Companions,
A new article came out this past weekend in the journal Nature that has a lot to say about how we are wired to remember things... and so has some significant implications for the "worship" stream of our larger conversation. (Though it fits in other places, too, no doubt).
I've written up a piece on this on our website at:
http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=15892
In a way, it's also kind of a response to some of Matt's notes about worship on today's thread on mission, as well as some of DG's earlier questions about the need for or value of ritual space...
I look forward to what we will learn from each other about all of this.
Peace in Christ,
Taylor Burton-Edwards
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
"Emerging" for Mission
If you go back into the prehistory of the current "emerging" movement, what you find are some serious questions about how the church, in the places and ways it is currently located and structured (not just the building, but the social locations of folks in the churches), is (or is not!) fulfilling what some of the early writers were calling the core mission of Jesus-- to make sure the poor were getting good news, the hungry we being fed, the sick visited, the prisoners cared for and reintegrated, justice was happening in the courts regardless of the socio-economic background of those who went or were brought there, oppression was being challenged and lifted, real vital connections and communities were being built across all socio-economic and other "tribalizing" lines, and the like. Lesslie Newbigin (Google him, and you'll find quite a lot!), an Anglican bishop and long time missionary, was perhaps the most prominent voice raising these questions from the mid 80s on. And the missiology department at Fuller-- easily the most influential seminary for evangelicals in the nation, possibly the world-- has continued this legacy of exploration, challenge, and instigation of missional experiments to begin a living answer to the questions and challenges posed.
In fact, they're offering a course in emerging ministry this very semester. Here's a link to the
class's wiki. And from there there are lots of places to go.
But the critical question behind it all is what does a church in Western cultures do (not necessarily differently, or for the sake of being different) in order to enable and embody the kingdom of God here and now? How does the church do ministry, become ministry, that ensures that the poor are getting good news and all the rest?
My question for us to consider... how is your ministry, in whatever shape it comes, and in whatever role you may have in it, embodying the kingdom of God now? And how are you and the folks in your congregation visioning for your common ministry to do so even more going forward?
Peace in Christ,
Taylor Burton-Edwards
In fact, they're offering a course in emerging ministry this very semester. Here's a link to the
class's wiki. And from there there are lots of places to go.
But the critical question behind it all is what does a church in Western cultures do (not necessarily differently, or for the sake of being different) in order to enable and embody the kingdom of God here and now? How does the church do ministry, become ministry, that ensures that the poor are getting good news and all the rest?
My question for us to consider... how is your ministry, in whatever shape it comes, and in whatever role you may have in it, embodying the kingdom of God now? And how are you and the folks in your congregation visioning for your common ministry to do so even more going forward?
Peace in Christ,
Taylor Burton-Edwards
Monday, February 20, 2006
Lifestyle worship without music in a public "service"?
Well, eventually The Waters will be several weekly organic gatherings where people, live, work, and play. So that means that the gathering (which will be the "church" community to those who attend) will include after the first 8 weeks a time of prayer, worship, Biblical discussion, and sharing. The challenge is how do you have a "church worship service" in the middle of a Starbucks?
most of it does not seem too hard, but I was wondering if anyone has any good ideas for worship without music? Silence is good, and can be a little difficult in Hooters, but any other ideas of worship? Maybe drawing, sculpting, writing, But again I would love to make the worship a communal event as well. Ok, thanks and please let the discussion begin.
Thank you again and God bless yall!
In Trinity,
D.G.
most of it does not seem too hard, but I was wondering if anyone has any good ideas for worship without music? Silence is good, and can be a little difficult in Hooters, but any other ideas of worship? Maybe drawing, sculpting, writing, But again I would love to make the worship a communal event as well. Ok, thanks and please let the discussion begin.
Thank you again and God bless yall!
In Trinity,
D.G.
Invitation?
Less than two weeks to go until The Gathering begins. In the process of many many conversations with various folks at Crievewood, receiving feedback and whatnot, someone (I don't remember who) posed the question of whether we were going to have an invitation as part of our service. By "invitation" they mean something akin to what we do in our traditional service where, during the last hymn, we invite those who feel called to join the church, make a new or renew a commitment to Christ, etc. to come forward and share this with the congregation. It's kind of an "altar-call-lite".
