Emergent SoCal

I really enjoyed spending a couple of hours last Saturday morning hanging with the Emergent SoCal folks. I've hung with Eric a few times, but it was great to see him in any venue. Great to meet former student (and McLaren lookalike) Gregg Caruso, and I was jazzed to meet Aaron Flores for the first time. Nice to meet some new friends as well. Every time I speak at a group this size (with maybe 20-30 people), I talk about different things. So much of it depends where the group is at, as I prefer dialogue to monologue. Some things I realized about this Emergent group -- they did not need any convincing that something is seriously wrong with US church as we know it. They did not question the idea that the church is in dire straits, their questions were more of the 'what do we do about it' quality. They were not satisfied with form changes such as adding candles, video, prayer stations, narrative preaching, loud music, dimmed lights, round tables. I think that is what I like about groups like Emergent (and other movements like it) -- the participants know that radical changes need to occur within the church, they have already tried changing 'technique' and those changes fell way short. The other thing I like about these events -- it creates a space for leaders to hang out with like-minded others so they don't feel like they are going crazy...

Technorati Tags: Emergent

Comments

[Andrew Seely]

Thanks for being willing to participate with us.
Sorry I didn't get a chance to talk with you personally. I hope our paths cross again.

[Kyle]

Ryan, thanks again for hanging out with us. Three hours was too short.

[Rhett Smith]

amen....i feel like i'm going crazy sometimes....i'm glad i'm not alone and that other resonate with these things...I am thankful for the space that the emerging church gives to discussion, questions, wrestling, etc.

[Bill]

Exactly. I don't always agree with other "emerging types," but that's not the point. The point, to me, is that there's a conversation in which it is safe to explore avenues of change.

[Patrick]

At one point the conversation drifted towards the topic of race, and how the Emerging Church seems rather white.

With this in mind I found this call for renewed leadership in the black church rather interesting. This isn't necessarily an indication of an EC movement in these churches, but it is an expression that something has gone terribly wrong, and it is this realization which can spark renewal.

[Kurt]

Ryan, thanks so much for taking the time to dialog at Emergent SoCal. You brought a lot of clarity and hope for the Church.