Moving Forward with Emergent Village
This letter was sent out today (along with this video) to the friends of Emergent Village, detailing our vision and hope for the future. -
Greetings!
You may remember back in April that a number of people invested in Emergent Village gathered in Washington, D.C., to discuss the future of this conversation. In May that group of 24 shared our stories from the weekend and expressed our hopes for what is to come. With the previous EV leadership ready to step down, this was a prime opportunity to take stock of where Emergent Village has been over the past decade. Over the past few months those of us who gathered in D.C. have been discerning carefully and thoroughly where God is calling us together. Though we are by no means finished dreaming for the future of the Village, here’s our summary of the process thus far.
In our recent conversations we distinguished four recurring emphases to guide the way we structure the Village: collaboration, distribution, transparency and localization. We want to hear what you are doing, connect you with others, open up channels of communication between diverse voices, and highlight the powerful and creative places of emergence happening in our backyards. And guess what? All of them involve YOU.
Emergent Village has always centered on relationships that find their common ground in seeking new, creative and sustainable ways of following Jesus, and that create glimpses of the present and coming Kingdom. As we move ahead, we want to continue to create intentional means of connecting people. We’ve been describing this intentionally relational space as the Village Green. The Village Green will take on many forms: gatherings and events, local cohort meetings and conversations, book groups, web resource sharing, news updates and more. In all instances, the Village Green is a generative environment where missional friendships are nourished.
For the Village Green to flourish, it needs YOU to ignite that generative energy at the local and grassroots level. The Village Green is open for planting seeds, throwing parties, living justly, discussing new ideas, connecting with new people, creating music and art and poetry, and yes, even sitting around discussing theology. As a way of encouraging, organizing and advancing these efforts, we’ve created eight working groups around the things we are most passionate about. A number of Villagers have already found their way to these groups and have started conversations about what the future of the Village Green looks like from there. And now it’s your turn to do the same. This is YOUR Village. We invite you to jump in on one or more of these groups by contacting the team point person(s) and contributing to the planning, the dreaming and the doing. If you think we’ve missed something or just feel like adding something new, let us know by contacting any of the people listed below.
Here are the working groups:
Arts: The Village has always been a place of creativity, and we want to continue in that direction by supporting, networking and highlighting artists of all kinds in the Village. If you would like to help foster arts on the Green, contact Troy Bronsink (troybronsink@mac.com) or Makeesha Fisher (makeesha@gmail.com).
Cohorts: In many ways, cohorts are the heart of the Village. This is a great on-ramp for people to get involved in the conversation, make new friends and discuss new ideas. If you want to help organize and resource our network of cohorts, contact Sarah Notton (sarahnotton@gmail.com) or Mike Clawson (mike.clawson@gmail.com).
Communications: Our relationships will only be as strong as our communication. So, a team of folks have been invited to steward our venues of communication to make sure that they are open, consistent, and empowering others. There will plenty of ways to help us spread the word around the Village and beyond. Already you’ll notice the fresh look and feel of the Emergent/C. If your gifts might serve this team, contact Tim Snyder (tksnyder@gmail.com)
Events: As a generative friendship, Emergent Village hopes to promote face-to-face interaction around compelling and creative ideas through a number of events. It has been part of our practice in the past to encourage Villagers to attend at least one event per year to sustain and grow relationships. If you want to help dream and implement future events, contact Randy Buist (randybuist@comcast.net) or Anthony Smith (postmodernegro@gmail.com).
Justice: One of the clear themes that came out of our time together in April was our common desire to see justice embodied in our communal life together and fostered in our individual lives, and to bring more stories of justice to the table. If you want to help foster our emphasis on justice, contact Kelly Bean (bean.kelly@gmail.com) or Wendy Johnson (Wendy.J@episcopalmn.org).
Resources: The Village Green is a great place to share ideas, and a wonderful place of conversation for Jesus Way followers to find encouragement and support. Through articles, books, podcasts, and lots of other mediums, we are all invited to share our collective wisdom for the greater good of the Kingdom. Contact Mike Stavlund (mikestavlund@gmail.com) or Brittian Bullock (brittianbullock@gmail.com) to help resource the Green.
Village Council: To help coordinate the efforts between these eight areas and to encourage the conversation even further into this next season of Emergent, the group from D.C. selected six people to serve on the new Village Council. The Village Council also makes up the Board of Directors for EV’s non-profit purposes and will handle some of the organizational necessities of EV. VC members will serve no more than two consecutive years. This year, the Village Council members are: Melvin Bray (melvinbray@gmail.com), Troy Bronsink (troybronsink@mac.com), Julie Clawson (julieclawson@gmail.com), Dwight Friesen (quest@scn.org), Eliacin Rosario-Cruz (eliacin@gmail.com) and Danielle Shroyer (danielle@journeydallas.com). How we choose future Village Councils is still yet to be determined, but we look forward to inlcuding more of you in this process down the road.
Web: The EV website and other digital media venues provide a virtual space for the Village Green in between our face to face encounters. The web also provides access to resources and offers a place of connection for newcomers. If you have ideas about supporting our virtual Village, contact Jon Irvine (jonirvine.com@gmail.com) or Michael Toy (the.michael.toy@gmail.com).
