The good news is that there is no magic pill that immediately prepares you to launch your Global Leadership Summit site towards a larger city movement and there are as many ways to proceed with the idea as there are sites. But there are some learnings and health markers that will strengthen your success in the journey.
Here are some questions to process:
- Are you currently leveraging the Global Leadership Summit to serve your church’s mission, vision and/or values?
This is all about your foundation. Truthfully the healthiest host sites “own” the Summit in their calendar, with their staff, with their leaders and in their local and global outreach(Own It’s) …but the idea that the Summit is a clear win in the mission and vision of the host church takes it from being just an event to a resource that is an integral part of the church’s forward movement. It becomes even more strategic if the heart of the host church is turned towards local impact in the city. At our home church we value the whole idea of “building a great city” and training leaders and the GLS becomes a major resource in that pursuit of our values as a church. It is vital that the GLS is a clear resource to the mission and vision of the host church before you can cast a vision for a larger city wide movement.
2. As a GLS Host Site have you connected to other local church partners?
The reality of a city movement is it demands a lot of connections and collaborations. It is essential that you build some muscle with the GLS church partner program before you launch into a city wide collaboration. Church partners are a vital part of expanding influence and they can help you to launch into the city with a clear and experienced partnership. And when you get ready for a larger city wide effort, it is vital that you make sure your partner churches are on board and committed before you launch. Go together.
3. Are you connected to what’s moving in your city?
Think about this one. When we talk about a city movement, the goal is not “another” movement. The goal is to add value to what is already moving and to create more of it. What is already happening in your city that is addressing some of the most important issues at hand? What gatherings and networks are already wrestling with some of the cities greatest needs? And most importantly, where can the Global Leadership Summit add value to the people impacting those needs? One of the greatest opportunities of the Summit is to gather every sector in the city to receive “fresh, actionable leadership content” and to mobilize the Summit attenders into a “Grander Vision” for your city. Figure out what’s already moving in your city and connect to it.
4. Is your venue a lid?
Be careful not to stereotype this idea. Some churches have a natural bent towards community engagement and even host various city wide events. It may be that your church has the seating and “neutrality” to be a tremendous community location for a city wide movement driven by GLS. But other cities discover that a specific church location is a barrier for other churches to invite their people and even more importantly it is a barrier to business leaders sending their employees to a religious setting. A city movement demands the engagement of every sector. If you hosted GLS at a neutral location like a convention center or university would more businesses be open to sending their staff? Would more churches respond and bring their leaders to a neutral site rather than another church? Without question, the GLS has a growing business audience and they are an essential part of a city wide movement. You will need to evaluate whether your venue is a lid.
5. Do you have a funding source ready to fuel a movement?
Once you determine your venue and create a budget to promote and engage every sector of the city in the Global Leadership Summit, you need to be sure you have a funding source. The three major expenses that tend to accelerate with a city wide movement include promotion, venue logistics and scholarships. Again there are as many different ways to do this as there are sites, but common sources include business sponsorships and even foundations committed to building capacity in local organizations. WCA provides certain reimbursements proportionate to the number of attenders in every host church contract which is helpful with venue and tech expenses, but you will need a primary funder to make sure your site expenses are covered, especially in an outside venue. A big vision will draw proportionate funding. If you have been a host site and can demonstrate experience and growth you can attract local support.
There are sites that have launched from the beginning as city movement sites, but the more common experience is GLS host sites that start at local churches with a vision to bring in partners and grow into a full city movement experience. If your vision is a movement, start praying and preparing because GLS is a resource to be leveraged for city wide impact.
Some examples of GLS City Movements: