Innovate - Big Idea Session Notes 2

One of the things I heard Dave Ferguson and Eric Bramlett talk a little on yesterday was the relationship they have on staff. Dave is the lead pastor and Eric is the creative arts guru.

Here's what I wrote down from their discussion:
Creative arts director and lead pastor need to be on the same page - key relationship.

Creative arts needs permission to take risk (needs the permission from the lead pastor). Art is about risk - all art. Churches are risk adverse and this is why we repel artists.

Artists need trust from lead pastor. The lead pastor needs to know/trust that the creative arts director is going to risk for the sake of the cause and the mission.

In this relationship:
Planning - artists need/want to plan. Gives them a canvas in which to work, to be creative. Teaching is an art as well and needs to be woven and planned together. Not just a setup for the teaching, but something working all together. Advanced planning allows you (lead pastor) to suspend skepticism on risky ideas.

Proximity - have to be in close proximity, in time and space with the lead pastor so that they can be on the same page. Trust and friendship.

Parameters - we ask: does it contribute to the big idea (not just a song or video for fun but goes with the idea)? Is there anything about the idea that distracts from the big idea? (not necessarily just offensive, IF it will take people closer to the idea) but take away from an idea. A positive review on an element can be just as distracting if people focus on that and not on the big idea.

Anyway, thought this was very insightful for you all working together in similar environments.
Peace.