Andy passes along this blog reference for our attention — http://www.emergentvillage.us/weblog/being-emergent-woman — as an example of what younger church leaders are thinking, in this case within the emergent movement. He also suggests that this blog post that he’s recommending could use our support. I think it’s a great idea.
Comment by Janet Macor
September 21, 2006 @ 1:18 pm
Hello,
I am curious - why is “emergent” an important description/term to use whether for a woman or the church?
In Christ Jesus,
Janet
Comment by Kathryn
September 21, 2006 @ 7:16 pm
Maybe the word “emergent” means “coming out of traditional churches, and emerging into a different way of experiencing church.”
Comment by Craighton
September 23, 2006 @ 8:35 am
“Emergent” is a term for a new group of churches that describe themselves as targeting postmodern culture. It’s the latest thing since “seeker sensitive” churches. Sometimes called emerging churches, which is a wider, more inclusive term, this new Christian Church movement likes to challenge traditional church hierarchies and is highly decentralized itself. The beliefs they are known for are that all believers are missionaries who use the gifts that God has given, that Biblical stories reflect truth better than propositional statements or theological reductions (rigid orthodoxies), that theological differences between liberal and conservative are artificial and unfortunate, that Jesus’ teaching that one should love God, His creation, and one’s neighbor, and reconcile the three should be preeminent, that Biblical interpretation can be varied and impacted by the reader’s cultural context, and that the church’s role in society is holistic, personal and experiential. They are suspicious of absolutist, cross-cultural authorities.
See the Emerging Church entry in Wikipedia for a more expansive definition; for background information, read Brian D. McLaren’s A New Kind of Christian; see emergingchurch.info for a gateway to the emerging church blogosphere; and see zoecarnate.com for an extensive list of Christian exotic movements and fringe alternatives to structured denominations.
Comment by Mike Morrell
September 24, 2006 @ 8:19 pm
Hi all,
It’s great to make your “e-quaintence”! I’ve been following your excellent work for years now, ever since your own Mimi Haddad shared at Soularize a few years back. I am proud to list CBE on zoecarnate.com.
I was wondering if I could lend my voice to this conversation. What Kathryn said about we emerging types “coming out of traditional churches, and emerging into a different way of experiencing church” is actually wonderfully succint. We are friends and followers of Jesus from all across the church and theological spectrum–house churchers and East Orthodox, “progressive” and “conservative”–who feel that God is doing something fresh and anciently-rooted in our postmodern context.
As far as whether or not we’re “younger”–well, yes and no. Many of us are (I’m 26). And many of us aren’t. Regardless of age, though, most of us feel that the blessing of having our sisters in Christ fully participate in the life of God’s beloved community has been withheld for far too long. And so…we converse, and dream, and practice for a renewed creation reflecting the reality of unity in Christ. I hope it is in this direction we are emerging.
Comment by Lori
September 27, 2006 @ 2:24 am
I know that hardline fundamentalists hate the emergent church–which is why I like it. :)
A couple of notes. One, I don’t think Mars Hill qualifies as emergent church under the above definition. (”We are not liberals. We are not egalitarians.”)
Secondly, I saw an article on that “largest Christian website” a while back about the emergent church. The author hastened to reassure his audience, “Don’t worry. Many emergent churches still believe in male-only leadership.” So the emergent church is not threatening as long as they embrace patriarchy. Go figure.
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