September Cohort Meeting Follow-up

For anyone who missed it, at our cohort meeting this month we discussed the time, location, and format of our meetings in an effort to chart our course for the next little while. We agreed as a group that the 2nd Friday of each month at 7pm worked, and our TGI Friday’s experience (off Arlington Road at 1039 Interstate Parkway, Akron, OH 44312)  this month was good enough that we said we would keep meeting there. With those details out of the way, we talked for a bit about possible future discussion topics. Among them were:

• What does it mean to participate in the Emergent conversation in rural/non-urban areas?
• What does it mean to participate in the Emergent conversation in more conservative (i.e. “Bible-belt”) areas?
• Related to the above, someone suggested- if I understood correctly- that much of what often comes up in the Emergent conversation has to do with what might be considered “urban” issues. I might quibble with this point because it could be taken to suggest that issues like philosophy, theology, justice, etc.- particularly as they come in to play in the postmodern context- are only relevant in the city. Maybe the person who brought it up didn’t mean to suggest this, but in any case it might be worth discussing.
• What’s emerging in terms of the contemplative life? How do we participate in the contemplative life in a postmodern context?
• I know the issue of “reclaiming Paul” has come up in the larger Emergent conversation, and someone brought up that too.

That’s everything I got. For those who were there, did I miss anything? Also, if anyone would like to add or suggest topics for discussion for upcoming meetings, please do so in the comments. Thanks!

Emerging in Northeast Ohio? Perhaps, but not too much, thank you.

Several folks have asked me what’s going on in terms of the Emergent conversation in Northeast Ohio, and especially if there are any local congregations that Emergent folks might be interested in. Here is what I’ve said in the past:

• There are a handful of congregations whose style, communication, values, etc. seem very much in line with Emergent, save for what from my perspective is a major, major concern- namely an anachronistic view on gender issues. Those congregations are Catalyst  and, I believe, Sevenoseven (though I’ve inquired with one of their leaders whom I happen to admire personally about whether or not this is fully the case). I’d probably be really interersted in being a part of either congregation if not for that major concern. Another congregation would fall into this group- though it is “all the way” over in Youngstown: Youngstown Metro Church. 
• There are some other groups that are less savvy in terms of the face they present to the world but who seem to have at least some sense that “business as usual” in the American church isn’t working so well. They include Xenos Christian Fellowship as well as The Center, and you could probably lump South Street Ministries into that group as well. I have some personal knowledge of South Street as my family and I have been a part of South Street for a while and have a real affinity for their approach to being the church, especially as this has been impacted by the principles of Christian Community Development. However, because of our situation as foster parents now (or at least until very recently), we are largely unable to attend their sunday service. 
• There are other congregations in the area who advertise themselves as being “emergent” or “relevant,” etc.- but few that I’ve come across who are actually doing something new/different.

That’s about all that I’m aware of. If you know about a congregation or community not in this list, please let us know in the comments.

Power to the People (kind of)!- September Cohort Meeting

Hello everyone,

Our cohort is indeed meeting this week. For those of you who’ve been around since this cohort started, you know we’ve seen a lot of change in our short life thus far. We’ve changed leaders, locations, participants, and more, and that change is ongoing, perhaps not surprisingly. While the nature of the Emergent conversation and life itself may make such change inevitable, there are some things that we could probably be a little more consistent about. So, to help us do that, I’d like to propose that we spend some time this Friday: 

• Talking about what we’re looking for and hope to get out of the cohort
• Brainstorming ideas for future conversation topics
• Agreeing, hopefully, on a venue we can stick with for the forseeable future

With those ends in mind, this time let’s meet at TGI Friday’s off of Arlington Road. I’ll reserve a table for 10, and I look forward to seeing you there (1039 Interstate Parkway, Akron, OH 44312), this Friday, September 12th, at 7pm.