What is Emerging in the Church? – April 2010

What is emerging in the church?
What good things are growing that we can celebrate?
Who are the diverse voices that are now leading the church into the 21st century?

There are still serious discussions that need to be had regarding healing and reconciliation in the church. Previously marginalized voices still need to be humbly heard and fought for. This synchroblog in no way stands against that need. I just believe that sometimes it can be helpful to highlight the good things that are happening – reminding ourselves and the Christian community to have hope and to see the voices that are out there and are shaping the faith. I’m a both/and kind of person. I want to fight injustice and illuminate where good things are already happening.

To that end, I propose a Synchoblog on the topic of “What is Emerging in the Church.” I know not all of you claim the term “emerging church” or agree with a group like Emergent Village, that’s okay. The point of this isn’t to all agree or even to say that the emerging or Emergent church has this all figured out (because we don’t). But this path of navigating what it means to be a Christian in the 21st century where a diversity of voices and perspectives are heard is the very definition of what is emerging in the church. God is doing something new and exciting in the church, and we need to tell that story.

Bloggers who participated in this Synchroblog hosted by Julie Clawson:

• Pam Hogeweide compares the emerging church movement to a game of ping pong.
• Sarah-Ji comments that the emerging questions people are asking are far bigger than any defined movement.
• Sharon Brown writes about using labels as an excuse.
• Peter Walker reflects on how the emerging church conversation helped him recognize his power and privlege as a white male.
• Dave Huth posts a on new ways to talk about religion.
• Nadia Bolz-Weber reflects on the the beautiful things she sees emerging in her church community.
• Chad Holtz writes on our Our Emerging Jewishness.
• MojoJules describes her organic entry into the emerging church and reflects on moving forward with a new public face.
• Dave Brown comments on the emerging church and swarm theory.
• Danielle Shoyer reflects on what is emerging in the church.
• Brian Merritt offers his pros and cons of the emerging church.
• Julie Clawson is grateful for emerging globalized Christianity.
• Susan Philips points out that emergence happens as G-d redeems our shattered realities.

• Mike Clawson reflects on the non-western voices that brought him to the emerging conversation.
• Jake Bouma suggest that what is emerging is a collapse into simplicity.
• Liz Dyer believes a chastened epistemology is a valuable characteristic emerging out of the church today.
• Rachel Held Evans writes on what is changing in the church.
• Tia Lynn Lecorchick describes the emerging movement as a wood between worlds (from The Magician’s Nephew).
• Amy Moffitt shares her journey towards a theology of humility.
• Travis Mamone comments on the need for the emerging church to rely on the word of God.
• Sa Say reflects on the the prick of doubt.
• David Henson lists what he sees as what is emerging in the church.
• Angela Harms writes in in defense of emergent.
• Wendy Gritter asks how we can listening to the voices from the margins.
• Bruce Epperly comments on the largeness of spirit of emerging spirituality.
• Linda Jamentz reflects on listening to the voices from the margins in church.
• Lisa Bain Carlton hopes that our emerging conversation can respond humbly to our moment in time.
• Christine Sine asks how far are we willing to be transformed.
  Lori Allen Wilson reflects on what is emerging in the younger generations.
  Cynthia Norris Clack sees love emerging in the church.
  Bob Fisher lists the values emerging in his faith community
  Mihee Kim-Kort writes of the conversions and conversations she sees around her.
  Ann Catherine Pittman believes that what is emerging in the church is inclusivity.
  Matthew Gallion describes how emergence is spread thin across the whole church.
  Phil Snider offers guarded praise of emergent.
• Kathy Escobar reminds us “we may look like losers.”