The Emergent Church

[Andrew J. Pottenger]

I keep hearing about something called "the emerging church movement," and I'm very curious about it.

Any opinions? I've been to so many churches who try to be contemporary or post-modern and either remain stuck in the 70's and '80s, or are simply trying very, very hard to be "cool," both of which are extremely disappointing. I'm wondering if this emerging church movement is a genuine movement of the ancient message successfully being updated for a new generation, or if it's simply another example of people trying to make Christianity "cool."

[Hans Deventer]

Andrew,

I have been reading some books of Brian McLaren and he is part of the "emergent" movement. Has a lot to do with post modernism. I don't think it is merely trying to be "cool". Some useful links:

http://www.emergentvillage.com/Site/index.htm

http://www.anewkindofchristian.com/

[Jeremy D. Scott]

Hey Andrew-

I'd second Hans' encouragement to read up on Brian McLaren.

And when you get back to Kansas City (NTS), I'd encourage you to attend a worship gathering at Jacob's Well (http://www.jacobswellchurch.org). What I found there was an incredibly authentic community. Yes, it was certainly cool. The music was incredible (but not over-bearing). One out of two people in the sanctuary had a drink with them (there were 400-500 in the service I went to). It is family-driven and greatly focused on the arts, the sacraments, and most of all, community.

I do not equate "contemporary" with "post-modern". "Comtemporary" elicits too many various and vastly different images from person to person these days. Actually, "post-modern" does too, but that's another topic. I know what you mean when you say that you've seen churches striving to be contemporary but are merely following an act. But from what I've seen and read, the emergent church is no such act. It's freshly authentic, genuine, sincere, and heart-led. From my little experience, the emergent church is more genuine than most anything else I've experienced.

[Andrew J. Pottenger]

I'd love to check out Jacob's Well some time. I'm so deeply curious about different expressions of worship and faith. I've really enjoyed the Catholic masses I've attended (both in Latin and the vernacular), the charismatic black churches, and the small tightly-knit Gen-X community I was part of for awhile.

Hey, are you still going to be at NTS next spring? Do they talk about things like this in classes?

[Jeremy D. Scott]

Hey, are you still going to be at NTS next spring? Do they talk about things like this in classes?

I am no longer in Kansas City. My family and I moved where we are now (Hingham, MA) in February to oversee and pastor North Street Community Chapel. I am currently finishing up classwork for a two-week module class I took in January, and then I actually will take my last class after graduation in May.

Yes, the topic of emergence is growing in conversation at NTS, moreso among the students. I know of lots of students who have gone to Jacob's Well, though I can't pinpoint any who go there regularly (there could be some, I just don't know it). There is a church of the Nazarene who is trying to head the emergent way on the Kansas City district in Lawrence, KS called University Church (www.kuchurch.com). I never got to worship with them, but I know the pastor is in emergent conversations.

What church do you attend in Colorado Springs?

[Andrew J. Pottenger]

I'm at Colorado Springs First Church. Gina's dad is the pastor. It's more of a traditional kind of church, much more typical. We love it though. I've been there since ... God spoke to Moses. A long time. Haha!

I've just started hearing a lot about the emergent church and wanted to learn more about it, wondering "Is God moving here, or is it another bunch of Christians trying, unwittingly, without success, to be relevant and cool? Is it a movement of God or another marketing ploy?"

[Houston Thomas]

The emerging church (specifically) began with such promise that it breaks my heart to see it (generally) turning into the "seeker-sensitive" movement for a new generation.

It is now a "model" that church planters are using as an option. It is now a "brand" (Think YouthSpecialties book series). If it is authentic, it is only in a few localized pockets. However, this whole movement is about to become the next "product" (if it isn't already).

Robert Webber said it best after attending an "Emergent" conference: "I came here because I was looking for something revolutionary. What I saw looked no different than a seeker sensitive conference."

[Andrew J. Pottenger]

That's exactly what worries me. That's exactly what bothers me about American Protestant Christianity sometimes. The product concept, the buying and selling of truth ... part of me thinks "How else, in our culture, does the Message spread?" and part of me feels sick inside over it.

There's nothing wrong with "seeker-sensitive" - I think all churches ought to be this way. We're communicating a Message, and what good is it if no one understands what we say or how we say it? I don't think church should be an insider's club, that's for sure. And I do think churches need to find new methods, new ideas, and new ways of engaging the culture (that would be "engaging" in a positive sense, not a negative "anti-culture" sense).

I certainly think, from what I've heard and read, that the emergent church's collective heart may be in the right place. I think we ARE in a transitional period where church and worship and community are taking on new meanings and new forms. I also think no one's exactly sure what form will prove most effective, but I have to applaud anyone who dares to try.