Is there anybody out there?
Point of interest: are there any congregations in SA that you consider to be "emergent" or "postmodern"?
I've been reading this tome my company published callëd "Die relevansie van die kerk", which is giving me a headache but also some insights, and I deeply desire to attend church again.
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I would like to think that our church is Emergent
Hi - I would like to think that our church is and has been emergent for 15 years now. I really battle with boxes and so have tried to steer away from saying this. My doctorate is exploring this zone. Check out our website - www.ridgewayministries.co.za
emergent congregations
Maybe this is a redundant question but what would an "emergent" or "postmodern" congregation look like?
I like the look of Peter's church [love the website!!! - can they do web development for me too ;-) ]
I think we (Coronation Avenue Methodist Church, Somerset West) are trying to be emergent/missional (I really get confused with all these labels) especially in our evening service but I could be wrong. I know we've still got a long way to go. I would certainly say that my preaching is emergent/emerging/missional in focus at all our services [and I regularly get into trouble because of it ;-) ]
Problem is we are a part of a bigger structure that is definitely not emerging and that's a big struggle and drawback.
tallskinnykiwi offers this (but I don't fully understand it): http://tallskinnykiwi.typepad.com/tallskinnykiwi/2006/02/what_i_mean_whe.html
wot say u all???
Emergent
I think emergent people make up an emergent church - wherever they are.
I think emergent people are even less confined than their predecessors to the old, often self affirming claimants to authority such as church and bible. I don't think emergent is limited to organisations that exist outside of conformity to the ancient or older ones - when they do they begin to play a little fast and loose with an ancient term "church" and start to just be emergent - or something else. When the 'bigger structure' of which they are a part starts to be emerging itself - well then emergent church has become church and the next round of prophetic banter begins - what will they call it? Divergent Church?
Emergent people have an especially prophetic attitude to those whose best answer to a difficult question is: "Because X said so!" Emergent preachers recognize that their task is to facilitate a transformative and engaging interaction with the truth of an ancient narrative that begins in Genesis, continues with us now and ends sometime after we're done...
And I'm thinking out loud again....
and now I have to go.
Phyllis Tickle - The Great Emergence
An/gus - you might find Phyllis Tickle interesting if you don't already know of her.
See http://www.thegreatemergence.com/VideoDiscussion
Emergent / Divergent
Hi Estel - there is anybody out there. Why not try Paarl Methodist? www.paarlmethodist.blogspot.com I'm sure we have room for you in our own chaotic way. Good luck with the tome and with finding a church.
Peter - Cool website, exciting church.
Steve - You ask my question.
I'm glad you did.
Because when I ask questions I normally have an answer in mind - and I'd bet you do too... so "I'll show you mine if..."
Here it is:
About an 'emergent church' I think
I don't think there should be such a thing as 'an emergent church'. I think there should be 'emergent people' and I think churches should have room for them, churches that don't, shouldn't have people. Emergent churches (established) are no longer emergent - just a little different and perhaps divergent.
When the emergent movement becomes an 'emergent church' I think it is playing fast and loose with the term 'church' which is by (my) definition (and I think I'm clever) is an assembly of misfits who disagree about a lot of things but love Jesus and each other. Emergents gathered together without the conservatives and the boring structures against which to rail simply become Divergents - they are no longer emerging, they have arrived and from within their ranks I pray that God raises a new group of emergents who will ask difficult questions.
So what happens when an emergent like you (steve) or me get a hold of the reigns of power of one of our mainline dyed in the wool churches?
Dope.
We have become what we tried to emerge from only we can't see it anymore because as usual we are (we think we are) right and powerful.
And I reserve the right not to make sense because there is a 7 week old in my house.
I posted two comments...
Just so you know I'm not schitzo - comment 1 didn't appear 'cos I wasn't logged in... then comment 2 came through 'cos I was logged in. Then comment 1 came through 'cos someone approved it.
Interesting and thanks for your patience
gus
schitzo test
Yep I approve of them both!
1. Which comment is the real comment and which is the poser?
2. Are you Gus or Angus?
3. Are you eating a cucumber or draining a beerbottle in your avatar?
Be careful how you answer - this is a trick question crafted in the dank backrooms of the emergent post-inquisatorial consipacy...
I (We) am (are) Gus or Angus
I (We) am (are) Gus or Angus - my (our) friends call me (us) legion.
* All my (our) comments are real and take on a life of their own as soon as they have left my (our) keyboard.
* I (we) am (are) draining a bottle of De Leeuwen Jagt and Eating Lindt Orange Chocolate, its my (our) glutton and drunkard pose - trying to be like Jesus - or sell that image.
* And there is something in me (us) that would like to have been on the giving end of the inquisition - it scares me (us) - but I (we) own it; I (we) would often like to draw and quarter those who disagree with me (us) on matters of Theology; and I'm (We're) a big guy (big guys) so its safer for me (us) to work online.
Just kidding (or so we say)
Gus
.. out THERE ... out there ... out t..
Here we are in all our provisional glory.
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