Recession: The Carnival is Over

Really helpful discussion in the comments of the previous post [Recession: How bad is it?] about the recession and how its affecting our non-profits and ministries. I want to continue it here by picking up on some of the comments and questions that have emerged.

Its obvious that the recession is having a huge impact on all of us. On the negative side, budgets are cut, events are cancelled, and job security is soooooo 2007. On the positive side, organizations are forced to reexamine strategy, expenditure, and use this current recession as an opportunity to retool where necessary.

"This is helping us clarify what we are really all about and how to spend not only our money, but time, energy, prayer, and talent." Michael Kaspr

One of the culprits, as Becky pointed out, are these extravagant Christian conferences (PreacherFests) where participants are asked to pay an exorbitant admission price to go and hear their favorite speaker. Add to that a flight, meals, and a hotel room and there's not much change from A THOUSAND from which to buy the speaker's book to support this weird cottage industry.

Thats a heckofalot! Its also out of reach for many young struggling missional entrepreneurs and it sets an unsustainable example for the rest of the world who try to mimic the West.

Technorati Tags: conferences, recession

The unsustainable lifestyle of some [a small minority] of professional Christian circuit riders is also on the chopping block. I heard about a well known Christian speaker that was invited to fly overseas to share at at an emerging church event in a particular country [not USA]. They managed to appease his life-style choices by putting him in a four-star hotel but he checked himself out and into a five-star hotel down the road . . . at their expense. I wont repeat the word they called him [rhymes with "banker"] but I will say that in today's climate, God's five star conference speakers will either have to suffer some two or three star inconveniences or struggle to find gigs at all.

Even better if we totally rethink this conference thang.

Our conferences? Over the past ten years, all of the events we (Boaz Project) have hosted have been free of charge. The only was to do this was to have teachers who could speak with little or no honorarium, invite participants from a smaller geographical location, parasite ourselves inside existing festivals, ask local churches for buildings and personnel, have zero promotional budget and request funding from foundations. Once or twice we partnered with another organization or seminary and there was a minimal charge. And quite often we have hosted roundtables inside existing festivals and the cost of that festival is usually (but not always) met by the participant.

In 2009, I expect to host events [and partner with others to host events] in at least a dozen countries. I am hoping the recession will have less impact than other more high-profile, high-budget events than depend on a high price of admission. Our events are usually smaller, more local, more invisible, especially if they are embedded inside other bigger festivals [like SXSW, Freakstock, etc]. As a rule, I like festivals more than conferences, as I said in a recent post called Festivals as a Way Forward, because they are much cheaper, leave a smaller carbon footprint and are not dependent on one or two Superstar Christian Celebrities who insist on fancy hotels and a hefty honorarium at the end - thus raising the price of admission and reducing accessibility to the people who really need to be there.

I try not to give preference to conferences that reimburse my travel and offer an honorarium over the more organic "emerging" events where there is no budget or funds. At least I don't think I don't. And when I am asked to speak, I accept whatever accommodation I am offered. Either sleeping on a couch, some tent space, or sometimes a hotel room when offered. Again, I accept the offer of hospitality and don't ask for an upgrade. Luke 10 comes to mind.

As a missionary, I occasionally have enough funds to help me travel and teach. Most of it has to be raised from others so I can do my job. So please don't take this as an insult to those who teach at conferences as a career. But be encouraged when I say that God is faithful - and some of the best opportunities are sometimes the scariest. You might not get home as soon as you want, and sometimes you might not get home at all, but its always worth it.

Sometimes I have been invited to speak at a conference where the admission cost is high and inaccessible to everyone except church and mission executives, but I have gone along anyway. Other times, I have turned down the offer because the conference is so expensive, inaccessible and unsustainable as a model. I figure that most missional entrepreneurs can't afford to be there anyway and the only people who will attend have an institutional/corporate budget behind them.

Honorariums? I have been speaking in Christian conferences for over 20 years. Probably hundreds of them. I have never once asked to be paid. I have never requested an honorarium. I have never suggested a fee. Highly unusual . . I know . . and maybe a little anal . . but I have felt led by God to do it this way. Yes, I happily receive gifts and voluntary honorariums but I don't request them nor do I have a "suggested honorarium" figure. In my reading of the New Testament, the financial responsibility lies more on the apostle/teacher than on the students.

Many of you reading this post have invited me to speak at your events and you know that what I am saying is true.

But enough of my whinging and whining about conferences . . . .
- What else can we do to enable training and teaching and gathering during this recession without resorting to unsustainable models?
- What else about the way we do church and mission can we change to be more sustainable and emerge from this recession in better shape?
- Where should we be funneling resources during these lean times in order to keep obeying the Great Commission?

Comments

[Lon]

great post... now if only we could squash the insatiable demand for five-star speakers...

