Question 1:

When did Soularize start? How long has Soularize been around?

A:In 1999, we held our first Soularize event in Orange, CA. Our 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. I still run into people who remember the event as "the metal binder conference" – a reference to what we thought would be a unique gift for attendees.

Question 2:

What have past Soularize events been like? What's the ethos of Soularize?

A:Our event in Seattle was this amazing launching point for so much conversation. When you looked around the room, it was amazing to see some of the brightest and most fresh thinkers in one place. One look at the conference notebook brought back to mind how refreshing it was to be with a collection of people who reminded us that we were not the only crazy ones out there, but that there were others who were questioning and exploring and wrestling with what it meant to be the Church. When the cutting edge was a "church within a church" approach or putting worship at the end of the message – people like Brian McLaren and Dan Kimball and others were sharing thoughts that would later become the definitive books which would have an enormous impact around the world on how people thought about being and doing Church. It was also filled with unique and unexpected experiences, like Ray Levesque from the Tlingit Indian tribe, who graced our Seattle conference with a three-hour Native American potlatch meal along with thirty other chiefs and tribal leaders from the Pacific Northwest. That same year, we debuted the Damah Film Festival, a short film festival committed to the exploration of spiritual experience in film, assisted by producer Stephen Simon.

In Minneapolis, the highlight for me personally was to have the daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Reverend Bernice King, as one of our keynote presenters. It was a gathering that saw many "emerging" groups launched out of it – from the publishing world to the networking world. This continued in Boston, where we began to move away from the large venue and big names to focus on developing deeper relationships and deeper conversations. Who can forget Jordon Cooper fleeing our host hotel as it went up in flames? Or Rick Bennett's helpful hints on how to successfully navigate the Boston Metro system? Or the inadvertently initiated "Annual Ooze Booze Cruise" under the evening lights of the Boston Harbor? Or in Venice in 2005, when Barry Taylor led worship from an iPod? Or hearing the powerful words of Heather Reynolds from God's Golden Acre in South Africa? The memories of Soularize have been rich.

Question 3:

Why the Bahamas?

A:We've always chosen our host cities based upon relationship, finding places that were filled with people we wanted to expose others to, people who are doing great things in the cause of the Kingdom. A year and half ago, I 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, we've chose to join them in their naturally inviting homeland of the Bahamas, to further the relationships and conversations of past Soularize events.

Question 4:

What makes this year different?

A:Each year, we've asked TheOOZE community who they would like to spend a week with on a deserted island. The overwhelming choice of late has been N. T. Wright, so we've asked N. T. and his wife, Maggy, to join us and they've accepted, as well as other friends, both old and new – Fr. Richard Rohr, Rita Nakashima Brock, and Brennan Manning. We will be hearing from and interacting with these eclectic voices, as well as other leading voices of tomorrow, who are helping shape the future of what the Church could be.

We've also welcomed what the island has to offer – from renting a private island for our first day, so attendees can relax and unwind, to informal conversations under a palm tree. We will be exploring the local art scene through a guided tour of local art museums and a natural sculpted art garden, called Sacred Space. We will also be joining the people of NPCC in their beach reclamation project by planting sea grapes on hurricane ravaged beach shores.

We feel that this will be unique experience, as we've extended both our conversation, as well as our relationship, to include more than just a three-day event in the Bahamas. Starting in January, we will be launching an online learning component. Through facilitated learning groups, message boards, and conference calls from people who are on the ground wrestling with the issues of Church transformation, we hope to journey together on this path of learning. For the first time ever, Soularize will not mere be an event, but a nine-month learning journey that will culminate with a face-to-face gathering with the people you've been journeying with.

Question 5:

Isn’t the Bahamas really expensive?

A:I know that many people, like me, simply cannot afford the expense of being involved in some conferences, so it might appear counter to that idea that we're doing an event in the Bahamas. However, believe it our not, this location has the potential of being one of our most affordable Soularize events ever. We've kept our registration low, $199 before 12.31.06, as well as taken advantage of off season airfare and hotel rates, with Hotels.com listing hotel rates as low as $69 a night and Orbitz.com quoting airfares of $303+ from Los Angeles, $248+ from Chicago, and $198+ from New York. As always, no one has ever been turned away strictly because of financial issues, so we're in the process of developing a relational scholarship program with the local residents of NPCC in the Bahamas, so please email us for what's available.

Question 6:

Where should I stay? Where will most of the action take place?

A:Soularize 2007 will be happening at the Wyndham Nassau Resort, located at Cable Beach. While we have worked hard to provide the most comprehensive on island package that we can through Majestic Holidays, we know that there are other options that you can explore on the island. Just keep in mind that as you explore what other options lie on the island that all of our general sessions, workshops, and informal gatherings will be occurring at the Wyndham exclusively. The package deals we have worked up with Majestic Holidays are for the Wyndham, as well as the Nassau Beach Resort, which is directly next door to the Wyndham, and offers slightly deeper discounted rates than the Wyndham does.

Question 7:

What will the format be? Will it be talking heads?

A:Much like you, what we’ve come to learn is that while content may be useful, it is the interaction between content and dialogue that brings about the greatest transformation of thinking. To that end, we’ve designed Soularize 2007 to be an interactive event, where you will hear from some of the foremost voices exploring the future of the Church, in a setting created to initiate discussion and conversation. From our year long online learning component to our time spent face-to-face in the Bahamas, you will have the opportunity to share and hear from fellow travelers about how they are wrestling with what has been presented.

Question 8:

My spouse wants to attend as well, what do you offer for couples?

A:Outside of the conference being located on one of the most tropical locales in the world [which is a bonus for time spent with your spouse], we’ve also provided a special $199 spousal rate for the conference. This rate is good right up to the conference dates.

Question 9:

How can I make this a team-building event for my community?

A:We know that ministry is not something best done by individuals, but by communities of people. So we’ve designed our year long online learning component to keep teams together and engaged in the discussion. Your team will have the opportunity to have the same online facilitator guiding your team through the discussions and learnings, helping you to ask the critical questions that will help your team building experience be like no other. While you are at the event in the Bahamas together, think of the possibilities. We can even help provide unique team building opportunities for your team while you are in the Bahamas – opportunities that will solidify the learnings that you have been having as a leadership team.

Question 10:

I have never been to an "emerging" event. Will I feel like an outsider?

A:Absolutely not. The ethos of an “emerging” event is one of welcome. These kinds of events are designed to introduce to others who, like you, are on the forefront of the Church, thinking about what the future of the Church could look like. Come and be a part of a conversation you might never have imagined could be possible. You won’t regret it.

if you have any additional questions, please email.