and I have been at each of the last 12 of these assemblies.
It’s not because this time is always so much fun. There are moments when I have been frustrated at the schedule, the structure, or the ceremony. I have heard friends complain that Convention does not do much for them—“Why should I spend so much money to attend an event that does not personally pay off great dividends?”
But I don’t go because it’s fun; I go because it’s family. My generation tends to complain quite a bit about the non-relational aspect of church and denominational life. We cry out for leaders to ditch the heavy programming and logistics, but we are not willing to step up to the plate and be part of the solution. A small part of Convention is what I get out of it, the largest part concerns what I can give towards relational connections—some of which happen only once a year. I’ve found that the answer is not in my complaining, it’s in my contribution.
As a newly married young adult, my wife and I realized that Thanksgiving/Christmas dinner (that we had to spend lots of money on and travel hundreds of miles to) was not always everything we wanted it to be. We decided that instead of complaining or simply live sex websites putting up with it, we would seek to contribute to make it better. Over the last few years we’ve had a blast by offering themes, planning outings, preparing special dishes (thank you Sunset Magazine) and even occasionally making the turkey or prime rib.
The point is that we could have become cynical about or ditched the family gathering, but we chose to enjoy the relationships and the food, even when some of the relationships and food were not—and might never be—deeply enjoyable.
Our family holiday gatherings have become much more delightful over time. So has our Foursquare Convention. As a group of people in my generation has faithfully attended and contributed over the last 10+ years, we have seen change. We’ve started to recognize that the older generation wants to include us, they just haven’t always known how to do it. There are still things about the week that are not to our liking (just like there are certain dishes at Thanksgiving I’ve learned to skip). But when family gets together it will never exclusively appeal to any one person or generation—in fact trying to require that would be very selfish.
In family, in church, and even in denominations we need to contribute and serve one another, and in the contribution, we will find a much more fulfilling experience.
Oh, and by the way, this Convention was, hands-down, the best I’ve ever been to. And I’ve already calendared next year’s connection with my extended church family. I woudln’t miss it for anything!