“Epic Fail”–a concept popularized by blogs capturing images of, well, some pretty stupid mistakes–is not a phrase anyone would like attached to their ministry. Generally, when we gather to discuss ministry and leadership, we like to celebrate success rather than own up to our failures. In fact, leadership conferences can feel like an extended pep rally at times–we go and hear story after story of success, and we attempt to bottle some of that momentum and take it home to pour out over our own churches, hoping some of it will stick. And certainly we are to praise God for the work he is doing in our churches! But what of the pastors and leaders who have tried to do great things and failed? If we learn more from our failures than our successes, then how much are we missing out on by focusing only on successes?
That is the idea behind the Epic Fail Pastors Conference, which will be held April 14-16, 2011 at the Third & Walnut Bar in Lansdale, PA. You read that right–Third & Walnut is, fittingly, housed in the former home of Lansdale’s oldest church, a church that failed and sold its building to the Elks Club, who in turn sold it to a bar owner. The building serves as a constant reminder that despite our best intentions and efforts, sometimes things don’t turn out as planned.
A blog post by pastor J.R. Briggs, who three years ago planted a church out of Third & Walnut, birthed the idea. He wrote:
I’m a big fan of learning from wise women and men who have led their congregations well. But 94.3% of pastors who’ve attended these conferences (or somewhere around that number) walk away feeling guilty, insecure or feeling like utter failures. It leaves attendees feeling as though they can’t possibly relate to the speakers on the platform. It can breed insecurity and comparison. Or, maybe worse, we walk away thinking we’ve found the silver bullet, the key concept, the perfect model that we can rush home and implement immediately. We’ve been convinced that the key method/approach/model/style will unlock the reason why our church isn’t doubling in attendance every three and a half months like the guy we heard share on stage. Sometimes pastors’/church leaders’ conferences slowly and persuasively convince that I – we – are the head of our church. Last I checked, Jesus is the head of it.
But seriously, what if there was an EPIC FAIL Pastors’ Conference (with the tag line “Where leaders put their worst foot forward”)?
The concept:
1. Hold a conference for 2-3 days.
2. Invite healthy, faithful, honest and deep pastors/leaders from around the country (most who pastor congregations under 250 people) to speak.
3. Invite the speakers to share about two things: (a) their failures (not their successes) in ministry and (b) how God’s grace was present despite the messes. Think of it: the stories of the messes, mistakes, gaffes, insecurities and sin of church leaders are shared openly, not as experts, but as fellow journeyers. Broken and contrite spirits with a posture saturated with the experience of grace shared with fellow ragamuffins by genuine fools for Christ. Some of it may evoke laughter or tears – or both. The purpose is not to puff themselves up, not to speak with a veiled sense of false humility, not a gripe session, not to have a woe-is-me attitude seeking pity from other leaders and definitely not a “let me one-up your worst ministry experience” time. It’s a space to be courageous and broken and authentic in the struggles of pastors who are attempting to live out the gospel faithfully and imperfectly even when we don’t want to – and even when we screw it up big time.
4. Pray together. A lot.
5. End the conference by participating in communion together: realizing the work of Jesus covers over any mess or mistake or sin we’ve committed, remembering the posture of brokenness and desperation and nothingness is the soil in which the gospel flourishes best.
No, seriously.
I know this idea might sound ludicrous. But what if we led out of our weakness, not our strengths? Scripture is full of failures, screw-ups, ragamuffins and laughingstocks who God used in incredibly powerful ways (Moses, Abraham, David, Jacob, Jeremiah, Rahab, Peter – shall we go on?) If the saying is true that if you preach from your weaknesses, you’ll never run out of material, then imagine the great stuff that could come out of a few days together sharing our failures and how God showed up in the midst of them. It’s not a time to celebrate our weaknesses in a masochistic way, but as a way of saying despite all of this, God’s grace has been sufficient for me on the journey in ministry. God has worked mightily, despite my efforts. He’s working at times – even in spite of me.
Setting aside a time to discuss our ministry failures is a great idea, not only because it offers an opportunity to learn from the mistakes made by others and counters the false idea that successful ministry does not ever fail, but also because, as Briggs points out, it recenters our ministry on the grace of God, without which none of the successes could be possible.
Whether or not you’re attending the conference, the idea of sharing your failures with others, and learning from their failures in turn, is one that could practically improve your approach to and practice of ministry. So how can you better use your failures as an opportunity to learn, to grow, and to give glory to God?
