Fresh perspectives: Jack Welch realized that GE was falling far behind other companies in its use of the Internet as a business tool. CEO Welch himself rarely surfed the Web, finding it overwhelming. But he realized that understanding and embracing online technology was critical to GE's long-term success.

To catch up, Welch instituted a "reverse mentoring" program at GE. He required more than 500 of his top executives to find a younger, tech-savvy "Web mentor" to teach them how to use the web and understand e-business.

Following Welch's lead, a growing number of organizations, from Proctor and Gamble to Seattle Public Schools and Wharton Business School, implemented reverse mentoring programs to help them understand technology, business trends, and pop culture.

Emerging implications: What if seasoned ministry leaders followed such an example and used reverse mentoring to gain understanding of the emerging culture?

As postmodern thought continues to permeate our culture, church leaders ...