This question may be more significant than the asker realized. The Gathering is designed to be a communally focused, participatory worship experience, so what is the place of a formal invitation in this service? Ideally, the whole thing should be an invitation to respond to God's grace. But as much as I may feel that's the case, might it be that some people need it specifically spelled out for them that the gospel always invites a response?
For that matter, what form should such an invitation take? Some people just don't feel comfortable coming forward. Wrestling with big concepts about God can be uncomfortable as it is, never mind being asked to stand in front of a large group of people and feeling pressured to affirm something you're just beginning to consider, and you're not sure you believe.
I guess one alternative could be an invitation for them to consider some kind of response right there in their seats. It has the benefit of no pressure to "perform" in some way for the group. But does that imply that one's relationship with God is entirely an individual concern? Christ is certainly personal, but never individual (isolated from the other). God calls us to work these issues out and live our faith as a community. How do we live as a community without knowing who is responding and how they're going about it?
As always, there's probably some middle way here that I haven't yet considered. It's a good question to sit with, but I have less than 13 days to make a decision about how this will fit into an order of worship. Any thoughts?
This question may be more significant than the asker realized. The Gathering is designed to be a communally focused, participatory worship experience, so what is the place of a formal invitation in this service? Ideally, the whole thing should be an invitation to respond to God's grace. But as much as I may feel that's the case, might it be that some people need it specifically spelled out for them that the gospel always invites a response?
For that matter, what form should such an invitation take? Some people just don't feel comfortable coming forward. Wrestling with big concepts about God can be uncomfortable as it is, never mind being asked to stand in front of a large group of people and feeling pressured to affirm something you're just beginning to consider, and you're not sure you believe.
I guess one alternative could be an invitation for them to consider some kind of response right there in their seats. It has the benefit of no pressure to "perform" in some way for the group. But does that imply that one's relationship with God is entirely an individual concern? Christ is certainly personal, but never individual (isolated from the other). God calls us to work these issues out and live our faith as a community. How do we live as a community without knowing who is responding and how they're going about it?
As always, there's probably some middle way here that I haven't yet considered. It's a good question to sit with, but I have less than 13 days to make a decision about how this will fit into an order of worship. Any thoughts?
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Emerging Evangelism/Community Building Strategies
First, welcome DG and thanks for joining us here!
One of the roles I'm trying to play here is to lift up trendlines, common threads, common questions that seem to be "emerging" across what we're sharing for your further insights, comments, feedback, discussion, disputation, whatever...
And one thing I'm noticing is what I'd call more "organic" or "indirect" strategies or practices of evangelism and community building than the usual "church formatted" approaches usually are. In the usual "church format" the options seem to be personal evangelism (either the hard sell doctrinal kind, or "lifestyle" evangelism), "door to door" evangelism (often done in pairs-- which, if you think about it, might be rather unfair!) or invitation to "big events" at the church or maybe with other churches that are supposed to kind of "do the evangelism" for us. And sometimes those "big events" are concerts or sometimes even "worship-formatted evangelism" (i.e., it's really evangelism, but it comes in "worshippy" packaging).
But what I'm seeing here are at least two other evangelistic/community building strategies or practices-- theology cafe/theology pub and parties. If I've got this right, in theology cafe/pub, the idea is that a group of folks goes out to a public place (cafe or pub), sits down, discusses theological issues intensely (maybe even argumentatively?) and invites others in that space to join the dialog if they like. It's a design that's about being in a "third place" and inviting folks into a small community that cares about spiritual matters in some sort of disciplined, while also exploratory/experimental, way. Carl at Birmingham First is working with this model. The parties (Organic Group?) model that DG is describing seems to be (correct me where I'm missing parts, DG!) about holding parties in home in housing developments in the area-- and so in a "first place" really. The basic purpose is to meet people and begin to build community in homes, and then see what might evolve from there. It's sort of one step removed from (and, I'd say, several steps better than!) the "church format" of "door to door visitation."
What strategies or practices of evangelism/community building are you using or considering in the ministries where you are? What other strategies/practices are you already engaging, and what are you learning from these?
Peace in Christ,
Taylor Burton-Edwards
First, welcome DG and thanks for joining us here!
One of the roles I'm trying to play here is to lift up trendlines, common threads, common questions that seem to be "emerging" across what we're sharing for your further insights, comments, feedback, discussion, disputation, whatever...
