# Why I Say NO to Most* Conference Invitations ![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xSTSGbfX23A/hqdefault.jpg) ## Conference Invitations and Fame - The channel's growth has led to numerous conference invitations, but most are turned down due to concerns about the effects of fame on pastors [(00:00:26)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSTSGbfX23A&t=26s). - There are only a couple of conferences that are of interest, including the Gospel Fellowship's fall theology conference on [[Christianity]] and civil government, and the RPTS Westminster conference, where the speaker is an adjunct professor [(00:00:48)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSTSGbfX23A&t=48s). - The main reason for declining conference invitations is the concern that fame can corrupt pastors, similar to the effects of money and power [(00:01:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSTSGbfX23A&t=83s). - Examples of pastors who have been negatively affected by fame include Steve Lawson, [[Tullian Tchividjian]], and [[Ravi Zacharias]] [(00:02:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSTSGbfX23A&t=132s). - While some conferences, such as Ligonier, have done a good job of promoting men with excellent reputations and theology, the risk of fame corrupting Christian character is still a concern [(00:03:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSTSGbfX23A&t=180s). - The speaker is intentionally resisting the promotional fame that comes with the conference circuit to protect their Christian character [(00:03:32)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSTSGbfX23A&t=212s). ## Love for the Local Church - The second reason for saying no to most conference invitations is a love for the local church, which is the main calling in life, and nobody is ordained to be a conference speaker or circuit rider, with local [[Church Pastoral Aid Society | church pastors]] being called to pastor their local church and that's about it [(00:03:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSTSGbfX23A&t=216s). - Pastoring a local church is hard work, and it's challenging to juggle a local church with regular conference speaking, creating a two-tiered expectation between regular pastors and the "super Apostles" who can handle it [(00:04:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSTSGbfX23A&t=250s). - There's a problem with the expectation that some pastors can handle both local church responsibilities and regular conference speaking, as seen in some big Evangelical Mega Productions like [[The Gospel Coalition | the Gospel Coalition]] [(00:04:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSTSGbfX23A&t=285s). ## Puritans and Presbytery - The Puritans had "prophesying events" where pastors from different local churches would gather, preach similar sermons on a theme, and have [[Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples | church fellowship]], which is a good example of pastors visiting and preaching at other churches without seeking fame [(00:05:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSTSGbfX23A&t=301s). - In the [[Presbyterianism | Presbyterian]] system, it's acceptable for pastors to visit and preach at other churches in the [[Clergy house | presbytery]], but pursuing fame through conference speaking can be negative for most people's hearts [(00:05:49)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSTSGbfX23A&t=349s). - Some conferences, like the [[Educational Testing Service | ETS]] conference, can be discouraging for speakers who expect a large audience but end up with only a few attendees, and coveting positions of influence can be destructive to the soul [(00:06:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSTSGbfX23A&t=375s). ## Commitment to Local Church and Concerns - The decision to stay at the local church, Gospel Fellowship PCA, is based on a sense of calling and love for the church and its people, and saying no to conference invitations is not meant to hurt anyone's feelings [(00:06:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSTSGbfX23A&t=407s). - There are concerns about the potential negative effects of temptations, and prayer is requested for protection against these temptations [(00:07:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSTSGbfX23A&t=432s). - The goal is to avoid becoming like individuals such as Steph J Lawson, Tulian Vision, or [[Ravi Zacharias]], who have presumably fallen into temptation [(00:07:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSTSGbfX23A&t=439s). - The aspiration is to remain a faithful local church pastor, committed to one's wife, the doctrine of [[Christianity]], and the upheld confession [(00:07:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSTSGbfX23A&t=447s). - Due to these priorities, it is hoped that others will understand when saying "no" to certain invitations, such as conference invitations [(00:07:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSTSGbfX23A&t=458s).