Conferencing in LA

The conference itself had a multicultural theme, which was absolutely perfect – the afternoon was spent soaking up words of wisdom from the revs Charles Ryu and Lee Jung Moon, who presented a fascinating workshop on the use of Korean drumming in worship. Lee was also an expert on traditional Korean percussion music, and is trying to advocate for its re-inclusion in worship settings, after years of drums being seen as a naughty thing. He’d brought with him some videos of work in Korea – both traditional drumming in its original cultural setting, and in use in worship – both of which were fascinating, and wonderful to see a tradition so completely different to anything I’ve experienced previously. Koreans ROCK! (oops – there’s a sweeping cultural generalisation again..) Long may his work continue.

I also had the privilege of experiencing more of the African American approach towards music and worship, which was a real treat. It seems a lot more geared towards whole community participation than much worship I’ve encountered – and not just musically either. I’ve grown rather fond of hearing some forthright exclamations of ‘A-men!’ occur from round the congregation in response to a particularly juicy point in a prayer or sermon. It seems much more of a two-way process than a one-way delivery. Perhaps I should start doing this in Scotland … and watch for the reactions! ;-)

Many many other moments at this conference were like a foretaste of heaven – the diversity of expression, human-beingness, culture, and approach to things godly – all valid, all appreciated, all sharing the same desire to create a more just world, and build community with each other and the divine. Aaaaa – MEN to that!

During the conference ‘day off’ I went to encounter a whole other mode of beingness! I was due to meet with a friend that evening, who had suggested a trip to Venice Beach. Trip being the apposite word! I had nervously driven across town and gratefully parked my car somewhere in the direction of the waterfront, and walked out on to what looked like a fairly normal beach (except with more suntans than you would find in the UK). I’d heard many stories of it being quite an ‘out-there’ place, and thought ‘is this it?’ – but went to pay my respects to the Pacific, and decided to keep strolling along the beach, (feeling very much a stranger in a strange land) in case I’d missed something.

Which I had. Further down, what looked like a small row of shops in the distance turned out to be what I can only describe from previous experiential reference points as a mixture between Camden Market, and the more bizarre aspects of Glastonbury festival, with a bit of extra added California ‘je ne sais quois’. All of human life was here – walking along (the promenade?), on one side were a row of little shops/stalls, selling all manner of trinkets and mind-expanding items – on the other side were some of the most creative ways to make a living one could think of, from a man selling hugs for 50c (who was rather gorgeous!) to a pair of beach-outfitted aliens in deck chairs (selling photographic opportunities), to a man whose sign simply said ‘Give me some f***in money’ – call a spade a spade, that’s what I say.