Comments on: Following Jesus into leadership

By: emergent mosaic » following jesus into leadership part 2

emergent mosaic » following jesus into leadership part 2 — Wed, 31 Aug 2005 12:39:16 +0000

[...] Are the leadership models of choice more than an reaction to unhealthy leadership patterns of the modern church. Some don’t think so. In response to my previous post and comment on his blog Lucas over a my four walls continues the conversation about the flat model of leadership in the emerging church , by comparing Jesus as pastor and leader to these unhealthy patterns. Our current patterns of living out these biblical leadership roles are distorted. That much is true but I don’t think that means we just swing to the opposite extreme of no leadership no pastor. [...]

By: emergent mosaic » following jesus into leadership part 2

emergent mosaic » following jesus into leadership part 2 — Thu, 25 Aug 2005 16:24:34 +0000

[...] Are the leadership models of choice more than an reaction to unhealthy leadership patterns of the modern church. Some don’t think so. In response to my previous post and comment on his blog Lucas over a my four walls continues the conversation about the flat model of leadership in the emerging church, by comparing Jesus as pastor and leader to these unhealthy patterns. Our current patterns of living out these biblical leadership roles are distorted. That much is true but I don’t think that means we just swing to the opposite extreme of no leadership no pastor. [...]

By: Andre

Andre — Mon, 22 Aug 2005 13:03:08 +0000

John,
There are two connected aspects of what I mean. First having “postmodern” (I really do hate that word) conversations without doing anything “new” and impacting for the kingdom.

Secondly, driving the conversation from a starting point that is primarily derived from western academic thinkers who aren’t necessarily doing any praxis either.

I guess I feel there isn’t enough emphasis being put on praxis and contextualizing the stuff we are starting with. Instead of just saying N.T. Wright says this, West says this, Frost said this or Thurman said this we should also be saying what does what they say look like in N.A., W. Mich. and my neighborhood?

Otherwise I think we fall into the modern pattern of just taking the latest and greatest new idea plopping on top of our environment and expecting things to change.

By: John Frye

John Frye — Sun, 21 Aug 2005 13:23:02 +0000

Andre, expand for me the meaning of “euro academic worldvew.” Do you mean gabbing about postmodernism ad nauseum? I may be wrong and part of the problem, but since the whole emergent thing is primarily a white thing, history and theology and the gospel from the bottom and margins doesn’t (or even can’t) get on our radar screen (e.g., H. Thurman’s JESUS AND THE DISINHERITED). I’d love to read an overview of Christian history from the perspective of those who were powerless.

By: Andre

Andre — Sun, 21 Aug 2005 03:07:08 +0000

John,

I do think that contextualizing is the key. But so much of the emerging church conversation seems to shy away from that in favor a euro academic worldview of things like leadership. So let’s really think contextually since that is something we say we value.

Andre

By: John Frye

John Frye — Sun, 21 Aug 2005 02:09:10 +0000

Andre, I’m glad you got that off your chest. Quite challenging. In the past years hanging out with some African-American fellow pastors in the city and praying with them, I learned that “leadership” is viewed differently in the African-American community than in white churches. Perhaps we need to make leadership as contextual as we attempt to make the gospel. A “one size fits all” gospel seems to parallel a “one size fits all leadership” model–either hierarchical (top down) or flat. Good food for thought.

By: Subversive Influence

Subversive Influence — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

a looser approach (Kansas City Star) `Emergent’ churches seek a looser approach (Macon Telegraph) `Emergent’ churches seek a looser approach (The Times Leader) [Technorati] Tag results for emerging church emergent ireland… Following Jesus into leadership