[Chris Schaffner]

One of the ways we are trying to address this issue is by providing webinars. They are cheap or free. The viewer can view them live streaming or archived. Consider all the implications of this. More accessible for more people as well.

[Daniel Clark]

What?
The end of conferences which exclude the poor and the needy

The Kingdom of God is at hand!

[Jamie Arpin-Ricci]

What a fantastic and encouraging post. While our lifestyle has made travel and attendance to most conferences impossible, I have not participated in a few out of solidarity to my neighbours. That is, living in an inner city community, I have tried to limit my privilege to better understand the challenges faced by poor Christians. It has been very difficult, but very telling.

I think we can follow the trends you suggest- move to smaller, more geographical events that are less formal (which generally means more relational). Sure, we will have to sacrifice our longing for some "celebrity" speakers, but I think we need to give more credit to the grassroots. Further, those events encourage a shift from "receiving the answer" to "wrestling for the answer".

While it does not replace face to face, I think we need to become more intentional about creatively using technology to bring people from distant locales together for conversation and community. The technology is constantly improving and innovation is often best seen in the creative use of the technology, not just the creation of it.

In respect to how we do church/mission, I truly believe that moving towards intentional practices of community are essential. They are demanding (like shared meals/potlucks, etc.), but they not only serve to share our "wealth", but foster commonality, relationship and hospitality. Christians should be the first to model counter-cultural living, especially in cultures where success and security are equated with the fewest people in the largest homes. If we can suspend the assumptions that our cultural way of life is "normal", perhaps we will be able to see some radical alternatives.

Our resources will go a lot further is we step past the good, but ultimately individualistic solutions and embrace collective ideals of life together.

Peace,
Jamie

[stu]

In response to your twitter question - the answer is: NO! You're not being nasty at all. I think you could have said a lot more. It's a real shame it takes a financial crisis for us to ask questions like these. I have always been completely baffled by the idea of Christian speakers requesting (demanding?) first class transatlantic flights and 5* treatment for them and their 'team'.

[David Derbyshire]

Sorry to name names but it is just so popular in Britain. I must ask… I would be interested to know how you classify Spring Harvest. I suppose it is a conference but people see it as a family holiday too. You stay in chalets not your own tents but Butlins does not compare with a fancy hotel.

[brad]

when the "message" of the travel costs the travel of The Message, it's fair to suggest that the messenger has nothing much worth listening to.

sorry, but such a bad trajext is neither very Jeesish nor missiony.

[andrew]

David - Spring Harvest invited me to speak in 2000 and I accepted. I dont remember getting an honorarium but they did put me in a chalet and i think i got meal tickets.

IMHO, they were hospitable, honourable and balanced for the kind of conference they represent.

And "borrowing" 2 holiday resorts for 50,000 people seems like a pretty commonsense way of accommodating everyone.

I looked into going next year (where i will have to pay for myself and my family) and i think we could pitch our tent close by.

[andrew]

"missiony" - Brad, are you using Toyesque language on my blog?

[Charlie Boyd]

Some great ideas Andrew.
The 'cold turkey' for 5 star preachers and their devotees will be painful but it is much needed for their sanity as well as those who listen to them.I too have seen where we used to put up our top 'apostles' in the 70s and 80s - Northern Ireland's top hotel!!Part of the problem is the superstar model (American??? - apologies to our US friends) where we try and suck the transcendence out of these guys.On closer observation and reflection I don't believe they have much of this genuine transcendence anyway - it's the Emperor's New Clothes by another name.
Paul's model of ministry seems to be that closest to the heart of Christ - an apostle lays his life down and suffers like hell not the comfort of those 5 star beds in 5 starhotels.I would recommend the reading of the Didache from early church times - it has lots of great advise on how to tell the fakefrom the real.

Charlie

[andrew]

yeah but the apostle Paul also knew how to abound and part of that is accepting hospitality from churches. I remember getting spoiled rotten by the Foursquare denomination when they brought me in to speak to their leaders. hotel room with a big fruit basket and wonderful honorarium.
all unexpected and all a wonderful gift that reflected God's generous heart.

i learned a lot about giving from my Pentecostal friends.

so i wouldnt say "cold turkey" on the 5 star but flexibility is needed from speakers and the conferences themselves might need to be bump down a notch or two to become accessible.

[becky]

The most egregious expense I heard was a well known Emergent speaker asking (but not getting) $10,000 fee, business class airfare as well as room and board to participate in a panel discussion - he wasn't even giving a keynote address, lecture, or leading a workshop series. They still invited him to be on the panel but I fail to see what's emerging about any of this. I made a decision when I heard that not to buy this person's product again because what his speech doesn't match his actions - and those are the kind of leaders I want to follow. Shane Claiborne has set up a model I wish others would emulate if they are truly called to this type of ministry and find themselves becoming successful.

