When Friends Get Together...
By Charlie Wear |
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If I had to be a heretic I would want to be one exactly like Spencer Burke. For those of you who don't know him, Spencer is the former megachurch pastor who founded The Ooze and is the co-author of his most recent book, A Heretic's Guide To Eternity. He is also the cruise director for Soularize which is happening this year in the Bahamas, October 25-27.
Keynote speakers for this year's Soularize are N.T. Wright, Rita Brock, Richard Rohr and Brennan Manning.
The first Soularize event was held in 1999 in Orange, CA. Spencer says his hope was to create a relational ethos, a place where the innovative voices, those who were not normally heard, had a place to express ideas and thoughts that were "outside" the general flow of conventional conversations of the day – people like Sally Morganthaler and Karen Newdorf. According to Spencer he still runs into people who remember the event as "the metal binder conference" – a reference to a unique gift presented to attendees.
Spencer has always chosen Soularize host cities based upon relationship, finding places that were filled with people who are doing great things in the cause of the Kingdom. A year and half ago, Spencer became intrigued with the ministry of Clint Kemp and New Providence Community Church in Nassau, Bahamas – their ability to integrate gardening into their faith learning, the national impact they were having with their art projects, and the breath of fresh air they were with an international perspective on faith. So for Soularize 2007, Spencer chose to join them in their naturally inviting homeland of the Bahamas, to further the relationships and conversations of past Soularize events.
From a private island experience, to swimming with sharks, this year's event promises to be as memorable as those in the past.
You can watch Spencer talk about this year's event on this YouTube video: |
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