And one thing I'm noticing is what I'd call more "organic" or "indirect" strategies or practices of evangelism and community building than the usual "church formatted" approaches usually are. In the usual "church format" the options seem to be personal evangelism (either the hard sell doctrinal kind, or "lifestyle" evangelism), "door to door" evangelism (often done in pairs-- which, if you think about it, might be rather unfair!) or invitation to "big events" at the church or maybe with other churches that are supposed to kind of "do the evangelism" for us. And sometimes those "big events" are concerts or sometimes even "worship-formatted evangelism" (i.e., it's really evangelism, but it comes in "worshippy" packaging).
But what I'm seeing here are at least two other evangelistic/community building strategies or practices-- theology cafe/theology pub and parties. If I've got this right, in theology cafe/pub, the idea is that a group of folks goes out to a public place (cafe or pub), sits down, discusses theological issues intensely (maybe even argumentatively?) and invites others in that space to join the dialog if they like. It's a design that's about being in a "third place" and inviting folks into a small community that cares about spiritual matters in some sort of disciplined, while also exploratory/experimental, way. Carl at Birmingham First is working with this model. The parties (Organic Group?) model that DG is describing seems to be (correct me where I'm missing parts, DG!) about holding parties in home in housing developments in the area-- and so in a "first place" really. The basic purpose is to meet people and begin to build community in homes, and then see what might evolve from there. It's sort of one step removed from (and, I'd say, several steps better than!) the "church format" of "door to door visitation."
What strategies or practices of evangelism/community building are you using or considering in the ministries where you are? What other strategies/practices are you already engaging, and what are you learning from these?
Peace in Christ,
Taylor Burton-Edwards
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
D.G. Hollums with The Waters: An Experimental UM Network of Organic Gatherings...
photo (c) 2005, Martin Waugh
www.Th3waters.com
http://dg.hollums.com
Be blessed and return the blessing to others!
In Trinity,
DGH (Another Crash)
Monday, February 13, 2006
emergingumc
emergingumc
Thank you, Taylor, for your hard work. This is actually a response to your initial invitation. My name is Billy Watson. I am the associate pastor of St. Peter’s United Methodist Church in Katy, Texas. Shortly after coming to St. Peter’s about three years ago I was asked to revive the contemporary service which had folded before I arrived. I wasn’t very interested in a traditional contemporary service, and what has emerged as our “harbor” service (though I didn’t exactly realize it initially) is a result of my attempts at post modern or emergent worship.
I think the service is a strong one, but we struggle with attendance. St. Peter’s has a reputation as a traditional worship style church, so most of the members are here because they prefer traditional worship. That’s okay, because the service was meant to be evangelistic in nature…at least in the sense that the outside community was our target and we felt a church the size of St. Peter’s should offer the community other alternatives in terms of worship.
Several elements have influenced my interest in the emergent church:
Like Greg in Kentucky one of my influences is a strong sense of disillusionment with “contemporary” worship. When I hear the phrase “contemporary worship” several adjectives come to mind: shallow, feel-good, flashy, showy, consumer-oriented, fake, entertainment, pep rally—you get the idea. I enjoy traditional worship, but at the same time long for alternative approaches. Given the choice between contemporary, traditional, or even the two-headed beast known as “blended” worship, I would choose traditional. However, with the emergence (pun intended) of emergent worship there is another, meaningful alternative.
Music, though not the most important, is a vital aspect of and tool for worship. When I hear a song from Integrity/Hosanna/Vineyard/Hillsong-with admittedly a few notable exceptions-I cringe, and feel physically ill. This is not conducive to worship. Seriously, there is clearly a difference substantively, stylistically, lyrically, and in my opinion in terms of quality between what you typically hear at a contemporary worship service and what is coming from those on the forefront of emerging/post-modern/modern/ancient-future worship (i.e., Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, Matt Redman, and others). The music of the latter-again, this is my opinion-has a great deal more depth, and touches on the entire spectrum of human experience (not just the triumphalism Sara in Texas mentioned in her post.)
