Emerging Africa Site: Modeling what we say
My last blog entry discussed some ways in which the emerging conversation in South Africa has become many of the things we criticize the mainstream church for being, and that the emerging Africa site doesn’t represent the desired or actual emerging Africa conversation. At the end of that entry some people asked, what should we do? Arthur made the great suggestion of taking the conversation further, with people over coffee, with people who might not have access to this blog or who might not already be part of the conversation.
In this post I’d like to suggest a couple of very practical changes I suggest could happen to this site (some of which I already discussed with Roger!).
1-move ‘white-male-philosophical-conversation’ to a separate, linked page (face it, out of all the people posting on this site two have been women, and about as many have been anything other than white). I’m not saying that this conversation needs to stop (as Arthur mentioned, it has a lot of value). I am saying that this conversation is far from representing the Emerging Africa conversation and could move off the opening page.
2-put stories of people throughout Africa who are actually doing emergent things right on the opening page
3-include a link where people can read up about what has happened at Emerging Africa (experiential) events
4-Include a link where we can discuss specific challenges to incorporating ‘emerging doing’ in our churches or communities and ways of overcoming these challenges
On this second point, this may require us moving out of our comfort zones and going to talk to people (refugees in the inner-city, for example) and finding out their stories. On the fourth point, we can address Mart_the_X’s concern, that all of us are emerging from different things and into different things.
What other things could we change about this site so that it models what we say we’re about?
- Cori's blog
- 1184 reads
Stay updated
Who's been visiting?
Comments
What your talking about isnt emergent...
I am about the post-modern conversation and resent having to be pushed to another page just because I'm a white male. Would my words be of more or less value because of my colour? I think that who ever benefits from this conversation should in-fact participate in it. South Africa is not a post-modern society, in-fact the post modern culture is small fraction of the complexity that makes us south africa. While the largest demographic of our country is by far black, we can not presume that they are post-modern ( and even post-colonial) at that, those who are post-modern will engage in the post-modern discussion irrelevant of color or how even how people post (I don't think that story telling is the post-modern format of communication but may be an African one). 'Emergent' is a post-modern struggle to work out church for the new 'emerging' culture is it not? . The problem we might have is white guilt and I am not sure how we deal with that...I am a post-modern and want a post-modern conversation...maybe their should be a new site that is about a new way to be church in Africa instead of trying to change emergent into that?
Defining definitions
You bring up some fantastic and important points here, and it is such a pity that you didn't leave your name! I think the issue here is one of definitions and understandings. Perhaps we are all at this site with different expectations and ideas about what it is and what it should be.
I think one thing to highlight is that the name suggests that this is not a South African conversation, but an African one.
I'm a little uncertain as to what you mean when you say that not all Africans are postmodern or postcolonial. To my understanding both of these describe the times we live, rather than something one person is and another isn't. Perhaps I've misunderstood the terminology, but as I far as I've tried to figure it out, all Africans live in countries that used to be ruled by colonial powers and are now no longer ruled by post-colonial powers, and thus are now post-colonial.
I'm not entirely sure whether the emerging Africa conversation is intended to be a postmodern conversation as much as it is intended to be a conversation of 'seeking to love our world in the Spirit of Jesus Christ' (as the blurb at the top of the opening page suggests). Some words that come to mind are relevant, authentic, and again, referring to the blurb, action-oriented and crossing boundaries (cultural, geographical, etc).
As far as my understanding of both postmodernism (having completed post-graduate studies in postmodern literature) and the emerging conversation worldwide goes, story-telling as a means of imparting knowledge is a key characteristic.
However, this anonymous comment has let me think that perhaps something in what I said, or something in mytone in some way led at least one reader (probably more) to feel that their contribution was not valued and that their involvement in this conversation was at threat. I apologise tremendously for bringing across this unintended message - anyone who knows me knows that my greatest fear in speaking out is hurting someone or causing any kind of damage and I had to muster all the little courage I had to write the above post (and the one before it) which has been on my heart and mind for a very long time. That courage has now trickled away as waves of fear that I have indeed offended, hurt or caused damage wash over me!
