Adam Hamilton speaks...

... and the United Methodist Church listens.

I don't think it is an overstatement to say that the Rev. Adam Hamilton has become a force within the United Methodist Church. Hamilton's Church of the Resurrection in suburban Kansas City, MO, has an average Sunday attendance of 7,500 worshipers (and a membership of almost twice that). His books - on topics as diverse as preaching, marriage preparation, church growth, and contemporary ethics - sell thousands of copies around the country. Hamilton's church also hosts a number of conferences throughout the year around areas like nurturing pastoral leadership and renewing the mainline church. There are a few bigger churches than Hamilton's in Methodism, but I doubt any have the influence that his has come to have.

On his blog this past June, Hamilton announced an intriguing project that will be carried out over the next six to seven years. He wants to visit all sixty-six annual conferences within the U.S. in order to present a three-part workshop series, covering the topics of: Essentials of Leadership, Improving Preaching and Worship, and Evangelism & Outreach in the United Methodist Tradition. Take note that this is essentially an episcopal function that Hamilton says he is going to claim. In the Christian tradition, the teaching office in the church is located most fully in the bishops. And in the Methodist tradition, those bishops are supposed to be true itinerants. So Hamilton is basically saying that he is going to exercise the itinerant episcopal office (though without the power to appoint, of course!) Don't think I'm exaggerating here; Hamilton invokes the itinerant episcopacy when discussing his plans on his blog post.

Clearly, Hamilton believes he's doing something right and he wants to share it with the rest of the connection. He came to Duke Divinity School a few days ago to share some of his views at the annual Pastor's School and Convocation, and I got to hear him. In my current UM Reporter column, I share some of my reflections on hearing him. Hamilton has the ability to come across as high-energy but with an intense focus and calm demeanor. As I say in the column, it is a bit like a combination of a preacher, CEO, practical theologian, and motivational speaker all rolled into one.

The part of Hamilton's talk at Duke that stuck with me the most was around the theme of "leading by example," where he talked about the need for pastors to be willing to go themselves where they wanted to lead their congregations. He talked about the need not only to inform when it comes to mission and outreach, but to inspire through story and personal example. Like any visible, large church pastor, Hamilton attracts both praise and criticism. For myself, I've always contended that he probably does mega-church ministry as well as it can be done. And I admire his willingness to pursue Wesley's original mission for Methodism: To reform the nation, and particularly the church, and to spread scriptural holiness over these lands.