Sep 20 2005
what does the Emerging church stand for? Brian McLaren says …
Last week I got to hear Brian McLaren in a conversation with two other folks who are not embedded in the emerging church conversation discuss what’s emerging in the emerging church?
When pressed to say what the Emergent folks think the Emerging church should stand for I was gratified that Brian said the following are issues on which the emerging church should take a stand
- poverty
- racism
- the distortion of sexuality prevalent in NA culture
- violence in it may forms
- materialism
In describing the emerging church McLaren used these words
missional
integral
conversational
Evangelical
catholic
monastic
global
flawed
immature
a couple other snippets McLaren says
He expects more conversation in Europe and england
NT wright not Brian mclaren
sharing the gospel with gentleness
check out the talks from Brian and other here.
Now the commentary
Many people in the emerging church conversation are satisfied to talk about theology, worship styles and flat leadership models without dealing with the dagger in the heart of establishing real community, classism and racism. I had a renewed hope for this conversation when Brian made it clear that all people but especially Anglo people need to explore and understand the significant role that colonialism, racism and class have played the church’s practice of the faith in history. He described it as "the history that the rest of the world know that we don’t want to talk about." It created the impression that "White Christians think they have right to do anything they want to do."
This was very important for me to hear as it affirmed the discomfort I have felt with a "Negroes welcome" (thanks to Maurice for lending me the language to describe this) attitude from some in this conversation. It looks like this You all can come talk if you want to, on our terms, but we aren’t going to make room for you or include your historical contributions, or recognize your voice or hear your story. If you want that then go form your own sacred circle!
How is that different from the modern church? Hmm… let me think 
its not!
So hope renewed and with some Anglo folks who get (EWM) it and a couple other folks of color now in the conversation I press on.
Thanks Brian for taking the time to tackle a tough but critical issue.
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Great stuff, bro. I like the reflections and think there is something worth chewing on here.
I heard McClaren and Rob Bell recently, too. Some great insights between the two of them… I blogged it if you’re interested.
[...] September 20, 2005 22:55 what does the Emerging church stand for? Brian McLaren says ? Last week I got to hear Brian McLaren in a conversation with two other folks who are not embedded in the emerging church conversation discuss what’s emerging in the emerging church? When pressed to say what the Emergent folks think the Emerging church should stand for I was gratified that Brian said the following [...] Categories: Journals 22:05 new friends for the journey Last week I met a new friend Anthony Smith known in the blogosphere as postmodernegro. He was in Grand Rapids to be on a panel and present a paper a t the Civitas Conference at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. Anthony is one well read brother. He is conversant in the dialog going on in many spheres [...] Categories: Journals [...]
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