<Theofragen>

I just finished attending the Emergent Convention in Nashville. I had a pretty good time dialoging with my friends about various apects of the Emergent conversation. (For summaries of the events check out my friends' comments at the shiverian and pomomusings). I did not learn all that much information-wise, but I did have several great conversations about church planting, hermeneutics, theology and homiletics. The two sessions I enjoyed the most were John Franke's, "Karl Barth for the Emerging Church" and Tim Keel's, "Reckoning with Intuition: Developing and Fostering the Creative Impulse in Self and Community."

Having attended this event, I was hopeful. I was encouraged by the increased number of women that were in attendance. It was also encouraging for me to take note of the many differnt questions that people are bringing to this conversation. Some folks I met were interested in new styles of worship. Others were interested in expanding the theological boundaries of evangelicalism. Others still were seeking a church that is more missionally minded and organic. There are many points of soidarity between emerging folks and myself. I was surprised by how many different types of conversations in which I was priveledged to engage. The conversation is far from over.

It seems that the Emergent conversation is moving away from the picayunne quibblings with theological and liturgical conservatives. I was encouraged by the large number of mainline pastors, seminarians and lay persons who contributed to the conversation. My new-found friend, Lindsay, who attends Columbia Theological Seminary, shared her initial perception of Emergent as being "a bunch of evangelicals who suddenly discovered that they could drink beer." The mainline contributions certainly facilitate emergence from petting quibblings with fundamentalists over theology and praxis.

Anyway, those are some of my initial reactions to the conversation this past week. It was sensitive, grace-filled, ecclesiologically-minded, and progressive. I really enjoyed it. Peace.

Emergent Convention 05

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