ChMS Conversations….. Continued

My last post generated some interesting comments and this conversation is worth continuing. Tony Dye said:

Thanks for sharing! A number of us started the ChMS Discussion mailing list a while back, but so far activity has been pretty light. Specifically, it seems that I have to start a conversation and sometimes others join in. So…question back to you. Does the mailing list have value, or should we instead direct people back to the blogs of various people who have strong interests in ChMS. Or is there some other idea that can help us all share better?

I think the mailing list has value, but I confess, I am an observer, I read alot of what is posted there by Tony and others, but I don’t think I have ever offered input. I’m not sure why, but in general, I think we, me and everyone else, tend to be observers. We like to watch what everybody else is doing, but are afraid to jump in the conversation. I have wondered why more people don’t comment on here sometimes. Every once in a while, I’ll hit on something that will draw people out and I get more first time commenters.

I know when I feel like I have something to say on ChMS, I say it here. Now that you have me thinking about it, Tony, there’s no reason that I shouldn’t post my thoughts out there, as well as here. I wonder if there is a stigma about the list, I guess in my mind, I have thought I don’t really have anything specific to contribute to that group, those guys probably know way more than I do.

Here’s a thought, that group sits out there and on occassion, people participate and things are discussed, but maybe we need to market it a little bit more, raise people’s awareness of it. Basically, just talk about it more at our own blogs, point out things going on there and educate people that it’s there and what it’s purpose is. I’ll do my part.

I was just looking, there are currently 77 members and the fact is, if you post one time, you will make it onto the top posters list for this month, I am so there.

Kevin McCord said this in comments:

What’s strange to me is that a lot of time the wrong person is picking the ChMS.
It’s a bit like sending someone to the car dealer to buy your next car.
Maybe it is more like sending someone to the grocery store to get your groceries.
Even better, maybe it is like committing to a grocery store for the next 5 years without seeing if they stock what you want!

Most pastors don’t think it is a mission critical decision until it causes a mission crisis.

That is such a true statement. The issue here is being knowledgable and understanding what you, as a church, need. It’s not a quick decision and it’s generally not an out of the box decision.

Good stuff! Thanks guys! There’s alot more to say on all of this, let’s keep this conversation going.

If you have any interest in ChMS, visit the ChMS Google Group. I think you can view the archives without joining, but there’s no reason not to join. By the way, don’t be like me, don’t wait months and months before getting involved, only to realize that there’s really no reason not to participate.