Bill Hybels
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William Hybels (born 1952, Kalamazoo, Michigan) is the founding and senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois. Willow Creek's numerous ministries have made it one of the most attended churches in North America, with an average attendance of 17,115 as of 2003.[1] He is the founder of the Willow Creek Association of "seeker sensitive" churches. Hybels is also an author of several Christian books, especially on the subject of Christian leadership.
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[edit] Hybels and the Willow Creek Association
In 1992 Hybels launched the Willow Creek Association (WCA) of what are called seeker sensitive churches. This has since grown into a network of over 11,000 churches worldwide.
Hybels has largely avoided association with specific political parties or movements. However, he received some criticism when at a leadership conference hosted by the WCA in 2000, he interviewed Rich DeVos (Amway co-founder) and carried out a 90-minute interview with President Bill Clinton in which he questioned the president on many key issues. When Karen Hughes (advisor to President George W. Bush) in the following year spoke before the church, Hybels said to the congregation jokingly afterwards, "There, we are even." - in a reference to bringing a counterbalance to Clinton's visit.
The "seeker sensitive" movement that Hybels is associated with has been the subject of much debate. While many are enthusiastic about Hybels' achievements, some people express concerns with Willow Creek and the seeker-sensitive (or "church growth" movement. The method of expanding church membership in the context of flat overall church attendance has been described as a business method and "market driven philosophy" with similarities to that of Walmart. The movement's association with Humanistic psychology, unconventional worship styles, Eastern influences and emphasis on people's felt needs have also been criticized.[2][3][4]
[edit] Willow Creek leadership and Hybels' role
While Hybels serves as senior pastor at Willow, he is not heavily involved in day to day operations. Gene Appel serves as lead pastor of the South Barrington Campus. This allows Hybels the ability to serve a more direct role in the Willow Creek Association. There are four other campus pastors at each of Willow Creek's regional locations which also enable the church to operate in a more efficient style.
Hybels frequently travels abroad, teaching church leaders how to manage and direct their congregations in more effective ways. He maintains a regular teaching schedule at Willow Creek, however focuses less on Willow Creek, and more on the global church movement. Hybels believes that "the local church is the hope of the world", and that is evident in his work around the globe.
[edit] Family
Hybels has a wife, Lynn, and two adult children. Lynn Hybels is active in the management of Willow Creek Church.
[edit] Criticisms
Without question, the most well-known criticism of Bill Hybels was his infamous invitation of then President Bill Clinton to his Willow Creek Church in 2000. In front of his congregation, Hybels questioned the President about a variety of topics. In light of his recent sexual affair and lies under oath, many evangelicals highly disapproved of Clinton's appearance at the church and Hybels was heavily criticized. Fellow evangelical leader Rick Warren received similar criticism for inviting Democrat Presidential candidate, Barack Obama, to speak at Warren's Saddleback Church in December 2006.
[edit] Publications
Books which he has authored or made a contribution to include:
- Courageous Leadership
- The Volunteer Revolution
- Too Busy Not to Pray
- Philippians: Run the Race.
- Becoming a Contagious Christian
- Fit to be Tied
- Making Life Work
- Just Walk Across the Room
[edit] References
- ^ Dr. John N. Vaughn, Church Growth Today
- ^ Seeker Sensitive, Purpose Driven Churches
- ^ Business Week
- ^ http://www.inplainsite.org/html/willow_creek_.html
