The Future of Emergent Village

Excited to see what happens at your meeting next week. Blessings!!!

I’m praying with you for Jesus to be revealed through this collaboration!

Just ret’d fm amazing Albuquerque conference & will be in DC (from Oregon) at that time to attend Sojourner Conf. Is there any way to connect up with any of you 24-26?! I’m ecstatic about this movement and pray for your continued guidance :)

I promise my prayer support for this event. I thank you for what you are doing and will do in the coming days.

I wish you the best! Just a suggestion- don’t get caught up in the hippness of it all. I love emergent & I am excited about it’s future. but as someone who doesn’t attend church and is just a regular old blue collar guy sometimes the “conversation”. Seems like it’s only for those who drive a hybrid, only eat organic, and would never be caught at walmart. I know the conversation is broader than that but we have to make it so. We talk alot about engaging “the other” but too often were just talking to ourselves. There are alot of people who need this conversation or movement but they probably don’t buy fair trade coffee. Whatever the future of emergent, let’s try to ACTUALLY open the doors wider and broaden the conversation. We are more than a stereotype. I don’t mean to be overly negative but I believe emergent is a real hope for change and I don’t want us to get hung up on trivial things. Thanks and blessings in Christ!

I wish you the best! Just a suggestion- don’t get caught up in the hippness of it all. I love emergent & I am excited about it’s future. but as someone who doesn’t attend church and is just a regular old blue collar guy sometimes the “conversation”. Seems like it’s only for those who drive a hybrid, only eat organic, and would never be caught at walmart. I know the conversation is broader than that but we have to make it so. We talk alot about engaging “the other” but too often were just talking to ourselves. There are alot of people who need this conversation or movement but they probably don’t buy fair trade coffee. Whatever the future of emergent, let’s try to ACTUALLY open the doors wider and broaden the conversation. We are more than a stereotype. I don’t mean to be overly negative but I believe emergent is a real hope for change and I don’t want us to get hung up on trivial things. Thanks and blessings in Christ!

This is very exciting. I will definitely be praying for you and the movement.

This is a good move. As someone based in New Zealand and involved with an emerging church / group for over six years I look forward with interest to see what comes of this. The trick is how do you keep this a movement rather than an organisation

Wishing you all a creativity spirit.

Hey D: What’s wrong with hybrid cars, organic food, fair trade coffee, & boycotting Walmart? Sounds like improvements to me. But seriously, I don’t think anyone’s going to eject anybody from the conversation if they drive a V-8, eat at McDonald’s, shop at the Big Box, &/or drink Folger’s decaf. The conversation requires all kinds, because the Lord created all kinds. I’m glad you’re involved, & I think you’re talking about being inclusive, which I believe any good Emergent is. The reality though (I think) is that the movement is populated with progressive thinkers, which is why I dig it actually. And the Lord knows, we need progress (in a bad way)! In a really bad way. Let me know if you think I’m wrong. Peace & love in the name of Christ Jesus.

I too have been greatly blessed through this conversation and numerous relationships engaged along the way. Looking forward to the discernment process being articulated and lived into in new and fresh ways. My thoughts and prayers are with all those who share this continued passion for exploring faith with greater diversity and yearning for a new way of being church.

I’ll be praying this weekend. I have watched the various ways God has led this group since its beginnings in 1994 – from a close vantage point in the beginning. I expect the discernment God will give you will be vivid.

I praise God for your boldness in seeking new form(s) of leadership, for your season of utmost open sourcing, and for having eschewed retrenchment to some old model to attempt to attain some measure of security. Like Abraham, move forward in faith despite the improbabilities.

I’ll be watching too.

To be honest, the last day or so I’ve been feeling like walking away from the conversation. It seems like it has gone from being about a new kind of Christianity to an old kind of politics, and I’m weary of it. (And wondering if it ever was about a new kind of Christianity.)

I think D’s comments need to be taken to heart. I don’t mean to be harsh, but when I read responses like Vince’s then I start thinking about walking out. (And I don’t mean to single you out, Vince – please receive this with a measure of grace – but I DO think it gives a hints of the kind of groupthink emergent is moving to.)

Love to all of you, regardless of what happens next. I hope it stays a place I can fit into and find my place in.

I am very excited to see what happens this weekend and I, to a large extent, agree with “D.” The people we’re trying to reach probably aren’t even aware of Emergent so we (Emergents) need to be conscious of that as we engage in discussion.

My prayers are with you all. Thank you for consistently breaking new ground!

Thought I’d try to post this again as my comments were showing up last night but seem to have disappeared this morning. Here is what I wrote:

While I’m glad to see and know so many new faces involved in this—and while I continue to espouse the “less is more” philosophy of organization for this movement—I have to concur with the earlier writer signed simply as “D.”