I grew up in the Episcopal Church, so for the first 15 years of my life I was immersed in very high, formal worship. Adjusting to worship in the Methodist Church, even what we Methodists consider “traditional” was not automatic for me. After making the adjustment I went through a period of rebellion against the formalism of my Episcopal upbringing, but I have since found my soul longs for the real meat of traditional elements such as liturgy, chanting, incense, etc. Why should I be surprised? All of these ancient modes and means of worship are part of the great cloud of witnesses that surrounds us. What was I thinking running from it?
Another strong attraction of emerging worship for me is the experiential element. Of course, as a worship leader it can become exhausting trying to imagine and incorporate new experiences. I welcome any ideas.
The language of the emerging conversation resonates with me. Confession time…I have an addiction…I buy more books than I could ever possibly read. Most of them I begin, read for a little while, then move on to something else. I am finding, though, that I get farther along and more deeply engaged in books shaped by the emergent conversation. Brain McLaren’s A Generous Orthodoxy was a frightening experience for me…it was as if he opened a window into my soul and wrote what he found.
I would describe myself theologically as conservative/evangelical/orthodox, however there are many with whom I share that label that I don’t necessarily want to be associated with. That might be a little self-righteous, but I know the feeling is mutual. It would be nice if I could just ignore the whole label thing, but let’s face it…we all have leanings one way or another and we’re only kidding ourselves to say otherwise. One thing I am grateful for is that I have experienced both sides of the theological spectrum in my own training, having attended a “liberal” college and a “conservative” seminary. I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of both camps first hand. The people who frighten me are those who have for the most part only been around others who share their point of view, and have only had to or chosen to interact with members of the other camp in the context of debate. These are the people, liberal or conservative, who KNOW they are right and the other person is wrong, regardless. I think I’m right, but I know I might be wrong, and that’s okay with me. There seems to be more room in the emergent church for such a perspective, which leads me to my final point:
I love the ambiguity of the emergent movement. I know many people cite this as a criticism of the emerging church, but let’s face it, life is ambiguous. I feel that anything with integrity, anything that is real, authentic, and honest in this life (even if it points to something beyond this life) should reflect that uncertainty.
Okay, that was probably more than Taylor was asking for, so please forgive my ramblings. All that to say that, in response to the question “is it PRIMARILY about worship, or evangelism, or mission, or spiritual formation?”, my answer is “yes” and “no.” My emergent pursuit has all of the above elements in it, but it is at the root simply a search for something real…whatever that means. What it does not mean is that those not engaged in the emergent conversation are somehow fake. It’s more subjective and personal. For me, the search for authenticity and integrity has led to this path, and I’m going to keep following my nose where it leads.
Thank you, Taylor, for your hard work. This is actually a response to your initial invitation. My name is Billy Watson. I am the associate pastor of St. Peter’s United Methodist Church in Katy, Texas. Shortly after coming to St. Peter’s about three years ago I was asked to revive the contemporary service which had folded before I arrived. I wasn’t very interested in a traditional contemporary service, and what has emerged as our “harbor” service (though I didn’t exactly realize it initially) is a result of my attempts at post modern or emergent worship.
I think the service is a strong one, but we struggle with attendance. St. Peter’s has a reputation as a traditional worship style church, so most of the members are here because they prefer traditional worship. That’s okay, because the service was meant to be evangelistic in nature…at least in the sense that the outside community was our target and we felt a church the size of St. Peter’s should offer the community other alternatives in terms of worship.
Several elements have influenced my interest in the emergent church:
Like Greg in Kentucky one of my influences is a strong sense of disillusionment with “contemporary” worship. When I hear the phrase “contemporary worship” several adjectives come to mind: shallow, feel-good, flashy, showy, consumer-oriented, fake, entertainment, pep rally—you get the idea. I enjoy traditional worship, but at the same time long for alternative approaches. Given the choice between contemporary, traditional, or even the two-headed beast known as “blended” worship, I would choose traditional. However, with the emergence (pun intended) of emergent worship there is another, meaningful alternative.
Music, though not the most important, is a vital aspect of and tool for worship. When I hear a song from Integrity/Hosanna/Vineyard/Hillsong-with admittedly a few notable exceptions-I cringe, and feel physically ill. This is not conducive to worship. Seriously, there is clearly a difference substantively, stylistically, lyrically, and in my opinion in terms of quality between what you typically hear at a contemporary worship service and what is coming from those on the forefront of emerging/post-modern/modern/ancient-future worship (i.e., Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, Matt Redman, and others). The music of the latter-again, this is my opinion-has a great deal more depth, and touches on the entire spectrum of human experience (not just the triumphalism Sara in Texas mentioned in her post.)