I think the model Greenbelt employed when they asked me to speak is spot on - I got free admission and they asked us to consider donating back part of our fee if we can and I decided to give back whatever money was left once I had my expenses covered. I stayed in an inexpensive dorm, though next time I have enough offers from folks that I'll camp. They also have ways one can attend for free by volunteering. I paid for my own flight as I was in the UK anyway doing book research - I budget a portion of a book advance and try to land additional article assignments to cover costs such as those.

After some soul searching, I decided not to go to conferences unless I get a press pass, find a cheap place to crash, can find other reasons to be in the area to do research and extend the trip a bit and I feel the overall conference has some value other than going to hear a few hot shot speakers. I also look for events that webcast their talks either for free or a very lost cost so those who can't be present in person can at least hear the keynote speakers.

This extends beyond expensive conferences. I can't afford anymore to attend gatherings in bars - very seldom is a "cheap" place chosen and then everyone fights for the receipt so writing it off on my income tax often isn't doable. These days I have to think long and hard if I can shell out even $10 bucks to hear the latest traveling author' road show schtick. (I don't understand this concept of charging admission for a lecture unless the money is going to support a worthwhile mission especially if the publisher has arranged for the tour and hence, the primary purpose is to sell product.)

[Mike]

I think Charlie is getting at something here...

The problem isn't the conferences, per se. The problem is what these 5-star folks are calling Christianity, that apparently allows this behaviour.

[AMG]

This is an interesting discussion. I tend to agree with you that some people sometimes ask a little too much and the superstar Christian thing is overrated. But I also know that it can be complicated. I know of some Christian ministries that only survive because their big name person is out there constantly speaking and bringing back honourarium to support the organization. This money doesn't go into their own pocket, it's an income stream for the ministry. The host organization should also bear some of the responsibility. They bring a big name in to draw more participants in order that they might make a profit or at least break even on the event. Should the big name speaker forgo a big honourarium which would benefit the host or does the big name have more of a responsibility to support their own organization?

I consider these big names as 'products' which can be 'used' to help build a movement, but they aren't necessarily the heart of the movement itself. Their high visibility helps make others aware of the movement in ways maybe nothing else could. These 'products' may be expensive, but the cost may be worth it (maybe not in financial return though) if it spreads the spark and helps move people and churches to a place of transformation (that's where the heart is, imo).

Considering the desperate state of the culture in which we live, I see using the 'big names' as a strategic compromise. I know this is probably the same justification the televangelists gave themselves when they started, but could it be a necessary one?

[becky]

What you're pointing to here is the need for greater transparency by the big names, so we know why they are asking for the big bucks. But no matter how well intentioned the speaker's ministry may be, as Andrew pointed out, many of us can't afford to attend these events. So, this method of fundraising isn't going to work in today's troubled economic times.

There's also the Q about "requiring" a five star hotel and a first class in the first place. There are exceptions e.g., I know an author who has to fly first class because he has to lie down for medical reasons. But I like Andrew's discussion of these as gifts that a ministry chooses to make (my guess is some of these organizations hve connections where they can get say free hotel/air upgrades versus a speaker requiring 5 star treatment.

[Robert Witham]

I have to agree Andrew - I think you are spot on. I regularly hear of conferences, cruises, etc. targeted at Christians and am then amazed at the incredible cost. I cannot afford most of these conferences and I know many others cannot either. Regardless of the excuses or justifications it is clear to me that these conferences are targeted at financially affluent Christians to the obvious exclusion of those with lesser means. This really seems to fly in the face of New Testament teaching. Thanks for speaking out on this issue. And for the record, I agree with your policy of not specifying honorariums but rather trusting God to provide. I have been a guest speaker for 15 years and have always embraced that position. My Bible college president used to say, "never put a price tag on your ministry!"

[Pam Hogeweide]

I have been thinking about these things for several years now. About three years ago I spent an hour googling to see if anyone on the net was criticizing the overpriced conference movement and how the message and the messenger, as well as the listener, often did not mesh. I am very encouraged to finally find a conversation that is publicly discussing this.

Here are some thoughts I just wrote this morning for a current writing project:

I am no longer enamored with overpriced conferences. I think they breed greed and self-centeredness. Going to a conference is usually all about me. I know of a group of Christians from a church in my city who spent more than $10,000 to get themselves to a conference to be wowed. The effort they put into making sure they had enough money and people was disheartening. Those who really wanted to go, but did not have money were out of luck. There was not effort to bring along friends who could never afford such an extravagant gesture. It was all about getting to the place of the conference to get filled up with whatever tantalizing sh*t was being sold from the platform from whatever superstar Christian

{h/t to becky...}

[Mark Van Steenwyk]

I think the economic down-turn could actually help some speakers. Folks might be willing to have regional speakers who don't have the big name at their gatherings instead of shelling out for the celebs. Personally, I appreciate getting invited to events and paid a little, since it helps me provide income for what we're doing at Missio Dei. Not everyone can do that, and I never let money alone decide if I'm going to speak, but when groups can afford something, it is only fair for someone to get paid for preparing, traveling, and presenting.