I suggest that we continue this conversation and explore on this site what everyone thinks this site is about and the emerging Africa conversation, for that matter... Perhaps that would be a good starting point before any further action.
I'm back -interested in your points Cori
Yes, I've been tooo much on Facebook for my good, I reckon, but your post Cori has a few valuable points that I echo. I am interested in this conversation because I want to learn what God is doing, wherever. I agree that we need to engage critically on what seems to be the '(South) African Emerging scene' etc.
My sense, at least at this stage is that there are currently collective identities, Cori, 'emerging' that defy the old fault lines. Maybe I am totally wrong, but the defining of who an African is need to be problematized, in the light of the colonial legacy, which we cannot turn back, nor ignore. being emerging is in my view owning up to this legacy, the good, the bad and the ugly. Africans therefor are white as well, but of course, not all whites in SA or somewhere else in of Africa is or want to be associated with or defined as African. (BTW: I'm a Coloured-African)
On the other hand, I agree that some 'emergent' conversations tend to be amongst a close knit group of friends (guys), who are like-minded and caress one another- it's not so much different from the powerful mission circles (GCOWE, Joshua 2000) and denominational circles, where it depends on who you know and how much $$ you can put down, that counts.
post-colonial / post-modern
How 'modern' is Africa? Where is she located in the post-modern continuum? Can she even be described as 'post-colonial' when so much of that legacy remains?
If the Conversation is to go anywhere in Africa, continental issues will need to be engaged. These include such religious giants as the Charismatic movement and African Indigenous Churches, both of whom entrench values (by default) that post-moderns are questioning.
At the same time, Africa offers so much cultural overlap with the needs of the Emerging church (e.g. relationship in community) that it seems heinous to limit the conversation to certain race groups. The question of African identity is highly meaningful to various minorities and is probably best met by re-examining the relationship of gospel to culture. (YWAM's work in 'redeeming' indigenous peoples raises some good questions.)
The challenge of engaging in a conversation that resonates among - let's face it - relatively few African communities is, nevertheless, real and necessary, if only because times they are a'changin... Well done, Cori, for bringing these issues into the foreground.
Post-blogging blues
OK, I've been in sort of fleeting touch with various people in an electronic sort of way, but now I'm thinking it might be quite nice to meet some of these people face to face, for coffee, a chat, something, because when reading blogs you never really know where people are coming from, and some of us live in Gauteng, and perhaps we could get together, no strings attached.
Hey Cori, I just want to add
Hey Cori,
I just want to add that I think there's sort a character choice that needs to be made in all of us before any of this can really become effective. You see we need to decide for ourselves, in our hearts, what we will do with that which God lays in front of us. Until we decide how we will act on that which we receive, whether revelation or instruction or whatever, we will most probably not do anything.
I also need to repent. Many times I find myself engaging a conversation with no real Kingdom motive to it. Sometimes I like the sound of my voice, or the cleverness of my arguments, sometimes I just like being right. I still pray to God that He will refine my motives and desires. That He will help me to be pure in motive and conversation. These days I try not to engage in any conversation that has not been tested by His fire. And yes, sometimes I'm just plain confused and I need to talk something through with others and for that I believe there is space, but for a long time I was so impressed by my rational cognitive ability that I would purposefulle engage someone just to show them how much I know or how little they knew. For some screwed up reason I found it good that I could confuse others about their faith.
When did we start to make our intellect our foundation? I mean we have the Spirit of Life in us, shouldn't we be leaning more on Him?
Anyways, I sense the purity in your heart and in your statements and I want to honour you for that. Do not be afraid of confronting unrighteousness when God shows it to you. It is an inherently prophetic action, of God, and if you keep love and the Kingdom as your measures the Lord will do the rest.
Be blessed!
well, let me make a contribution to a global conversation
Not around that much lately, but I read your previous post on this, and maybe I'll add my 2cents in a few short comments.
I see the emerging conversation currently theologically running on two legs.
1) Re-thinking who Jesus is for us
2) Re-thinking our mission in the world
Nr 1 tend to get us into all kinds of philosophical conversations, since we need to work through hermeneutics, a hell of a lot of dogma, tred on eggs sometimes, since for many this is still a very sensitive topic, and rethink how we read the Bible.
