7 August, 2003 11:43 PM
'Emerging Church' is something that an increasing amount of people are talking about here in Melbourne and around the globe. I've heard it referred to in countless seminars, a myriad of blogs, many books and in conversation after conversation. However the more I talk and listen to people around the globe on the topic the more I wonder if we're all talking about the same thing?
Over the past few months I'd communicated with people claiming to be part of ECs that are doing such diverse stuff! WARNING - the next paragraph is VERY MESSY!
There are those who focus heavily upon Alt Worship, others who sing Hillsong, some are 'house churches' of hundreds of people who meet in local schools whilst others are 'house churches' of a handful of people that meet in...well...houses. Some use liturgy, others focus upon ancient worship ritual, others explore the creative arts and/or multimedia. Some teach through group discussions and active group learning whilst others retain the traditional sermon. Some have blogs and websites where as others reject cyberspace as a valid or valuable medium. Some meet in pubs and cafes, others in parks, some operate out of guitar schools or micro businesses, some in century old church buildings. Some are formally linked to mainstream denominations, others are part of loosely networked EC movements while others remain completely independent from all other communities of faith. Some are very focused upon issues of justice and mission whilst others see prayer as their central calling. Some look very post-modern whilst others remain quite 'modern' in appearance. Some are multicultural, others remain intentionally monocultural or focus on particular subcultures. Some emerging churches have taken a multi congregational approach, others are experimenting with cell church, others are interested in planting small multiplying independent communities and then there are others who are congregations operating within larger mainline churches. Some are very small and intend to stay so while others have thousands of members.
On one hand I'm happy to live in the above mixed up messy looking Global movement. Yet part of me sometimes wonders if there is a place to try to make some sense of it and identify the patterns.
For instance when it comes to training leaders - do we need to identify some common themes in what is emerging in order to equip those who will facilitate the movement?
What are the common threads that link us as 'Emerging Churches'?
Comments
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I'm going crazy with all of these different ways of spreading the Gospel, but I believe they are all viable, as long as we are seeking to know God more personally, and also we are teaching others to be diciples of Christ, then it is good. But we must keep his focus... we need to invite people into our lives, not into our programs.
TravisM » 8 August, 2003 9:33 AM
I think we all recognize the need for change.
Leighton Tebay » 8 August, 2003 11:00 AM
I think the common thread is that we are asking questions.. and nothing is above review.
dan » 8 August, 2003 11:04 AM
Well said, Dan. Perhaps "emergent church" is a negatively defined category - not in the sense of being a bad thing, but of being defined by what we're not as much as what we are. That seems to be how highly diverse trends are classified.
I think many ways of classifying and viewing these various types of churches will continue to develop. I like Robert Webber's term Younger Evangelical. His description seems to fit where I am right now, whereas The Ooze does not seem to resonate with me very well, although it's an em-church-type site (and they published my article :) ). Maybe all these labels aren't a good thing, though.
Perhaps one of the best characteristics of the emergent churches is that they defy easy categorization and thus, stereotyping and prejudgement. The labels make that easier - if I find out you're a part of an emerging church, that doesn't really tell me anything. I have to get to know you and what your church is about. So, I suppose we're in a unique, label-free time of experimentation. Cool.
Justin Baeder » 8 August, 2003 1:44 PM
I left a comment on Phil's blog that the emerging church is the church that asks 'why?'. It seeks to revisit everything and may, in the process of contextualisation, arrive at some of the same answers, but then it also arrives at some very different answers...
hamo » 8 August, 2003 4:03 PM
Damm, the one time I get a compliment on a comment and I post it under Dan's name. And I am not joking!
Phil » 8 August, 2003 5:32 PM
Well, so I'd have to say, Z) none of the above. I think the common thread is contextualizing the gospel into the emerging culture: "I have become all things to all people so that by ALL POSSIBLE MEANS I might save some." (1 Cor 9:22) Maybe it's the "all possible means" bit that has led to the diversity.
Jon Reid » 8 August, 2003 9:29 AM