I grew up in the Episcopal Church, so for the first 15 years of my life I was immersed in very high, formal worship. Adjusting to worship in the Methodist Church, even what we Methodists consider “traditional” was not automatic for me. After making the adjustment I went through a period of rebellion against the formalism of my Episcopal upbringing, but I have since found my soul longs for the real meat of traditional elements such as liturgy, chanting, incense, etc. Why should I be surprised? All of these ancient modes and means of worship are part of the great cloud of witnesses that surrounds us. What was I thinking running from it?
Another strong attraction of emerging worship for me is the experiential element. Of course, as a worship leader it can become exhausting trying to imagine and incorporate new experiences. I welcome any ideas.
The language of the emerging conversation resonates with me. Confession time…I have an addiction…I buy more books than I could ever possibly read. Most of them I begin, read for a little while, then move on to something else. I am finding, though, that I get farther along and more deeply engaged in books shaped by the emergent conversation. Brain McLaren’s A Generous Orthodoxy was a frightening experience for me…it was as if he opened a window into my soul and wrote what he found.
I would describe myself theologically as conservative/evangelical/orthodox, however there are many with whom I share that label that I don’t necessarily want to be associated with. That might be a little self-righteous, but I know the feeling is mutual. It would be nice if I could just ignore the whole label thing, but let’s face it…we all have leanings one way or another and we’re only kidding ourselves to say otherwise. One thing I am grateful for is that I have experienced both sides of the theological spectrum in my own training, having attended a “liberal” college and a “conservative” seminary. I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of both camps first hand. The people who frighten me are those who have for the most part only been around others who share their point of view, and have only had to or chosen to interact with members of the other camp in the context of debate. These are the people, liberal or conservative, who KNOW they are right and the other person is wrong, regardless. I think I’m right, but I know I might be wrong, and that’s okay with me. There seems to be more room in the emergent church for such a perspective, which leads me to my final point:
I love the ambiguity of the emergent movement. I know many people cite this as a criticism of the emerging church, but let’s face it, life is ambiguous. I feel that anything with integrity, anything that is real, authentic, and honest in this life (even if it points to something beyond this life) should reflect that uncertainty.
Okay, that was probably more than Taylor was asking for, so please forgive my ramblings. All that to say that, in response to the question “is it PRIMARILY about worship, or evangelism, or mission, or spiritual formation?”, my answer is “yes” and “no.” My emergent pursuit has all of the above elements in it, but it is at the root simply a search for something real…whatever that means. What it does not mean is that those not engaged in the emergent conversation are somehow fake. It’s more subjective and personal. For me, the search for authenticity and integrity has led to this path, and I’m going to keep following my nose where it leads.
Friday, February 10, 2006
NW Iowa
My name is Mike Janes, and I'm the lead pastor of a new congregation formed after two churches (each averaging 100-120 in worship) united a little over a year ago. Our current worship service (traditional, sermon-at-the-end format) has as many people as our current space will allow us to have, so we're looking to add another service this fall. Our goal is to do something different than our current service. We don't want to/aren't in a position to go the contemporary route, and because we want to open some contemplative doors to people, emerging worship has some appeal (if we could figure out what it looks like). A couple of questions exist in our minds, such as whether our part of the world is ready for something like this and whether we've done adequate groundwork of building a contemplative/worship for God's sake not our own atmosphere within our own congregation to handle an ancient-future worship.
If anybody has suggestions of readings and/or churches already doing this worship in NW Iowa, SW Minnesota, South Dakota, or Nebraska, let us know!
Mike
If anybody has suggestions of readings and/or churches already doing this worship in NW Iowa, SW Minnesota, South Dakota, or Nebraska, let us know!
Mike
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Better questions instead of answers
Hello friends. My name is Matt and I'm one of the pastor at Crievewood UMC here in Nashville. We are beginning an emerging worship service in March called The Gathering on March 5. You can check out our site here. Admittedly I am nervous about this new endeavor because there is so much that is unknown right now. Who will come? Will this truly meet people's spiritual needs or will it just be another neat program?
