The Center for Effective Leadership and the Center for Informed Faith are coming together to encourage discussion on Calvinism and effective leadership styles during a new event called the G-5 Leadership Conference , scheduled Nov. 17 after the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston.

Texas Baptist Theologian-in-Residence Jim Denison will facilitate the conversation between Beeson Divinity School Dean Timothy George and David Naugle, chair and professor of philosophy at Dallas Baptist University, about the implications of Calvinism as they relate to Scripture and missions.

Theologian John Calvin

Texas Baptists as a group are more than 160 years old, BGCT Executive Director Randel Everett noted, which means the fifth generation of Texas Baptist leaders is emerging.

“What are the theological issues and leadership challenges that face G-5 leaders? We have scheduled our first G-5 conference immediately following the annual meeting to create a forum for discussion of serious contemporary concerns led by prominent theologians and practitioners,” he said. “Opportunities will be given to all participants to share resources where other 21st century theological conversations are taking place.”  

The G-5 Leadership Conference is meant to continue a dialogue already taking place and enhance it, Denison said. Time magazine recently named Calvinism one of 10 ideas that are “changing the world right now.”

Its popularity is on the rise in Baptist circles, even though historically Baptists have struggled with the theological system.

On the leadership side, there are numerous models for effectively leading a congregation, Herring said. The G-5 conference brings together pastors who use three distinctly different models to help their congregations spread the gospel. Each model has implications for how the church functions.

“We want to bring these three leaders to discuss in practical terms how they lead their congregations,” Herring said. “There are many ways to lead a church, but they require some fundamental skills if a minister is going to be successful at motivating a congregation. Through discussion, we want to identify those skills and how to hone them.”

---

Comments (1)

Subscribe to this comment's feed