The Future of Emergent
So this weekend a group of about 20 emerging church folk are heading to Washington D.C to discuss the future direction of Emergent Village. This is a time to brainstorm, to share visions, and to plan. For more info about this gathering see this post at Emergent Village, but here is the core -
“Our goal in these couple of days together is not to pontificate on the elusive question of “What is Emergent?” Instead, we will seek to create an environment where we can begin to see what form this organism wants to have. What do we need to let go of in our assumptions, and what is waiting to be born? What is already happening naturally that we should organize ourselves to support? Where is the life and how does that life get nurtured? What is important about the past ten years that needs to be conserved? What should be left behind?”
Since obviously the small group of us gathering do not represent the whole of the emerging conversation, we need your help. What are your thoughts? How would you answer those question? What ideas for the future do you have?
Please add your thoughts here and join your voice to ours as we enter into this conversation.
April 23rd, 2009 at 8:19 am
“Our goal in these couple of days together is not to pontificate on the elusive question of “What is Emergent?” Instead, we will seek to create an environment where we can begin to see what form this organism wants to have. What do we need to let go of in our assumptions, and what is waiting to be born? What is already happening naturally that we should organize ourselves to support? Where is the life and how does that life get nurtured? What is important about the past ten years that needs to be conserved? What should be left behind?”
Naturally, I agree that there needs to be some sort of organizing force… board or whatever. But should EV not be about supporting cohorts and being a warehouse or thinktank of ‘emerging’ resources?
My greatest fear is that EV or ‘emerging’ will become the ‘label’ or brand name that it has said it will never be. I live in the south and although I would LOVE to find a ‘church’ of like-minded people, I think that this would be the death of the subversive nature of emerging.
I love my cohort, even if I can’t get to it but a few times a year. If anything, I would like to see support for additional cohorts in surrounding areas. I have to drive almost an hour to Charlotte. I would love to be a part of starting another cohort, but feel I lack the ‘knowledge’ because I’ve not been through seminary or because I’m not a college grad. I think that this is totally a self-diagnosed problem and not one that has been imposed on me by fellow cohort members… but look at the leadership. They are all highly credentialed.
So maybe some ‘support’ at the local level, you know, just helping to jump start cohorts outside of the big cities… Just an idea.
I hope all goes well and look forward to hearing all about it.
April 28th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
What is the difference between church and cohort?
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