Over the last year and a half our church has been involved in an intentional discernment process to figure out where God is leading us next. The Gathering is one of the directions we believe we are being led in. A few folks have said "we hope this will be the answer to the problems we've been having". It's my hope that instead of being an answer, or even a place where we try to provide answers (which always end up being cheap, if you ask me), it will be a place where we can learn to ask better questions about who God is and why we're here at all. I'll be sure to keep you updated on how this all plays out.
Grace and Peace,
Matt...
PS- Big golf clap for Taylor for setting this up.
Over the last year and a half our church has been involved in an intentional discernment process to figure out where God is leading us next. The Gathering is one of the directions we believe we are being led in. A few folks have said "we hope this will be the answer to the problems we've been having". It's my hope that instead of being an answer, or even a place where we try to provide answers (which always end up being cheap, if you ask me), it will be a place where we can learn to ask better questions about who God is and why we're here at all. I'll be sure to keep you updated on how this all plays out.
Grace and Peace,
Matt...
PS- Big golf clap for Taylor for setting this up.
Friday, February 03, 2006
Emerging Questions...
Companions,
First, thanks for all of you who have shared here so far. I want you to know and hope you feel that you are not out there alone, that you have real live support here in Nashville, and that, as you keep talking with one another, you are part of a larger family within the United Methodist Church that will be there for you as well-- both to listen, and to support and challenge you along the way.
The "connection" we United Methodists talk about isn't just about bureaucracies and structures. The structures are really infrastructure to help the real connections happen reliably over time. That real connection itself is our own investment of personal energy and attention we make in each other-- sometimes through the structures, and sometimes "offroad."
This blog is another structure for connection... but the connection itself is always ours to make.
With that in mind, I want to lift up some of the questions I've seen emerging from among the posts and comments that have been made so far and put them here in one place in a way that might help us continue to build connections with each other.
Carl asked: Have any of you had success or experience bringing the emerging church out into the public square?
I asked: 1) How are you addressing issues of integrating "younger emerging" folks and systems with the fuller church (both in terms of age and in terms of getting to know folks and organizing for mission and ministry). 2) How are you facilitating the full participation of the worshippers in song? and 3) My question is about what has gotten you interested in exploring "emerging worship"-- is it PRIMARILY about worship, or evangelism, or mission, or spiritual formation?
Beth asked: What have you found to be effective in making change in congregational worship from traditional to more multi-sensory modes-- talking about it and trying to change the system, or introducing changes into the larger existing system? And how did the process of change work (by either pathway) where you are?
Dave asked: Why is it that our church members feel such a sense of entitlement, with so little interest in evangelism? And behind that I think I'm hearing, How are you finding ways to help move people from "getting what THEY want" (me-focused toward "us toward God" focused) AND toward becoming evangelistic in their outlook and practice. (I use and here because I think these are really two different issues, though related).
Randy asked three things, really: 1) How do people best experience God's presence
in a world filled with visual stimulation and the need of many to
experience by "doing"? 2) How can the church help in that journey? AND 3)how many on this e-mail list will be attending the National Pastor's Conference in California later in February (especially the track on emergent worship) and for those attending, could we organize a chance to connect and talk?
Jonathan asked: Has anyone in this discussion started an "emergent
congregation" (for lack of a better term) within your existing traditional
or contemporary church? If so, what lessons can you pass along to us as we
try to avoid pitfalls, clashes, power struggles, etc.?
Winston shared these realities of a former ministry: Our church support just wasn't there attendance wise, though the church was behind us in other ways. We didn't have any clergy members working on the service, so it was just a core group of 3 of us running the show. We ended up discontinuing it due to the principals all having increased demands on us from work involving a lot of travel time, etc. Behind this I hear questions like: What are some models for getting effective support for the church to get an "emerging"ministry model not only started, but to make it sustainable? And if it's clear it's becoming difficult to sustain, what models are out there for either ending it in a healthy way or finding new support to give it new or better life? And do you have any leads for work along these lines in the Memphis TN area?
Let's keep connecting!
Peace in Christ,
Taylor Burton-Edwards
Director of Worship Resources
General Board of Discipleship
First, thanks for all of you who have shared here so far. I want you to know and hope you feel that you are not out there alone, that you have real live support here in Nashville, and that, as you keep talking with one another, you are part of a larger family within the United Methodist Church that will be there for you as well-- both to listen, and to support and challenge you along the way.
