A Node in the Web of the Emerging Church

The Great Emergence National Event - New Additions!

Posted Oct 17, 04:15 AM | 0 comments | by Editor | Link

By Tony Jones, re-posted from the Emergent/C email newsletter:

For a couple years now, Phyllis Tickle has been causing a stir with her presentations on the Great Emergence, her take on the 500-year-turning that we are currently experiencing. Recently, her book, The Great Emergence: How Christianity Is Changing and Why released to rave reviews.

And now there is an event—The Great Emergence National Event—in Memphis, Tennessee, December 5-6. The excitement building around this event is significant. Not only will registrants get to her Phyllis unpack The Great Emergence over four sessions, they’ll also get to hear some of the leaders of the emergent movement give “ignite” presentations and get to pray the Divine Hours in the majestic St. Mary’s Cathedral.

If that weren’t enough, now four pre-conference events have been added for Thursday, December 4. Each of them is based on a theme that comes from the Great Emergence, and they promise to be exciting conversations. They are:

Minding the Gap—A Meeting of the ‘Hyphenated’ Minds
Find yourself with an emerging ethos in a denominational setting? In the language of The Great Emergence, you may well be among the ‘hyphenateds’ around the country who are struggling to ‘mind the gap’ between these oftentimes divergent identities. Join this landmark dialogue between Anglimergents, Presbymergents, and other ‘hyphenateds’ as we consider how we embrace the best that both emergent and individual denominations bring to the table and how we navigate the waters of change in the American Christian Church. In the morning, Phyllis Tickle will frame the conversation and representatives from emergents within several denominations will share their experiences. The afternoon will provide an opportunity for denominations to meet and consider how to engage the emergent conversation in their particular setting.

New Monasticism and Resurrection of American Christianity
Statistics and denominational budgets suggest that Christianity is in decline as new generation of Americans find little need for church. But under the radar of popular religion, on the margins of society, God is stirring a new monastic movement of people who are experimenting in the truth of Jesus’ way. Join Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove of Rutba House and Geoff and Sherry Maddock of Communality for an afternoon of storytelling and conversation about what new monasticism is and what it means for the future of the church.

Writer’s Workshop
If you think you’ve got a book in you, this is the session for you. Publishing pros from the Christian book and magazine industries will talk you though the process—from building your audience, to writing a query letter and proposal, to getting your book into the hand of readers. Talk to editors and publishers about what the writing life really looks like and get solid advice from people who know the industry from the inside. If you have a manuscript or book idea in the works, bring it along and we will provide the opportunity for evaluation.

Theological Education in Light of the Great Emergence
While there has surely been a renaissance of interest in theological education as a part of the great emergence, many have also questioned the prevailing method thereof: the residential seminary model. Many in the emergent generation are asking that the modern seminary be significantly reconsidered. Some are suggesting a more monastic model, others are experimenting with online and new media resources, and still others want to catalyze collaboration between seminaries and the local church. Theological educators and interested pastors are invited to join in a day-long, open source conversation about the future of theological education

Find out everything you need to know at www.thegreatemergence.com. Hope to see you there!

Tony Jones is the national coordinator for Emergent Village. He is the author of a number of books, including The New Christians.