Emerging Africa

Why does this site does not engender much enthusiam? Has it had its time, and we need to move onto another platform, or just get on with it in the real world?

Any comments (still) welcome...

I have just reviewed Muzi Cindi's book "Thinking about God, Talking about God".

God appeared to Muzi in 2007 with the news that "God does not exist". The result, as you might imagine, is going to be a little different to the normal epiphany. But, nonetheless, he still counts himself an (a-theist) Jesus following evangelical. Put Muzi in your pipe and smoke him...

Hello almal
I just want to tell the world, that according to Deborah at discerningtheworld2 I (Nic Paton) am a "lying Trickster", a "Wolf in Sheeps Clothing and a TRAVESTY of a genuine Christian".

Dear friends,
We are less than a week away from our gathering in South Africa. I wanted to
touch base with those who have been invited to stimulate our conversation and
share a couple of things with you.

Those who will be assembled for The Gathering are on a trajectory of
transformation in their communities and countries. They are working for
something more than the salvation of the soul, but investing in the restoration of
all things. They are working for change on the ground, be it in Kenya,
Mozambique, South Africa or the Dominican Republic. They understand that the
work they do is their response to the Gospel imperative, to bring good news to

With the Amahoro gathering coming up next week, I would like to detail a few thoughts in advance. These pertain to 3 risks we face when attempting to enter the "Reform" space in a post-colonial context.

1 - Missing the Rendezvous
As Africa experiences things the West is (to some extent) moving beyond (economic progress, individual freedoms, increased literacy, digital technology, consumerist opportunity) and starts to occupy the space vacated, the West rediscovers connectedness, cosmology, and relationship, which is read by many Africans as the old ways which have held them back. The meeting point can be missed because we do not find the right trajectory, the right combination or emphasis of potentially sharable values.

2 - A new, improved patrony

With all thanks to Jon Birch at "the ongoing adventures of ASBO Jesus", a little ASBOJ09 worship retrospective:

Want to Worship

Binge Worshipping

Attire

Service Dodging

I've written a post on my blog entitled "OM : re-imagining the Logos" which further explores the syncretism we have been discussing recently.

If you are interested in interfaith explorations, looking for some new approaches, or just sniffing out heresy, then it's for you.

Cheers
The Loudmouth.

The 3rd annual Amahoro conference (to be held at Cyara, Magaliesberg, Gauteng, South Africa) is just over one month away. If the previous conferences are anything to go by, it will have a significant impact for those involved in the post-colonial and emerging conversation.

I want to lay a few foundations for discussion, representing no-one in particular, in order to bolster awareness of what this conversation is attempting to do.

The theme this year is Reformation. Themes are good - they provide a focus for reflection and for liturgy.

For the last 6 months my main focus has been "The Sout Project" a collection of emergent community songs. I plan to have it generally released in or around September 2009.

What I see as unique is how these songs have evolved from a faith journey in which my view of God has been radically revisioned. The cul-de-sacs of previous years have fallen away and new vision a the future, away from the Modern worldview, has come into being.

This awakening is marked by Inclusion, Incarnation, and Liturgy. An Inclusive God of Mercy who makes a tent in our midst, is worthy of a new way of worship, a project of liturgy fit for a new era in human life.

In response to the question Does the emerging africa website have a future?, I suggest we start by getting a view of what we (whoever we are) have actually done (and thought), by writing a summary paragraph of our top two blog posts and/or our top projects, of the last 6 months.

1. It is about what has happened not just going to happen.
2. It is about action not just concepts.
3. It is a summary, as we tend to be present to details which remain quite invisible to others.

For example,

1. "My struggle for community"
2. "My monastic movie"
3. "My new marriage"
4. "My major church bust up"
5. "My big epiphany"
6. "The best book I ever read"
7. "The most beautiful piece of music I have heard"

Keep it real.