The "connection" we United Methodists talk about isn't just about bureaucracies and structures. The structures are really infrastructure to help the real connections happen reliably over time. That real connection itself is our own investment of personal energy and attention we make in each other-- sometimes through the structures, and sometimes "offroad."
This blog is another structure for connection... but the connection itself is always ours to make.
With that in mind, I want to lift up some of the questions I've seen emerging from among the posts and comments that have been made so far and put them here in one place in a way that might help us continue to build connections with each other.
Carl asked: Have any of you had success or experience bringing the emerging church out into the public square?
I asked: 1) How are you addressing issues of integrating "younger emerging" folks and systems with the fuller church (both in terms of age and in terms of getting to know folks and organizing for mission and ministry). 2) How are you facilitating the full participation of the worshippers in song? and 3) My question is about what has gotten you interested in exploring "emerging worship"-- is it PRIMARILY about worship, or evangelism, or mission, or spiritual formation?
Beth asked: What have you found to be effective in making change in congregational worship from traditional to more multi-sensory modes-- talking about it and trying to change the system, or introducing changes into the larger existing system? And how did the process of change work (by either pathway) where you are?
Dave asked: Why is it that our church members feel such a sense of entitlement, with so little interest in evangelism? And behind that I think I'm hearing, How are you finding ways to help move people from "getting what THEY want" (me-focused toward "us toward God" focused) AND toward becoming evangelistic in their outlook and practice. (I use and here because I think these are really two different issues, though related).
Randy asked three things, really: 1) How do people best experience God's presence
in a world filled with visual stimulation and the need of many to
experience by "doing"? 2) How can the church help in that journey? AND 3)how many on this e-mail list will be attending the National Pastor's Conference in California later in February (especially the track on emergent worship) and for those attending, could we organize a chance to connect and talk?
Jonathan asked: Has anyone in this discussion started an "emergent
congregation" (for lack of a better term) within your existing traditional
or contemporary church? If so, what lessons can you pass along to us as we
try to avoid pitfalls, clashes, power struggles, etc.?
Winston shared these realities of a former ministry: Our church support just wasn't there attendance wise, though the church was behind us in other ways. We didn't have any clergy members working on the service, so it was just a core group of 3 of us running the show. We ended up discontinuing it due to the principals all having increased demands on us from work involving a lot of travel time, etc. Behind this I hear questions like: What are some models for getting effective support for the church to get an "emerging"ministry model not only started, but to make it sustainable? And if it's clear it's becoming difficult to sustain, what models are out there for either ending it in a healthy way or finding new support to give it new or better life? And do you have any leads for work along these lines in the Memphis TN area?
Let's keep connecting!
Peace in Christ,
Taylor Burton-Edwards
Director of Worship Resources
General Board of Discipleship
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Kernersville, NC
Hello, all! This is my first blogging experience, so forgive me if I "violate the rules of blogging!"
Here at Main Street UMC in Kernersville, NC we have a book club that meets at the local Panera Bread. Unfortunately, they are an autonomous group, and some of their book selections are way out there. But, the ladies are all members of our church, and invite any visitors to the book club to attend worship.
We have had a praise & worship service going for 3 1/2 years now. It has not been the 'seeker service' I envisioned when I helped get it started. We are in the process now (under a new Sr. Pastor) of slowly converting the service. Getting lots of gripes from the current attenders, of course. Why is it that our church members feel such a sense of entitlement, with so little interest in evangelism?? (I guess if we could answer that, we'd all be bishops!!)
I'm glad to be a part of the blog. Thanks for doing this!
Here at Main Street UMC in Kernersville, NC we have a book club that meets at the local Panera Bread. Unfortunately, they are an autonomous group, and some of their book selections are way out there. But, the ladies are all members of our church, and invite any visitors to the book club to attend worship.
We have had a praise & worship service going for 3 1/2 years now. It has not been the 'seeker service' I envisioned when I helped get it started. We are in the process now (under a new Sr. Pastor) of slowly converting the service. Getting lots of gripes from the current attenders, of course. Why is it that our church members feel such a sense of entitlement, with so little interest in evangelism?? (I guess if we could answer that, we'd all be bishops!!)
I'm glad to be a part of the blog. Thanks for doing this!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)