If the conversation stay at this, we would anyway be missing Jesus, I think, since the mission to the world (however you want to formulate this) has been so central to the teaching of Jesus. We would be hopping around on one leg.
Nr 2 also involves a lot of rethinking, since most of us had a very narrow view on mission.
The third part of the discussion, that of how we do church, is just that for the most part, a conversation of changing an environment most of us have become uncomfortable with.
Now, I've been saying for a while now (although I haven't posted it on this blog) that we need to recognize the contribution that a South African conversation (or an African conversation if you want to) can make in a global emerging conversation. One of these contributions I believe is to contribute something of the realities of social injustice which those in first world countries are talking about.
So, I don't really care where Roger move the ‘white-male-philosophical-conversation’ (or maybe rather, simply that part of the conversation which centres on the disillusionment of finding out that maybe the way in which we formulated our faith might be wrong), but if emergentafrica is to make contribution in the global emerging conversation, then we don't need another emergentvillage site. But, the white-male-philosophers might gain from this. This might form the way you think about mission, and in the process form the way you are thinking about Jesus, which, the way I read some of the most prominent emerging writers, would put you right in the centre of emerging conversation? But what do I know, maybe I'm missing something?
Lastly, a comment on the whole post-modern idea. If post-modern grew out of disillusionment with a modern worldview, we need to seriously rethink the possibility that those coming from a modern worldview, even if born into a postmodern worldview, are going to work out this new kind of thinking without seriously listening to those who are totally different. This is not limited to those coming from an African worldview, but maybe that is part of the contribution we can make in the global post-modern conversation.
Fact is, the fact that we are doing this conversation from a blog is currently limiting it to mostly white South Africans. So one practical thought. Roger, if we want this sight to become more accesible to others, keep the size to a minimum. I have a feeling that most of the people in South Africa just coming into the internet thing now, are working with either slow or limited bandwidth. I could be wrong, but if it's true, and I have a feeling you'd know better than I would, let's keep it to a minimum.
So that's a few thoughts. Thanx initiating this Cori, and I'll keep my ‘white-male-philosophical-conversation’ on my own blog:-)
blogging at mycontemplations.wordpress.com
Viva Cobus!
I'd add a 3rd "leg": allowing our eschatalogically-shaped mission to shape how we do/be "church".
Oh. Bugger. You've added that in later anyway ;)
I don't think I'm doing to drop the "white-male-philosophical-discussion" area of the site (because, for one, it's just so damn funny!) but maybe these 3 legs are a good way to guide the discussion.
Just a clarification question, Cobus - when you say "keep the size to a minimum" do you mean the download size of the website (or something else?)? Btw, Telkom is about to be forced by government to cut their internet prices by 66%, which means cheaper access across the board... :)
white-male-philosophical-discussion
Roger,
Regarding the mirth that the afore-metioned discourses engender. I am glad to see that you can laugh at yourself!
Marius
Chinese wisdom
Confucious say, he who can laugh at self will never run out of good jokes!
internet
Yes, that's what I meant, download size. But if Telkom are going to cut the prices, that's great!
Oh, and on eschatology, I didn't really touch upon that. I did touch on missiology a lot, but left eschatology out of it for now. Not that I think it's not important, I think it's all-important, but something which I'm still pondering. Maybe eschatology is really at the heart of the conversation! Somehow it's linked with everything else... anyhow, this wasn't really the topic was it.
Eschatology
Well, if we are to have a "mission-shaped church" then we need an "eschatalogically-shaped mission"! Since missional ecclesiology is the centre of this conversation, then eschatology is just as important. My short eschatalogical view: tikkun olam: putting the world to rights.
eschatology chat
my short eschatological view is :
the future is a design problem.
i used to think the e word was all about the rapture: escaping suffering.
now i think it is to do with understanding ultimate grace while we are on this earth.
suggestion
Maybe for starters we can just create another blog category specifically about "emerging in Africa", or something, and boost the category for a while... asking people to post some thoughts on what such a category could mean?
blogging at mycontemplations.wordpress.com
Post new comment