Not next new thing

I agree with Taylor that emeregence cannot be seen as just something new like contemporary worship was or seeker services. This goes much deeper, deep enough, do I dare say, that could warm one's soul. I see it as a renewal with enough behind it to be compared to the Wesleyan Society movement of his day. It looks at the reign of God and the kingdom of God in a new way that hasn't been seen in many centuries and it is not as concerned with hierarchy as it is with misiology and the love of God being spread throughout the world in many different ways and not just a singular point of view.

I can't be at COR but my advisors from Sait Paul will be there, I am looking forward to hearing what goes on there and thank you for inviting me into your blog. This is a part of what Min work is going to be on.

Emerging, Post-Emerging, Integral... Theses for Discussion

A few links I found today-- from Aaron Flores' blog, theVoiz (http://thevoiz.typepad.com) via Alan Hartung's blog, A Different Perspective (http://www.alanhartung.com)...

http://thevoiz.typepad.com/weblog/2006/08/why_is_the_emer.html
http://thevoiz.typepad.com/weblog/2006/09/whats_emerging_.html
http://thevoiz.typepad.com/weblog/2006/09/the_emerging_gr.html
http://thevoiz.typepad.com/weblog/2006/09/is_postemerging.html

A few theses I find critical in these posts...
a) That "emergent" could end up being a form of arrested development...
b) That "emerging" can never be an endpoint, and could find itself frustrated in only starting things, never actually getting things moving
c) That "emergent" might be a handy label for marketing purposes ("the next big thing")
d) That to describe emerging as a "movement" is already to be moving backward into a more static state (since movements require more solidity than seems to be the case for whatever "emerging" is)
e) That the spiral of development (see the second and third links above) suggests a development beyond "emerging" that is substantially more relativistic-- and, I would note, the model employed suggests that such a development is "higher" or "better" than where we are now...
f) That at least some of the "ancient" pieces in "emerging" may be grafts rather than integral, and may be imposing a kind of traditionalist ethos that may be regressive rather than developmentally or missionally helpful
g) That "emerging" may be entirely incompatible with and not supportable by existing or any "institutional" structures without the latter essentially regressing and undermining the former...

I raise these not because I agree or disagree with them, but because I find them provocative, particularly in light of some of the questions that Joe Peabody has been raising about emerging and relativism in preparation for his presentation at COR in a few weeks... That, and there may be something in these ideas that one or more of you might want to take and run with for a kind of theological/ecclesiological exploration (or maybe even a panel?) for our gathering/book next year.

So if any of this interests you, or provokes you, or ignites your passion-- have at it!

Peace in Christ,

Taylor Burton-Edwards

Gathering your ideas... and steam!

Colleagues,

Several of you who've indicated interest in developing a workshop/presentation for our upcoming gathering have sent in your initial outlines for that. Thanks! I'm still awaiting a few more-- you know who you are... ; )

And our numbers here at emergingumc are continuing to grow almost daily now. Thanks to Mark Calhoun for a post to the GBOD website that has called attention to our blog and a good number of others. Thanks, too, to Shane over at wesleyblog who also hosts the Methodist Blogroll that now includes us.

We're also getting some more inter-agency attention here at GBOD. Several folks from the Division on Ministry with Young People have indicated strong interest in exploring ways we can partner together-- while being fully aware that "emerging" ISN'T the "next big thing to reach the next generation" or just or even primarily about youth and young adults-- but rather about missiology and ecclesiology and theology and liturgy that more fully embodies the possibilities of the kingdom of God wherever and among whomever it is found.

Thanks again for all you're doing and exploring. And always feel free to post such things here-- if your name is listed on the Team Members on the right side of this page, that means you can start your own posts here as well! This blog is yours, and ours... open space for exploration and conversation and planning.


Peace in Christ,

Taylor Burton-Edwards

Any news?

Howdy. I am all excited about the EmergingMethodists event. Any hint of a date yet? We are already scheduling into the next year, and I don't want to have any conflict of schedule. Thanks.