Have you heard that expression? We used it in the Air Force to describe organizations that seemed to exist only for themselves, providing no useful service. “They’re just a self-licking ice cream cone.” Not a good thing.

Nearly 20 years ago, my son-in-law, Cody Gifford, was earning his PhD in instrumental music conducting at the University of Colorado in Boulder. He took me to a function which included a speech by the then Dean of the College of Music, Dr. Daniel Sher. I was so taken with the speech that I told Dr. Sher I intended to write an article about it. Dr. Sher just reached into his suit jacket pocket and handed me his script. (I’m finally writing the article!)

Here’s the relevant portion of the speech. See if you see what I heard…

What makes us so successful is that we are a community committed to excellence in music. We are dedicated to individualized and small group instruction, to programs that are artistically sensitive and intellectually rigorous, through a teaching and learning atmosphere that is permeated by a spirit of collaboration and teamwork.

Through our 350 concerts each year, 95% of them free to the public, we present opera, orchestra, concert band, chorus, world music ensembles, and solo recitals. We are a major cultural resource for our community. Through our Marching Band and Athletic Pep bands, we are the heart and soul of the spirit life of the campus.

Beyond the campus and our local community, we are committed to outreach to culturally underserved populations on the eastern plains, in the mountain regions and the K-12 system throughout our state.

Beyond our state, faculty, students and our alums are contributing at the highest level in the profession in performance, scholarly research and publication, teaching, and arts administration. – Daniel Sher, October 20, 2006

I don’t think I’ll get through this in one blog, but here are the first things that jumped out at me:

He described themselves as a successful community committed to excellence in music

• To be judged “successful” you must have a goal and a means by which to assess how well you’ve achieved that goal. He goes on in the speech to describe their activities and achievements
• It is a community, but “community” is not the goal
• It’s a community committed to excellence in music
  • Not a community committed to themselves
  • Not just committed to getting by, but to excellence

And they’re not performing music to listen to themselves, they are having an impact in four areas:

• Local community (concerts, recitals, opera, etc.)
• Campus itself with Marching Band and Pep Bands—the “heart and soul” of the spirit life of the campus
• Outreach in the state to underserved areas east and west
• Impact everywhere as grads go out, competent to serve

As I say, definitely not a self-licking ice cream cone.

By contrast, Robert Lewis describes in his book Church of Irresistible Influence the time he was in the mayor’s office and saw a book about their home town, Little Rock, Arkansas. Robert flipped through the book and observed, “There are no churches in this book.” And instead of getting angry with the mayor, he realized that the churches were all self-licking ice cream cones (my phrase). “If all the churches disappeared tomorrow, who outside the churches would notice?”

A goal for churches? Contribute to the world outside the church.

Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful. (Titus 3.14, NAS)

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5.16, ESV)

More to come. Stay tuned.