A Node in the Web of the Emerging Church

Church Basement Roadshow: More Details Emerge

Posted May 25, 12:58 AM | 1 comments | by Editor | Link

Here’s the latest on the Church Basement Roadshow:

Doug Pagitt explains, “We each have books with Jossey-Bass publishers and have combined our efforts to not only promote our books but to spread the invitation to participate in the world with God.

“What we have put together is a 90 minute show based on not only our books but also our 1908 alter-egos – revivalists -Preacher A.L. Withee [Mark Scandrette], Big Brother Duke [Doug Pagitt] and Professor A.W. Hawthorne [Tony Jones].”

Here’s our first look at the emergent revivalists:

Mark Scandrette waxes eloquent (as he is wont to do) about “Revival Fever”: “Perhaps no American archetype better embodies the glories and struggles of our search for collective meaning and divine purpose than the tortured soul of the self-proclaimed and duly annointed preacher or revivalist — That rare mix of eloquence, showmanship, falsetto emotionalism, alligator tears and stark piety — selling us God, salvation or a revelation from the best and worst motives or intentions.

“Few images are more enduring or annoying than the two-bit, second rate evangelist in a starched white shirt, sweating up a storm as he labors to convince us to repent, to change our ways and to make a fresh start. He is running from what he knows about himself, fleeing from the leaks and shadows of his own brokeness that is briefly suspended by the white/black contrast of heaven and hell, God and Satan, good and evil that he whoops up into an ecstatic fury over 50 or 60 minutes. But secretly we know that the perspiring troubador revivalist is just like us and we wonder and we hope that the healing change being proclaimed is really possible. Because if there was ever a time when our world needs love and healing and reinvention and redemption, that time is now.”

Withee and Hawthorne (Scandrette and Jones):