03.08.05
defining emergent
Okay kiddies. It’s just about damn time we defined just what the hell we mean by ‘the emerging church.’ Frankly, I’m tired of feeling cautious about supporting the concept. I’m also tired of tenatively supporting a concept that I’m starting to wonder if I can’t get behind.
I know, I know, this is the ’social security’ (read: third rail) of the post-modern/modern church. We’re not supposed to define what we mean by ‘emergent.’ We’re just supposed to waffle and bicker over it’s meaning and what, if any, churches should belong to this nebulous club. After all, that kind of adds to the whole post-modern nature of the thing right, not having a definition makes it hip, right?
Look see, here’s the problem with not having a definition, or a more rigid concept of what something is. Quite simply, anybody with a guitar effects pedal, and a head pastor who wears torn jeans to church can now claim to be ‘emergent.’ And many of churches do just that, they call themselves emergent, but really that just means hip, cool, and/or edgy.
At the beginning of the movement (is it a movement, I don’t know…because it doesn’t have a definition) there may have been some value in NOT defining just exactly what emergent was. I don’t really know for sure. I think, though, that nowadays it’s become a sort of misnomer for the church with cool clothes on.
Particularly, the modern church with cool clothes on. The modern church with cool clothes on, to me isn’t really emerging from anything. However, lots of places like this love to wave the ‘emergent’ flag around. Emergent has become a sort of namebrand that a church can put on their sign, it comes with prepackaged worshippers. Emergent has so emerged with the younger church community that going to church at an ‘emerging church’ is kind of like wearing those ‘LA Gear’ shoes that came out in elementary and junior high (you know, the ones with the fake air pockets in them,) everybody who’s cool just does it. (Readers note: I was NOT cool, as I had some cheap knockoff brand tennis shoes in late elementary early junior high.)
Is emergent really just a trendier version of church? I’m afraid that it could become that. Without a definition that bounds what it means to be emerging/emergent, it’s really hard to say. As it stands, pretty much any church whose pastor has a soul patch and retro horn rimmed glasses can be an emerging church.
Now, this is not to say that all emerging churches need to be the same. I think that there’s room for a definition that accounts for diversity…even wide ranging diversity. However, without a definition, I don’t know that I’ll ever know if I feel comfortable with the idea of emergent or not.
I’m certainly intrigued by the concept of emergent. All I want is for someone to define the concept. That’s it. I’ll even accept a definition using a series of paradigm cases (that is a definition by use of examples of what would and would not be emergent.)
So, I suppose my proposal is this: It may be time to emerge from emergent.
Seriously, though–why aren’t more women involved in these conversations? Chicks don’t dig theology? Where’s Headless Lois when you need her?!
Topmate said,
March 9, 2005 at 3:06 am
An article with as good a definition as any - http://www.emergingchurch.info/reflection/brothermaynard/index.htm
Sadly, there are no comments in the linked article about torn jeans or horn rimmed glasses, more’s the pity
James said,
March 9, 2005 at 11:30 am
I’ve never been entirely clear on whether ‘emergent’ tooks its name because it’s synonymous with ‘appearing’ or as a tip-of-the-hat to the ideas coming out of complexity theory such as that discussed in a biological sense by emergence.org or in a societal sense by Steven Johnson.
If the name is meant to evoke the latter, then the movement has certainly lost track of its roots. From the outside, it definitely feels like ‘emergent’ has become a badge of honour for churches that works a bit like saying “we run alpha courses”. I like much of what is called for in the “brother maynard” essay, but it doesn’t feel like it represents what’s happening in the churches identified as ‘emerging’ around here.
Brandon - I noticed that the “Emergent Cohorts” for West Michigan meet monthly on Wednesday’s at Bite downtown. Perhaps we should go along some time and see if it’s a good space to ask a few questions?
Brandon said,
March 9, 2005 at 11:32 am
James, that sounds like a splendid idea. Let’s try to figure out a time that works!
James said,
March 9, 2005 at 11:50 am
Great! I’ve subscribed to their feed and we can work something out when they announce the next date (though I may be out of town for the April meeting)
kate said,
March 9, 2005 at 1:00 pm
I might invite myself along, too. That group is looking very white and very male, and I can help with diversifying one of those qualifications.
Seriously, though–why aren’t more women involved in these conversations? Chicks don’t dig theology? Where’s Headless Lois when you need her?!
Looking at the pictures on the blog, though, I’m realizing I recognize at least one of those guys. He’s a friend of a friend. Really nice dude, with some surprising views on non-violence and whatnot.
kate said,
March 9, 2005 at 1:01 pm
Actually, I rescind the “very white” part of the previous comment I made. There were several people of color involved in the meeting I was talking about.
So make that “largely white and completely male.”
Brandon said,
March 9, 2005 at 1:32 pm
And, of course, Kate you’re always welcome.
I did see at least one woman author on the group blog. I’m not sure, though, what all to think about these kats…we’ll have to see.
Meg said,
March 9, 2005 at 3:46 pm
oh, oh, me too! Can I come? I promise I will be really good and try very hard not to do anything overtly Bridget Jones-ish.
I too am intrigued by this “emergent church” bit. Back in my mega-church days (oh, the things we do when we are young and reckless. . .) we talked about gen-x ministry, geared toward the 18-35 crowd. No joke, on your 35th birthday you got a card saying (in essence, if not in actual words) “Welcome to boring middle age. We have a boring middle-of-the-road church service for your kind on Sunday mornings. Don’t let the revolving door catch you on the ass on your way out.” So I’ve felt justified in my disdain for that particular church genre but perhaps ought to revisit it and search for that which is redeemable.
Laryn said,
March 9, 2005 at 8:30 pm
I was trying to find a “contact” button because this is only somewhat related…but I couldn’t so I’ll post it here. Hopefully you check old comments.
I’d be curious on your thoughts about the link below–which is less an attempt to define “emergent” as to define what “evangelical” should mean in a perfect world (not what it currently means).
kate said,
March 10, 2005 at 2:17 pm
Yes, Meg, come along! I would love to meet you. The latest entry on your blog really resonated with my experience. Even if we don’t visit the Emergent group, Brandon oughta resurrect the idea of a bloggers’ get-together… at least for those of us who are local.