Warning: This is a Voice of the Inner Curmudgeon (VIC) post - that was updated later on Saturday evening.
I'm a fan of the TED conference - having linked to it a couple of times. TED - Technology, Entertainment, Design - brings together some of the worlds finest thought leaders from all disciplines. After watching a number of the TED Talks from last year's conference, I commented to Imbi that "wouldn't it be great to do something similar with a more intentionally Christian focus." 'Twould seem others had a similar thought.
Q is a conference from some of the folks behind Catalyst - rather obviously patterned after TED - although TED is open to anyone who can pay the cost to be there, and was able to get in on the registration (it's sold out for 2007 - registration for '08 opens shortly).
Q is a private gathering (VIC: If it's private, why have a website?) for leaders in the church to become informed and exposed to future-culture. It is a space where select leaders (VIC: Oooh, pick me, pick me) can create, dialogue, collaborate, innovate, serve and ideate (VIC: I've never ideated before, is it painful?) around the important topics shaping the church’s future role in culture. In an intense, fifty-hour experience (VIC: Golly, it's beginning to sound like a Forum Training session - will there be bathroom breaks?) designed to unveil the cultural context in which the Gospel must go forward, Q will expose participants to over twenty presenters on myriad topics. Church leaders will be inundated with information, perspective and expert thoughts that will drive conversation with their peers about the ramifications for the church. (VIC: Wowee, Christianity may never be the same. Or perhaps the writer's hyperbole filter was broken.)
To be one of Q's "select leaders", you need to submit an application.
...we look for several things when reviewing new applications: first, a desire to be informed and exposed to future-culture; second, the potential and hope for influence that will shape the church today and in the future; third, an eagerness to learn and gain knowledge from others with differing worldviews who share the same desire to shape our generation and culture.
Perhaps its just the Voice of my Inner Curmudgeon at work, but if you want to create a private conference then take the time to investigate who might benefit from it and invite them...privately.
And does it really need to be held in the* "premiere venue in Atlanta." "Location is everything" is such utter nonsense. Especially with the number of state of the art, barely religious, worship spaces in Atlanta that are probably sitting empty over the three days of the conference - unless, of course, a large part of the message is how cool you are.
There do appear to be some interesting speakers at Q, including the latest Christian king of kewl, Rob Bell. And I would love to hear Kevin Kelly (who I quote at length in A Networked Conspiracy) but I'm afraid I won't be applying. Perhaps I'm a little too much like Groucho Marx who is reported to have said, "I don't care to belong to any club that will accept me as a member."
Besides, I doubt I'm cool enough to be offered a place. (Memories of high school, anyone.)
Note: Groucho Q mashup is based on this design by Biratan - with the cigar "borrowed" from his cartoon.
*BTW, the Q site is a "totally awesome" Flash design - which means no inner links work. (I feel a Napolean Dynamite epithet comin' on. Gotta run.)
Technorati Tags: Catalyst, Fermi Project, Q, TED