Thanks to ten years of dedication, passion, and vision, the soil on the Village Green is rich. We’ll do all we can to create and maintain this generative space because we are convinced that we’re far better together than we are apart. After all, that’s the definition of emergence—the collective becomes more than simply the sum of its parts. And isn’t that what this Kingdom is all about? So, fellow Villagers, we have only one question for you: What will YOU do on the Village Green?
Sincerely,
Danielle Shroyer, Melvin Bray, Troy Bronsink, Julie Clawson, Dwight Friesen, and Eliacin Rosario-Cruz
Tags: Emergent Village
September 10th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Opening my mouth again right after I said I was closing it must really thrill your hearts, but rest assured I am not here to spew venom. Granted, I feel a certain amount of contemptuous impatience at this whole imaginary ‘conversation thingie’ you pass off as a reasonable facsimile of Christianity, and your blind political correctness brings back some choice memories of disciplining my very ADD 2-year-old; but despite the lovely words you just stated about “the kingdom becoming more than it’s parts, and isn’t that what it’s all about?” I find myself incredulous that none of you–despite your proudly flaunted degrees–seems to have any idea that your entire lives, belief systems, political values and even the 1.8 number of children you will have is not a reflection of God working through pop culture and this ‘marvelous conversation’–it’s all just a predictable demographic formula!
Over the years I’ve learned to trust the information that my own gift of ADD brings to my attention and I can tell you that as a gifted artist and musician I have often longed for a spiritual place to connect with other artists–but ‘emerging’ doesn’t seem like a word that’s used to express our individuality and how we can best glorify our creator with our unique giftedness–it sounds more like an ad for ‘Big Brother’ or the ‘Borg.’
September 10th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
I’d enjoy learning more about your art and music and how you choose to use your artistic gifts to glorify God, Regina. I mean that sincerely.
September 10th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Really? I’m not quite sure I trust your sincerity, you are, after all, a woman. While I admit I came in as an agressor and am fully aware that my exchange/interaction here could have been a script for another Die Hard flick, I was mildly impressed with Pastor Becky Robbins-Penniman–and took my deserved lumps somewhat graciously.
There is another story here you don’t know and a good part of my animosity for the creators and participators of this site has to do with a friend of mine who was treated rather abominably here. She would not want me to tell her story as she needs neither your sympathy nor my protection, and I would not be at all surprised to hear her story on a larger scale some day. However, I will admit that I still harbor some residual anger…..could you tell?
Musically, I am a classical pianist with decent improv skills and some writing ability. I am currently rewriting some old hymns in a unorthodox way. I am hesitant to explain the stylization as I have not heard it done before and as it was my son’s idea would not someone to ‘steal’ it before I’m finished. What started as a seeminglly hilarious prank has turned into something magical and moving….
Well, I now feel completely naked in a place where I usually wear armor and I’m distinctly uncomfortable. I think I need to go check my ammo…or something. Thanks for the olive branch Debbie J.
September 11th, 2009 at 5:31 am
I think your music project is deightful and much needed. You are right to protect your concept in its infancy, but I hope you will make it available once it is complete. I love the way you describe the process. There is nothing quite like the delight of that creative interchange with God, is there?
I always wanted to play piano, but was not allowed to take lessons when I was younger. So I tried taking lessons along with my teenage daughter last year. Once past the mortifcation of beng a middle-aged woman playing the same songs as grade school children, I also found magic in the hymns and classical pieces. Unfortuntely, my peripheral neuropathy did not let me continue. Enjoy your gift, Regina, and please share it with those of us who need it so much.
P.S. You can restock the ammo if you want, but I’m unarmed. We have no quarrel as far as I know. Even if we did, I would not purposely hurt you. You don’t appear naked to me – just dressed as yourself. Thanks for the peek at the fragile beauty beneath the armor. Somehow I knew it would be there.
September 11th, 2009 at 8:22 am
Debbie. I know a little about your condition and it seems that you were very brave to try it in the first place. The woman I know who has it suffers a great deal of pain, as well as a loss of muscle control. Not fun.
I used to teach piano to dults and know that there is no shame in playing the same songs as the kids! Unfortunately, I wasn’t a good teacher and I no longer inflict my sorry teaching ability on the unsuspecting public. I did find out that I am a good listener and that music has a power to heal; I will sometimes play my own music for people and am told it relieves pain–both emotional and physical. There are few places other than the occasional wedding or our family gatherings where I perform anymore. I was the church pianist in a large church for several years and I miss playing for choir and that huge sound of the music coming back to me–I loved it and I miss it. Now, In the summer evenings I open my windows and play my songs for the neighborhood. They seem to like it–at least there are no rotten tomatoes stuck to the side of my house!
My boys are all grown up now which frees up my time; instead of wallowing in loneliness I have started a small business–I’m a designer and I make one-of-a-kind clothing items out of vintage Japanese kimono. Old ladies with way too much money buy most of them but I get the odd teenager who saves her money for something fabulous. So I need to get to work! Thanks for your interest and your graciousness.
I’ll catch you again sometime.
September 11th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
I enjoy listening to my daughter plinking around on the piano and to the lady down the street practicing her saxophone on the front porch. Wish I could walk through your neighborhood and hear you play. And I hope someday you will again experience the joy of playing for a choir. Somewhere there has to be a church that is missing the creative gifts you possess in such abundance, one that will know how to value both those gifts and you. (I’m confident that God likes to repurpose quality materials, too.)
Have a peaceful and productive weekend!
September 12th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Hello,
http://www.emergingwomen.us – da best. Keep it going!
Have a nice day