We absolutely MUST begin to ask the other voices to be represented. The new site was built with the “if you build it they will come” mentality, but “they” have remained conspicuously silent. The female voice, the Asian voice, the Hispanic and Chicana/o and Latina/o voice, the African and African-American voice continue to be absent from the conversation as it is represented here at Emergent Village.

Many years of experience in the way people in grassroots organizations behave and participate have taught me that more people are out there ready to get involved (the March conference in Albuquerque certainly proved that to be true!), but many of them need to be invited, empowered, purposefully included. I implore those of you who participate in this meeting to consider how we move forward in such a way that every voice is both provided a platform and given the proper tools to make use of it.

While I’m glad to see and know so many new faces involved in this—and while I continue to espouse the “less is more” philosophy of organization for this movement—I have to concur with the earlier writer signed simply as “D.”

We absolutely MUST begin to ask the other voices to be represented. The new site was built with the “if you build it they will come” mentality, but “they” have remained conspicuously silent. The female voice, the Asian voice, the Hispanic and Chicana/o and Latina/o voice, the African and African-American voice continue to be absent from the conversation as it is represented here at Emergent Village.

Many years of experience in the way people in grassroots organizations behave and participate have taught me that more people are out there ready to get involved (the March conference in Albuquerque certainly proved that to be true!), but many of them need to be invited, empowered, purposefully included. I implore those of you who participate in this meeting to consider how we move forward in such a way that every voice is both provided a platform and given the proper tools to make use of it.

Hey Kenton,

Don’t walk out of the conversation because of me – I don’t think I’m representative of a typical Emergent, if there is such a thing. I’m just an old hippy-in-disguise trying to survive in a straight world. I was just babbling some tongue-in-cheeky stuff in response to “D” – I actually think his point is a good, and valid, one.

My opinions are definitely not a hint “of the kind of groupthink emergent is moving to,” as you stated. I’m strictly an independent opinionator with a talent for irritating people.

Hang in there, and keep the faith brother.

Greeting In the name of Lord Jesus Christ savior all believers and saved people but take benefit whose believe in him other shall perish with out him
Our church working in since five years in the Pakistan and so many people saved and spread the church every where God uses us in our country and our vision is church plantation all over the Asia especially in Iran Afghanistan Russia China India as well as preaching the gentiles and send missionary all over the Asia recently we have decided to send missionary in Afghanistan as well Iran and our Origination working in persecuted women and men and our vision is build Orphan Centre and Women Centre and Mother less Babies
Centre and Swing Center especially for widow Old age people who ignored acts 9:36-39 our church working through medical camps and these all things include our vision and mission so I need you prayer and fasting because of this great work which Jesus Christ gave us and I believe one thing the church exists by mission just as fire exists by burning Matthew28:16-20 so GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE. MARK 16:15. I have keen desire and would like to invite you to come and preach the Gospel in our churches In Pakistan, I have Ministry called.
So keep remember our church +org in your prayer and fasting May God bless you Luke 5:7 we need your help you read not with your willing it is willing of your God
Our Church Name is Christ Church For Nations ®
Mailing add: ccfn.church@yahoo.com
Pastor Waris Sadiq& team

Our Dear in Lord Jesus Christ it is wonderful and marvelous job which are done by you and your ministry and don’t worry about it because persecutions is reality and who believe in Jesus he must persecuted and Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for their is the kingdom of heaven and Martyr blood is A seed of church look Acts 7:54-60 (Sufferer for a cause) When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices; they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. At the spot soul was standing there and Jesus Christ save him from their sin and he is chosen one for gentiles so God with you and don’t worry. I and our church and org all of we with you pray for Pakistan because we are working in different ways among them our church evangelism is top secret and that’s way we are save from them so Jesus said I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. So you and your ministry is precious and many Cornelius Calls for Peter in Pakistan and India and Afghanistan Iran china Russia we must go to there and preach the gospel among them save from their sins thank you for inviting us and its our privilege to join the people of God who are working with truth again thank I hope you come in Pakistan and encourage our churches and preach the word of God among us thanks I hope my invitation and keenly request touch your heart and consider it thanks waris.church@yahoo.com

Dearest in Christ pray for Karachi because Taliban attacked Christian colony and 4 killed and many church assets destroyed so this moment we need your prayer and where ever you can announce prayer request you must do this because persecution of Taliban
This is end of time thanks

Vince-

Hey, we’re good. I’m not walking out because of you. My thoughts of leaving, while real, are mostly fleeting. I DO plan to stay in, and hope that telltale signs of me wearing out my welcome are fleeting as well.

We can agree to disagree (sorry for the cliche) on whether or not your thoughts are typical of emergent groupthink. I believe you when you say you arrived at them independently, but this narrower focus has effectively become the broader consensus in emergent. If/when/as emergent becomes more focused on narrow agendas it becomes less inclusive and more inclined to groupthink. Even though we may be headed in this direction, I DON’T think we’re quite at that place yet, and to that extent, I’m staying in.