Ides of January, 2009
Over the last few weeks, I have received eight requests to create an online list of “Emergent” and Anglimergent communities so that folks know of what’s happening around “the church.” As you might imagine, I am hesitant, especially in my new role, to create such a list. There is the strong possibility that I would leave folks out and add folks that others would not consider to be truly “emergent!” Instead, if we need to make lists, it seems better to pose this to the larger Anglimergent community and ask folks to self-identify. After they ante up, we might ask, “What are the qualities and characteristics of your ministry (or the one of which you are a part) that beg the label ‘-mergent’?” What does the term mean? Now that’s a great question! Here’s my old “saw,” for what it’s worth . . .
Lately I’ve struggled with the idea of calling a ministry “emergent.” There seems to be a whole lot of fascination with anything “new” in Christianity right now and it leaves me a little wary – especially when it comes to big events and the world of promotion. Here’s what gives me life, lately. Instead of using Emergent as an adjective, what if we get really clear about what it is that we say is emerging? What if we treat the conversation as a description of a “way of being”? What if what we’re naming as “emerging” is not the church or churches or denominations or movements? What if, instead, it is the work of the mothering and birthing and nurturing Spirit that is emerging? And what if it is our chief purpose (all of us – Jewish, Muslim, Christian and ALL) to partner with the Spirit in the high calling of co-creating and midwifery?
It seems to me that there is a question that should be on all of our lips, regardless of our age, creed, liturgical tradition, sexual preference or race. That question is “What of the Spirit’s work is longing to emerge in my life, right now?” (The follow-up, for me, is “How do I come alongside the Spirit as a partner in ministry to celebrate what’s going on in me and out there?”)
In my humble opinion, the rest of the usual conversation so easily turns to hubris and self-congratulatory posturing. I guess I would go so far as to claim that the church (not even our beloved EC!!) cannot contain anything that is “emerging” in this sense. It can support/encourage/resource/celebrate/name and hold up, but it cannot contain the new ministry that is “crowning” and even emerging right now! It happens out there – wild and free of our machinations and predictions. It defies our polity and shrugs off our institutional anxieties. It “blows where it will” and we are called to follow – to go out – to meander in search of!
If that’s the Emerg –ent –ing we are talking about, then count me in!
Maybe the question is not, “Do you consider yourself Emergent?” Maybe we will find life abundant by hosting a conversation that answers the question, “Where do you see the work of the Spirit emerging in this kairos moment?” I’m eager to hear … and I’ve been dreaming about that, a lot, lately!
I’ll stop now, or I’ll be apologizing, next!!
With crazy hopes and growing cheer,
Tom
PS., here are some resources for those of you interested in pursuing this thread, further.
What is the role of the priest in this work of midwifery? Start with Urban T Holme’s “Ministry and imagination.” Move through Maggie Ross’s “Pillars of flame” and revel in Driver’s “Liberating rites.”
How do we live in a way that readily spots and then embraces the work of the Spirit? You might read Ed Leidel’s “Grassroots spirituality” or D. Soelle’s “The silent cry”, or Scharmer’s “Theory U” (in order of complexity).
