Looks like I’m officially part of the Emerging Church. If you want to join, just nab this image and insert your own name and headshot to become a genuine card-carrying emerging church member. We’re still figuring out just exactly what the “rights and privileges” are, so don’t ask!
Oh, you’re worried you may not qualify? Don’t fear, Bob Hyatt has published this article at Allelon to help you sort out exactly what the emerging church really is. In true fashion for the emerging church, his article should be current for nearly a week, after which EC will evolve a bit more. Bob does a pretty good job outlining three “degrees” of EC though.
Hey, you shaved! Hardly recognized you in that pic!
Has anyone ever told you that you look a lot like Eric Idle? ;) As for the my “emerging church membership”, I think I’ll pass, but thanks for the offer. :) I’m content to hang out on blogs of people who feel a need for this new amorphous (and unhelpful) label. I love all you “emerging types.” I speak your language, but I won’t pin myself to what shows signs of becoming the next “trendy” (and thereby rendered “co-opted” and largely robbed of ethos and edge) movement. I’m a simpleton. I just want to learn how to be a disciple and love God and love others while traveling with companions who will do the same. That’s 2000 years old, so what’s “emerging” about that? I’ll shut up and go back to my corner now. ;)
Hey, Arlen, you DO realize we’re only joking, and the joke is at our expense? Bro Maynard and I are not in the least interested in being labelled, categorized, and shelved in a neat little constricing box.
And you’re right — Maynard is looking more and more like Eric Idle all the time. Never noticed it when he still had his beard…
Arlen, the tongue is firmly planted in cheek here – you probably knew that! I have worse news for you, though. You’re probably EC, like it or not. What I mean is that even though you don’t consider yourself aligned with EC, your actual thought and practice is very emergent (small “e”)… so many looking for examples of emergent could point to you as one. The fact you’re not hung up on it is great, but may seal your candidacy! However EC evolves, it may or may not look like what you’re doing and you won’t care… but until then, you may be labelled.
And hey, if it gets too trendy, I’ll probably be off doing whatever comes after EC. I hope. For now, one of the basic things about EC is that it isn’t done according to pattern. There’s nothing to join, there’s no org, nobody’s in charge. For now it’s just a bunch of people doing what they feel God telling them to do… and not-so-oddly enough there are a lot of similarities from one group to the next. This change is what marks EC, at the grassroots. Sans denominations.
I actually thought Bob’s article was a good description of 3 levels of EC – not the same as the 3 types of EC that Rob and Alan Creech identified in their articles on the subject, but rather a description of how “emergent” one is prepared to be, how close to the core they’ll allow it to affect things.
And Rob, don’t worry, the beard is still intact, as is the ponytail. Maybe I’m a hippie at heart ;^)
Yes guys, I did realize this was humor, and I hope you realize as well that I was joking (but only sort of) too. ;) And Maynard, the reply you gave to me was exactly what I expected you to say, almost word for word! That’s scary that I know you that well only through your writings on this blog. Peace my Canadian brothers! Gotta love the maple leaf!
Hey, I just read Bob Hyatt’s article that you linked. Yeah, that’s right, I had not read it yet. (Does that tell you anything?) In my opinion (not saying that counts for a lot), it is indeed a good article, and I think he capsulizes things very well. And if I MUST be put in one of his three categories…I’ll firmly embrace the third one. Go deep to the core of it and rethink it all baby!
Argh, well as you guys both know, I strive to be predictable in all that I do. Blech, it hurt just typing that!
Arlen, you reluctant-receiver of labels… well, you could do worse!
You are not predictable, and I shall remian reluctant. Peace
Instead of the card, I want to get my hands on the Book of Armaments.
“First thou pullest the Holy Pin. Then thou must count to three. Three shall be the number of the counting and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither shalt thou count two, excepting that thou then proceedeth to three. Five is right out. Once the number three, being the number of the counting, be reached, then lobbest thou the Holy Hand Grenade in the direction of thine foe, who, being naughty in my sight, shall snuff it.”
BTW, I thought Bob Hyatt’s article was good. I’d say that categories 2 and 3 both qualify as “emerging.”
Watch 60 Minutes II Wednesday (tonight) for a feature on Broadway’s SPAMALOT.
Correspondent Charlie Rose sat down with the show’s writer and former Python, Eric Idle, as well as legendary director Mike Nichols, and the show’s stars David Hyde Pierce, Tim Curry, Hank Azaria and Sara Ramirez.