[andrew]

i appreciate those moments when i get an honorarium and my travel covered - as you do - it also balances out those many times when the countries are far too poor to pay for me to come to teach.

obviously, if i chose where to speak based on income and honorariums, i would move back to USA tomorrow and most of my financial woes would be over.

but what about the huge majority of the world where Christ's name is not yet known?

or those large pockets where new christians are forming church in inner city areas of poverty?

the early church thought it quite normal to sell their houses and support God's mission with the proceeds. Giving is an honor and priviledge. Maybe we have forgotten this in the west. there is more talk about God helping us to OBTAIN real estate than people handing it over for teh sake of the poor. or am i wrong?

[rodney neill]

I find it very discouraging when I look at the 'Christian celeb culture', book signing tours, conferences designed to sell authors products and promote brands etc that ones finds in some emerging church networks - all the more ironic as the speakers bill themselves as anti-capitalist radicals!!!

[becky]

Actually, Andrew I am seeing signs where many of the income streams here in the US are drying up - there's always going to be the need for denominational gatherings and some established conferences and festivals where folks all get together off line maybe one or twice a year. As you learned the economy as affected grant giving, which obviously affects the money that nonprofits and academic institutions have to bring in speakers, scholars in residence and the like.

Now would be a good time for anyone planning speaking tours in 2009 to seriously rethink this strategy - are there other ways you can get the word out? Also, now is not the time to overload the market with product - maybe people can buy one book but if they do that, they can't pay to hear you speak and then buy book two, etc. The upside is that this economy is giving us all a chance to re-examine this missional monster that we've all been feeding and to pray about where the Holy Spirit is taking us next. That to me is the exciting yet scary as heck part of the journey.

[steve]

Since this thread seems to be giving 5 star speakers a pretty good kicking, based on a few anecdotes, can I offer another perspective.

Not that I've ever been a 5 star, but I have done some speaking and teaching. When I do I sometimes think about the costs
- a life of moulding, reading, thinking, reflecting
- time to be there, in different cultures with different agendas - exhausting
- prep - it takes a lot of time to think creatively and freshly
- travel - jetlag and airports are hard work
- the family in my absence
- the existing organisations I work for, both staff who are disrupted and the people we serve.

These are hidden costs, not often visible when a person speaks for a few hours.

When you suggest someone speak for free/cheap, you are effectively asking a whole lot of hidden people to pay these hidden costs on your behalf.

I have no interest in being 5 star, but I just felt the thread might value this perspective,

thoughts?

steve taylor

[andrew]

Hi Steve. It was a decade ago when we both spoke at the same conference in Seattle. I dont think either of us were paid so I know you are willing to bend a little when needed.

Some groups in wealthier counties have a budget and its great to be the beneficiary of their planning and foresight.

but many places around the world - in fact, the places with the greatest need, and certainly most emerging culture groups i have been to - do not have the resources to pay out at the same level.

i am not kicking the 5 star speakers, but just saying they will have a hard time in this recession. and i am also suggesting we take another look at how we structure our celebrity based conferences - ie, we charge people MORE so we can pay a HIGHER cost for our speakers who fly in from GREATER distances who are speaking so they can [sometimes] keep up an unsustainable 5 star lifestyle. not always the most frugal way to run things.

[steve]

hi andrew,

i still remember that time. you saved me, gently taking me away for coffee to explain to me that emerging church in US might be different from NZ and that Driscoll does not equal emerging church US. I was grateful for your pastoral wisdom.

i know you're not kicking 5 stars, but plenty of commenters in this blog thread are.

i wonder why we reduce thanks and generosity to pay. in new zealand the Maori have a phrase "koha" - gift. the speaker gifts and the people say thanks with a gift. surely there is creativity in emerging cultures to think of gift in non-monetary ways that will acknowledge the gift of time, preparation, family who release, church ministry coming from a speaker.

steve

[Andy Rowell]

I do not envy the full-time traveling speakers who give their one talk at a different place every night. It seems to me that once on the speaking circuit full-time, their creativity and humility and content starts to wane, even while their books continue to multiply. The travel, adulation, and absence of true friendships take a toll on the soul. They can charge what they want as far as I am concerned because their full-time speaking career probably only has a short lifespan--people tire of you and want someone younger and cooler pretty quickly--plus it wears you out.