Synchroblog - What Is Emerging?
Julie Clawson invited me and a bunch of other people to participate in a Synchroblog today to address the question "What is Emerging In The Church?" I hesitated to post because I often feel left out when I listen in on emergent church conversations because I don't enjoy reading non-fiction especially if it's Christianity related, and so I never got a handle on all the philosophical and theological lingo. The reason I decided to participate, however, is that Julie is organizing this Synchroblog specifically to get a diverse perspective on the whole emerging church thing (e.g. perspectives other than those of the white male middle-class which some claim dominates the conversation). I figured I would add to the diversity, and not because I'm Asian and female, but because I've remained on the fringe of the conversation.
I spent most of my life in fundamentalist, evangelical or charismatic churches. I left the Church with a capital C for a few years when I reached 30. I now identify with Quakers but have never attended a meeting and am part of a small United Methodist church. I think the vast majority of the congregation don't know what the emergent church is. Most of them have never heard of Brian McLaren or Doug Pagitt or Tony Jones. Our pastor was emergent before she even knew there was such a conversation going on. I would also surmise that many of those who are active in our church community do not know what it means to be Methodist as opposed to being Presbyterian (I know I don't). I couldn't tell you what so-and-so believes about original sin or hell or heaven or even Jesus himself. There are those who do not identify as Christian. And yet, we come together and choose to be a part of each other's lives because we know we are better for it. We openly claim our lack of certitude, and yet we can feel that there is something in our midst that is worth being a part of that is beyond belief or theology.
I believe that there are many other churches and faith communities (like mine) who are clueless about emergent church goings-on but are still asking similar questions and having similar conversations as those who officially identify with the Emergent church with a capital E. I believe what is happening is bigger than Emergent because it is not something that those within the conversation are manufacturing on their own just because they happen to be wiser or more progressive than others. It is this bigger story that is emerging which keeps me connected and hopeful that someday those who follow the way of Jesus will finally be known by their love.
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For a full list of links to those who are participating in this Synchroblog, please visit Julie Clawson's post.
4 Comments
Reader Comments (4)
Thank you for this post! I really like this sentence, "Our pastor was emergent before she even knew there was such a conversation going on" because it describes what's going on in my faith community. We're emergent, but no one really knows it or even cares.
Also, your photography rocks!
Dave
Thank you. Its nice to meet/see/hear/read someone with similar church experiences...and see that we've sort of met at this same crossroads. Beautiful isn't it? (If even undefinable)
peace
I am part of a community in the United Church of Canada. Our national church emerges, and then retreats, challenges, frustrates, inspires and disillusions me in equal parts on a rotating basis!
Our local community however, is where I feel the life blood 'emerging church' runs. We respond to (and confound and challenge) the place we are in by celebrating diversity in all forms, challenging social injustice, and questioning, re-evaluating traditional teaching. This, in turn, is often challenging to other christian communities around us, and so conversation is born (or not..;). THAT is the root of emerging church for me.
Thanks for sharing your perspective. Its got me thinking again...
Thank you all for your comments. It's encouraging to hear from people who are having positive experiences within faith communities for a change!