Highlights (and a few regrets) from the 2006 Shepherds' Conference

by Phil Johnson

Here's my high-speed debrief on last week:

• Steve Lawson's message in the Friday morning general session (on Nehemiah 8) perfectly summed up the main point of the conference. This was one of the most powerful messages about preaching I have ever heard. If you are a pastor, get a copy and listen to it several times.
  
• John MacArthur was dynamic, thought-provoking, and convicting, as usual. A few months ago, he gave a five-sermon expostion of the Parable of the Prodigal Son, and I have listened to that series several times now. But John's single message on that same passage (set in the context of lots of audible response from 3600 pastors) was poignant and moving in a truly extraordinary way. Those who were there will not soon forget it.
  
• Turns out that in person, Tim Challies ("The World's Most Famous Christian Blogger"®) is exactly like he is on line: cool, likeable, smart, and a very fast typist. He did an amazing job liveblogging. There's no way I would have wanted that duty, but he did it superbly.
  
• Doug McHone of CoffeeSwirls likewise did a great job chronicling the conference for the blogosphere. He covered many things Challies didn't have time to blog about. I think Challies needs an official sidekick, and I would like to nominate Doug as a worthy candidate.
  
• If you want an even closer peek in on what a Shepherds' Conference seminar is like, Carla Rolfe has posted the full transcript of my seminar on the "emerging church movement" at EmergentNo.blogspot.com. The transcript is long, but (I hope) worth reading. This turned out to be one of the best-attended seminars ever, and it has generated lots of discussion. (I expect this transcript will be the subject of some discussion in the blogosphere.) It seems that the whole "emerging church" phenomenon has quickly become a major concern for many Reformed, evangelical, and fundamentalist pastors.
  
• And, (speaking of fundamentalists) thanks to Jason Janz, my seminar on fundamentalism may also be read in full at SharperIron.org, complete with feedback from my fundy friends there. The consensus of my critics seems to be that because I already beat that whole topic to death last year, there wasn't much in this year's seminar that sounded new and earth-shattering. That's probably a fair evaluation, because this year's seminar was mostly a review and refinement of 200+ pages of debate and discussion I had with several fundamentalist pastors and leaders in the wake of the huge controversy caused by last year's seminar. I was trying pretty hard not to pick any new fights. (Of course, that didn't keep a few of our more irascible fundy friends from getting angry anyway.) The comments and subsequent discussion on SharperIron.org are quite worth reading. I especially liked this cartoon.
  
• Dave Doran, whose patient but candid (and challenging) dialogue made for a stimulating discussion after last year's seminar on fundamentalism, was at the conference. I think he skipped this year's seminar on fundamentalism, but I don't blame him. (I tried to skip it myself, but Darlene made me go.) And although I saw Dave twice between sessions, it was barely long enough to shake his hand. I had hoped for an opportunity to have an extended conversation with him, not about fundamentalism, but about issues I'm sure we agree on. Unfortunately, things were so hectic, we never got to do that. Missing an opportunity to get to know Dave personally was one of four great regrets I took away from the week.
  
• I also ran into C. J. Mahaney a few times but never really found an opportunity for a decent conversation with him, either. He attended my first seminar and was extremely kind to come by afterward and greet me warmly. He even waited patiently behind a mob of Pyro aficionados clamoring for bumper stickers. His smile and enthusiasm are always infectious, and I would have loved the opportunity to spend some time with him. That's my second major regret about the week. Incidentally, at one point, C. J. and Mark Dever walked by while a fundamentalist pastor was getting in my face in the courtyard between sessions. Dever punched me in the shoulder and smiled knowingly, but they kept walking and made no attempt to bail me out. I love those guys.
  
