emergent conversation(s)...
it seems to me that part of the confusion in this 'emergent conversation' is that there are actually multiple conversations occuring simultaneously about what constitutes an 'emerging church', with some overlap but also with their own terms of discourse. one could say that they are all instances of 'missionary ecclesiology'. here is my first attempt to sift through them:
(1) fresh expressions of church (fxc) proper. this refers to church planting initiatives by existing churches as promoted by 'mission-shaped church'. i would define these as forms of christian community which actually emerge around non-churched people being reached by a pioneer seed-team within contemporary culture. here 'mission-shaped' tends to mean that the actual shape of the fxc emerges from, or is constituted by, the particular cultural forms which those non-churched persons inhabit. by this definition, many activities which are claimed to be fxc do not actually fall into this category. examples would be activities that are, strictly speaking, more about transforming the life of an existing church rather than planting a new church or christian community. they might, however, fall into the next category.
(2) missional churches / missionary congregations. this refers to the intentional transitioning of existing churches into more mission-oriented patterns of life. here 'mission-shaped' tends to mean that the emerging shape of the church is fundamentally characterised by missional ways of being, thinking and acting in the world, for the sake of the non-churched. the christian community is renewed and transformed through its actual engagement with the non-churched and the rhythms of their everyday life. this may involve creative practices of outreach and bridge-building with the exitisting church as well as the pioneering of fxc. i am beginning to think of the 'emerging church' as the dynamic interdependence and mutually informing relationship between existing church and fxc.
(3) emergent churches. although this term can be used synonymously with 'emerging churches', it seems to be used more consistently in the US context to denote the planting of christian communities intentionally seeking to engage with what is experienced as an emerging post-modern, post-denominational, and post-Christian culture. in the US, this seems to embody a critique of both conservative-evangelical fundamentalism and liberal-modern institutionalism. in the UK, it seeks to negotiate the emergence of fxc in the fluid context of a consumerist and technocratic culture. in msc terms, these communities are much closer to the ethos of fxc than missionary congregations as such.
(4) new paradigm churches. some would include seeker-sensitive and purpose-driven churches (etc) as emerging churches. others, however, actually define the emerging church over against the seeker-sensitive model but, because of this, tend to be really an extension of that project. so-called post-seeker-sensitive churches seem to continue the ethos of attracting seekers to meaningful and relevant worship, but redefine what constitutes a seeker (and cultural relevancy) in terms of the same cultural 'posties' addressed by the 'emergent conversation'. some existing mega-churches are doing new church plants along these lines. (1)-(3) have much more in common with respect to the idea of 'emergence' than this last category.
i am sure there are probably other ways to negotiate these differences and the various ways that one might overlap with the other(s).
i would, of course, be glad for any comments or suggestions.
(1) fresh expressions of church (fxc) proper. this refers to church planting initiatives by existing churches as promoted by 'mission-shaped church'. i would define these as forms of christian community which actually emerge around non-churched people being reached by a pioneer seed-team within contemporary culture. here 'mission-shaped' tends to mean that the actual shape of the fxc emerges from, or is constituted by, the particular cultural forms which those non-churched persons inhabit. by this definition, many activities which are claimed to be fxc do not actually fall into this category. examples would be activities that are, strictly speaking, more about transforming the life of an existing church rather than planting a new church or christian community. they might, however, fall into the next category.
(2) missional churches / missionary congregations. this refers to the intentional transitioning of existing churches into more mission-oriented patterns of life. here 'mission-shaped' tends to mean that the emerging shape of the church is fundamentally characterised by missional ways of being, thinking and acting in the world, for the sake of the non-churched. the christian community is renewed and transformed through its actual engagement with the non-churched and the rhythms of their everyday life. this may involve creative practices of outreach and bridge-building with the exitisting church as well as the pioneering of fxc. i am beginning to think of the 'emerging church' as the dynamic interdependence and mutually informing relationship between existing church and fxc.
(3) emergent churches. although this term can be used synonymously with 'emerging churches', it seems to be used more consistently in the US context to denote the planting of christian communities intentionally seeking to engage with what is experienced as an emerging post-modern, post-denominational, and post-Christian culture. in the US, this seems to embody a critique of both conservative-evangelical fundamentalism and liberal-modern institutionalism. in the UK, it seeks to negotiate the emergence of fxc in the fluid context of a consumerist and technocratic culture. in msc terms, these communities are much closer to the ethos of fxc than missionary congregations as such.
(4) new paradigm churches. some would include seeker-sensitive and purpose-driven churches (etc) as emerging churches. others, however, actually define the emerging church over against the seeker-sensitive model but, because of this, tend to be really an extension of that project. so-called post-seeker-sensitive churches seem to continue the ethos of attracting seekers to meaningful and relevant worship, but redefine what constitutes a seeker (and cultural relevancy) in terms of the same cultural 'posties' addressed by the 'emergent conversation'. some existing mega-churches are doing new church plants along these lines. (1)-(3) have much more in common with respect to the idea of 'emergence' than this last category.
i am sure there are probably other ways to negotiate these differences and the various ways that one might overlap with the other(s).
i would, of course, be glad for any comments or suggestions.
posted by Phil at
12:03 PM
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