What is Emergent?

My review of Tony Jones' The New Christians hopefully raises points of discussion about the movement -- its positives and negatives. As a mainline post-conservative, post-evangelical progressive Christian pastor -- I could add a few more modifiers -- I am sympathetic to the movement, but I have my own questions, especially as to what it has to offer longstanding established congregations with large numbers of older members. As I get ready to take up the pastorate of Central Woodward Christian Church, a congregation with a 30 year old building and an even longer heritage, pulling out the pews and the organ and putting in sofa's isn't probably a doable thing. But, there are ways of addressing the concerns of younger adults.

In looking into things I found this piece from last year that appeared on PBS' Religion and Ethics Daily. Appearing in it are such emergent leaders as Doug Pagitt and Tony Jones, along with sympathetic observers Scot McKnight and Diana Butler Bass, and strong critics such as Don Carson. I hope to get some conversation going -- so watch and offer your thoughts. Perhaps I can even coax Tony to make an appearance!


Comments

tony said…
Here I am.
Robert Cornwall said…
Glad to see Tony make an appearance. Perhaps he can help us understand how established congregations with large numbers of older members can engage with this movement. At this point of the discussion, it doesn't matter if those churches are mainline or evangelical -- just long established (with pews).
tony said…
Well, Bob, it's extremely difficult. It takes a type of leadership that is very rare in the church. And the reason it takes such leadership is not because pastors and leaders are reluctant, but because the folks in the pews are often intractable.
Robert Cornwall said…
The question then is -- how do we engage people with a vision of ministry that is missional. My sense is that there is a style present in Emergent that is youth-oriented. By that I mean, the music especially is enough different that many over 40 find it difficult to connect. It's not just that the people are comfortable with the music, but the music speaks to them.

And I must say that volume is an issue as well. I know that my ears can't take high volume. If I leave church with my ears ringing I'm not coming back.

I do agree that it takes leadership, but how is that leadership engaged?

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