by Rob Congdon, 13 March 2008

For those of you who have heard my messages on the Emergent Church, contemplative prayer, Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, and how they are all linked to the late Peter Drucker, a former business guru, you might find the following quote interesting. (My upcoming Chronicle will discuss contemplative prayer and its dangers in greater detail).  Drucker "suggested to evangelical pastors that they create a more
customer-friendly environment (hold back on the overt religious symbolism and provide plenty of facilities). Bill Hybels, the pastor of the 17,000-strong Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois, has a quotation from Mr. Drucker hanging outside his office: 'What is our business? Who is our customer? What does the customer consider value?'  Drucker believed that voluntary organizations have many lessons to teach business corporations. They are often better at engaging the enthusiasm of their volunteers - and they are better at turning their 'customers' into 'marketers' for their organization." ["Peter Drucker - Toward a More Gentle Marketplace" Austrian Information Organization, Washington, DC, 2007] Hybels has now moved into the Emergent Church group. For more about Hybels and Rick Warren's support of the Emergent Church see Roger Oakland's book Faith Undone. This book provided many documented quotes by these men.  Increasingly, I see a grave danger approaching the local Bible teaching churches in this movement. The business-driven church is replacing the Spirit-driven church.