Future of the Pepperdine Bible Lectures
I spoke for the first time at the Pepperdine Bible Lectures in 1986. I’ve been there every single year since then. There is nothing else even close in my travel and speaking experience. Even the year I was in a fog of grief, I accepted Jerry Rushford’s offer to teach in Smothers.
What’s that about? Why have I kept going?
Great lectures and worship experiences 
Seafood
Close friends
Mountains
Insightful classes (where freedom to stretch is offered)
Ocean and seabreeze
Eager learners
Summary: friends, teaching (giving and receiving), and MALIBU
So now I’m gonna follow the most successful lectureship director in the history of the planet. (OK, in the history of the American Restoration Movement.) We all knew someone had to be foolish enough to try to follow Jerry. It might as well be me.
I said “yes” finally for these reasons: what the lectures have meant to me for a quarter of a century, my belief in Pepperdine, my love for my religious heritage, and my confidence in Andy Benton, the school’s president.
So now . . . as the clock ticks toward my official starting date (5/15/12) . . . HELP ME think about the future of the Pepperdine lectureship. If you’ve been, what do you like about it? What do you hope remains the same? What are some ways in which you hope it might evolve as time moves (and as churches and our culture change)?
Shoot me your best suggestions!!
Dear Mike,
I am so glad that you accepted this position. These events tend to shape our future heritage. I would challenge you to use technology to allow these conversations to go way beyond the one annual event each year. In these days we need to magnify the message and spread it to places beyond Malibu. While I love that setting and campus, the content of the lectureship is so vitally needed throughout the world. I am praying for you and all who have such talents to expand the borders of God’s kingdom on this earth. God bless,
Mike,
You asked a good question above: “What would make my older son, a 29 year old physician, want to arrange his schedule to come to Malibu for the Bible Lectures?”
Let me propose another question: “What would make a 30-something who grew up in the CofC but now attends an Anglican church (or pick another faith tradition) want to attend PBL?” That’s the situation I and most of my CofC friends find ourselves in these days. Matt Dabbs and Darin Campbell both added some practical ideas in this space as well.
As part of your preparations, I would recommend attending the Q Gathering in DC in 2012. I’ve been involved with this faith/culture group for a few years and love their approach (more like TED). Very fresh, biblical, engaging, challenging. http://www.qideas.org/event/washington.aspx Cheers!
Congratulations, Mike. I’m sure you’ll do well. I’ve never been to the PBL, but have wanted to go for a long time now and just might make it out next year. I’ve read most of what’s already been said here. Some really fine ideas and suggestions. I especially liked the gist of Wade Hodges’ comment to the effect of “If it ain’t broke . . . ”
My two cents would be, Welcome and invite kind conservative voices too. (I know, everyone in Church of Christ circles is conservative. Maybe the word “traditional” is better here. And I don’t mean to suggest that those voices have been unwelcome in the past).
What generates so much of the harsh, ultra-right-to-the-point-of-wrong talk radio in the US? I think part of it is the thought that conservative political perspectives have been shut out of the academy and the “mainstream media.” There’s a measure of truth in that. I think that a good mixture of voices builds bridges and keeps folks honest.
Mike, congratulations on being named to fill the big Jerry Rushford shoes at the Pepperdine Lectures. While you have a big task ahead, I believe God has prepared you for just such a work as this. We look forward to hearing about the Lectures in 2013 and beyond. May God bless you with wisdom and strength to do this in a way that glorifies Him.
The last time I went was 1998, but I want to change that. I love the lectures. Dad preached in Fresno area for two years, and we were there those two years. Unforgettable memories, and the California friends we made still go, and they were there in 98.
I cannot think of a better man to do what you’re about to do. Grace and peace Mr. Cope.
I will say I would love for the Christian Church and instrumental Churches of Christ to be represented on the schedule, and if they have it’s only been because they have escaped my notice. Lord willing I will be there for 2012. Many blessings.
Mike,
I can think of 3 areas that are needed for the West Coast.
1) Visioneering NW style. Our church leaders and members need practical insight and maybe even workshops on seeing and developing God’s vision for churches in the Northwest. This probably should be done from a missionary perspective because that is where we live up here. It would be great if this was an ongoing discussion with practical ideas and sharing success and challenges to experiment.
2) Small church missionary relevance. We need to learn and be challenged to be cultural relevant yet grounded in the Word as missionaries that seek the lost in our communities.
3) Practical Discipleship Training. Living in a consumer focused culture that is all about self, we need relevant methods and tools to disciple Christians to be followers of the WAY. Not just another book but what works in the NW to mobilize our communities of faith. One example of this is: Practical passionate prayer training. We say we need to but our churches are not trained in this but simply handed a book or told to pray and figure it out. Ideas might range from prayer vigils, prayer walks, prayer events, ways to pray with experiential, hands on opportunities for implementation during classes. Another might be how to lead a Bible study or how to study the Bible. Our movement used to be known for this and it was a good thing.
Overall, I would like to see a strong element of practical training. Moving speakers are great for momentary inspiration but without the practical application to follow it up the message will be lost in a sea of information that inundates our culture as we move on to the next moving speaker.