I wrote a very sarcastic blog about the emerging conference phenomena yesterday, some more thoughts....
I had a conversation in England with Pete Ward about the shape of youth ministry, and the fact that there seems to be a growing sense of sameness about youth minitry - he put it down to a the way that groups come together and from into cartels to survive and promote themsleves. Alpha being a major cratel with many churches adopting the label an Alpha Church, while this is not all bad it does tend to produce what can be an unhealthy sameness. I suspect that there is a danger in the emerging conference scene of a cartel forming, it seems that Brian Mclarens inisitance on calling the whole this a converstaion rather than a movement may be a way of counteracting that, but human nature does tend to seek safety in numbers...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
I think as well we look for something that is working. Alpha is a good example, 40 days has worked for some, Journeys, Quest, whatever, we love to have programs!
I think the "emergent church" or whatever they call themselves should stay on the fringe, sure we can incorporate elements, but the thing that appeals to those that attend an "emergent church" is that they are trying to be radically different from mainstream church. I don't think they have to be drawn in, but i also don't think they have to be ostrasized either. We can learn from each other!
Post a Comment