• Ligon Duncan came in Friday and spoke Saturday morning (pulling no punches) on the egalitarian-complementarian controversy. I had a brief opportunity to meet him for the first time and chat in John MacArthur's office with Al Mohler and Steve Lawson, just before that final Saturday session. My third regret is that there wasn't more time for that conversation. It was interesting to eavesdrop on what kinds of things the "Together for the Gospel" guys say when they get together. I won't reveal anything about that conversation, except to say that all these guys read PyroManiacs, so let's be on our best behavior, OK?
  
• Regret number 4 is like all the others: My very best friend for 35 years, Steve Kreloff was there, as were several more of my dearest friends in ministry, including Lance Quinn, Tom Pennington, Joe Aleppo, Chris Williams, and Doug McMasters. Dozens of other close friends and respected fellow-pastors, including Marc and Jerry Wragg, Mark Vaughan, Sean Higgins, Mike Fanning, Jack Jenkins, Ken Fuller, Jim Kirby, Scott Ardavanis, John Zimmer, and several others were there, and I barely got to talk to any of them.
  
• I did get to have lunch with John Duncan, Lig's brother. He is on staff at Ligonier Ministries, and we talked about an exciting opportunity that may soon allow Sproul, MacArthur, and the rest of the "Together for the Gospel" team to extend their broadcast ministries to satellite television. Stay tuned for more news about that development.
  
• The full pack of Fide-O dawgs were there, and it's always fun, exciting, and encouraging to mingle with them. They gave Darlene a Fide-O fridge magnet that she thinks is much more useful and tasteful than the Pyro bumper stickers and Zippo® lighters. ("Why can't you do something like this?") I dismissed the suggestion by saying fridge magnets are too effeminate for PyroManiacs, but truth be told, they're pretty cool.
  
• Speaking of the vinyl decals: they were a big hit, but my supply of about 50 was quickly exhausted. I autographed one of them with a sharpie. Somehow that one seems to have ended up on eBay.
  
• TeamPyro needs to get next year's conference on the calendar: First week of March. It would be cool if Dan, Frank, James, and Pecadillo could all be there, too. We could host a special luncheon with the hordes of bloggers and blog-readers who are there.

Addenda on the Shepherds' Conference debrief Whilst I was critiquing his movement at the Shepherds' Conference, it seems Andrew Jones called in on one of my favorite places in the whole universe. Be sure to see Nathan Busenitz's comprehensive list of blogcomments about the Shepherds' Conference. Update: The cartoon thread at SharperIron.org overran the 20-page limit in record time. Too bad. I was hoping to get the last word on that one. But Bob Topartzer, who actually did get the last word, raises a great question: One thing I have wondered about. If those who planned the Shepherds conference wanted to put Fundamentalism into perspective and Phil Johnson states he was asked to give his presentation, Why didn't they choose their own resident expert on the subject: Dr. Larry Pettegrew, M.R.E., M.Div., Th.M., from Central Baptist Seminary, Plymouth, MN. and Th.D. Dallas Seminary. His degrees are in historical Theology. He has written on the origins of Fundamentalism and the Niagara Bible conference. He taught at Pillsbury and Central for years and was Dean at Central for a period of time. He has been a Professor at Masters Seminary for several years.      His presentation would have been authoritative and he would have critical analysis.      Why Phil Johnson who is associated with the Reformed Baptists and Sovereign Grace churches that are viewed by many Fundamentalists and Evangelicals as unbalanced in ministry and extreme in some practices.? Now there's a suggestion I like. A lot. Note to self: If the masterminds who plan the seminars at the conference suggest another follow-up on fundamentalism next year, punt to Dr. Pettegrew. As of 2:00 PM Tuesday, the auction for the decal is up to $20. That's $19.85 more than I guessed it would go for. This is indeed the last of the classic decals, and the only one I ever autographed. If you want this little piece of bloghistory, it's apparently going to cost you alot more than it's really worth. I'll get nothing from it, BTW, so there is no ethical dilemma or conflict of interest if I urge you to bid higher. No shame or self-respect, either. Keep the bidding hot.

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