I finished Emerging Churches a few days ago, and I have to say that I found myself resonating pretty strongly with most of the ideas presented in the book. As I look back on that past five years here at Heartland, I think we’re actually evolving from what the book would call a "new paradigm" church (Vineyard and Calvary Chapel fall into this category) into an emerging church, at least according to the definition Gibbs and Bolger give in the book. Of course, since the definition of "emerging church" is still somewhat fluid and evolving itself, it’s hard to categorize these things (thank God!).
But the nine practices of emerging churches they lay out in the book are a good general picture of where we have been headed for the past few years:
- Identifying with Jesus (a kingdom focus instead of a church focus – discipleship to Jesus takes center-stage over being "good church members" – mission of God over church programs)
- Transforming Secular Space (dismantling the sacred/secular divide, living Christianly 24/7)
- Living as Community (renewed focus on relationships, affecting spiritual formation and mission – relationships shape the meetings, not vice-versa)
- Welcoming the Stranger (rethinking the gospel, renewed focus on hospitality, inclusion – belonging before believing)
- Serving with Generosity (the gospel propels us to "good works" – serving the community by feeding the poor, etc, with no agenda attached – embodied witness breaks down the resistance to spoken witness)
- Participating as Producers (priesthood of all believers, everyone participates in ministry and mission, like, omigosh, passive spectatorism is so 1983!)
- Creating as Created Beings (renewed focus on everyone being creative – creativity’s ability to speak to deeper realities)
- Leading as a Body (no more super-pastors – team leadership – no personality-centered systems – leadership as influence rather than control – decentralized and diversified leadership)
- Merging Ancient and Contemporary Spiritualities (a return to more contemplative spiritualities to combat the noise and glitter of modern life – increased use of liturgy and the arts – less linear and more layered, less simplistic explanation and more space and silence and mystery, less direction and more exploration, I could go on!)
This isn’t an exclusive picture of where things are going, but it’s a decent overview. An established church emerging into something new. We could say we are established and we are emerging. The process is exciting and frustrating, glorious and tedious. There are hang-ups and stall-outs, but these are exciting days.
So what does it look like to have “community” within an emerging church? Most people I meet live such scattered lives. They work in one context, play in another, are involved in their kids lives in another, and worship when they can fit it into life – and in yet another context.
That’s a great question, David, and one that is still being experimented with and worked out. A lot of churches that would identify themselves as “emerging” are filled with young, single people, so the challenge of cultivating community in the “parents-of-young-children” stage hasn’t come up yet.
I know that other groups have actually begun to literally live in community – either by housing several families under one roof, or by intentionally buying properties close to one another in a certain area where they want to have an impact. I’ve heard them be called “urban monasteries”.
I think ultimately community can’t be formed unless people decide they need it bad enough that they’re willing to live differently in order to have it. It might mean Junior can do soccer OR swimming, but not both. That’s just one practical implication.
Ultimately for people to “join up” they’re going to have to undergo a shift in their values and priorities. If life is all about making money and living comfortably, then church and community get leftovers. But if life is all about partnering in the Missio Dei with others that claim Jesus Christ as Lord, then community might just take care of itself.
But we’re still working through all these implications. Since you live in Florida now, I find I miss hearing your insightful questions, David! You ought to comment more often! Hope things are going well for you guys.