The Expatriate Minister

We’re on our way to New York for a week. We’ll do some touristy things, not having been to the Big Apple before, but the reason we’re going is for the 2011 Unconference.

#unco11 (as it’s known on Twitter) is a gathering of about 70 adults to build IRL community & learn from one another. About 8 kids (including our 3) will also be present! (One of the reasons we are excited is the family-friendly setting & program.)

Rather than having thousands of passive attendees who merely absorb the words of a big-name, high-priced pastor who jets in & right back out after his (& yes it’s almost exclusively *his*) talk, unco creates a whole conference around the sidebar, hallway discussion atmosphere (where I always learn the most anyway!). A DIY, crowdsourced agenda created from a whiteboard crammed full of options is the structure. I’m stoked to be on our way! It’s exciting to be a part of a dynamic, forward-leaning, silly (check the unicorn references) group of people who for the most part met via social media.

If you want to follow along, check out these links:
Unco website
Unco on Facebook
Or search #unco11 on http://twitter.com
And you can always follow me @expatminister

What do you think? Is this a good model for Christian conferences & retreats? Are you coming to unco?