While I disagreed with some aspects of the criticism, I thought it would be helpful to repeat a part of the email as well as my reply, in order to clarify a few things. I also want to alleviate the concerns of others, who may have felt similarly.
I am not a confrontational kind of guy, and I'm especially wary of getting a bad reputation online which I feel doesn't reflect me personally. My first response when people react negatively to something I've written is to wonder if I should just give up blogging. Yes, I really am that insecure. But ultimately I am thankful when people pull me up, even if I disagree with them.
Also, I have disabled comments on this post to ensure that my blog-friends out there don't undercut my gratitude for the graciousness of the email. I don't intend to start a debate.
Part of the email;
One thought: i'm not sure it is helpful or honouring to the preachers for you to post 'feedback' on individual messages. I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with your feedback necessarily, but i think this is a conversation that should happen between you and the preachers directly rather than in a public forum like this one. And even then not immediately after they have delivered them. i'm assuming from your blog that you preach and i'm sure you're aware that it is a significant emotional investment for the preacher and immediately after preaching is a particularly vulnerable time for any minister of the word. So maybe recording your reflections and holding them for a few days before contacting the speakers directly would be more helpful.Here's the majority of my response;
Hi ____,
Your awareness of the power of the public forum of blogs is a true concern, and I am aware of their power.
Let me offer some thoughts behind my writing;
I personally don't ascribe to the often heard claim that there is no place for discussion regarding individuals in the public forum without approaching that person directly. This is particularly true of those engaged in big public ministry. That is, everyone is talking about what has been said, and for everyone with any feedback to contact them, would be both impossible, and unnecessary. That delivered in the public forum can be discussed in the public forum in most instances.
In this instance, there were a number of reasons I didn't approach the people directly;
1. Because I don't know the speakers personally and therefore;
2. I would rightly be perceived as a young punk with little preaching experience who for the most part doesn't know what he's talking about.
3. I thought they did a great job.
Were I rebuking them, or criticising them personally, I would not in most instances blog that first (edit: or at all) without attempting to contact them personally.
So why did I write my thoughts?
Because my blog reflects what I'm thinking about, and that is what I was thinking.
Because I want to sharpen people in reflective thought of what we do.
Because all that the kids say is things like "That talk was too long" and I'm trying to analyse why they thought that.
Because I have no relationship with any of the speakers except Dave, so I wouldn't assume that they read my blog, and so I'm not concerned with hurting their feelings because its too soon after the sermon, as that was not the intention and I thought it unlikely they would read.
That said, I understand you saying that it might be worth letting the thoughts simmer for a bit before posting due to the emotional nature of preaching. But seeing as though I thought there was little chance of them reading it, it wasn't necessary to wait. Plus, even if they did, seeing as though it was only a few small issues of content and delivery, I wouldn't label it as criticism. If anything I would hope they would be encouraged by what I learnt, and thankful that people were thinking hard upon the word of God.
Either way, I understand it may have been misleading to write it as "feedback". However I thought I had communicated that this wasn't like an open letter, by prefacing my statements as "If I was giving feedback..."
I guess I could have simply written what I learnt. But that rarely communicates well to those not there. I still tried to do that, combined with some thoughtful reflection both on the handling of the word of God, combined with its delivery, as well as broader aspects of the weekend.
Also, I would like you to know I have no hidden agenda. I thought my comments were well balanced and reflective of the discussions that the kids I took along were talking about. I also hope that anyone reading would be encouraged to come along to KYCK in future years. Those who regularly read my blog I'm certain would have an understanding of what I'm trying to do, and I think would have an understanding that there is no intended malice behind my words. My hope as always is to express my personal reflections in a manner that encourages others to think hard about being followers of Jesus.
Izaac.
