December 2010 – Rector’s Ruminations
Is Emmanuel Parish an “Emergent Church”? I recently came across an article entitled, “The Emergent Church in Anglican Perspective by The Reverend Dr. William S. Brosend, who teaches at St. Luke’s Seminary at The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. It is one of several articles and a variety of books that have been a topic of conversation for the past few years within the Episcopal Church and other churches as well.
Before attempting to answer the question as to whether or not we are an emergent church, a definition of the term might be helpful and that’s where the difficulty arises: there doesn’t seem to be a clear definition. Where did “Emergent” come from is a question Brosend raises and notes that some say England, other, the second generation of mega-churches. Phyllis Tickle traces the trend back 1900 years ago and suggests that what is happening today is something that comes along in the life of the Church roughly every 500 years.
Brosend notes in trying to define the notion of Emerging/Emergent/Emerged Churches that “there is not a certification process, no doctrinal test, no hierarchical concerns that stand between a gathering of people and the claim to be an Emergent Church…Emergent is about intent, the clarification of priorities, and commitment to the journey and to the relationships at the heart of the search. There is no model, no destination.” He cites two Emergent Church authors, Gibbs and Bolger’s attempts to arrive at a definition. Such churches:
- identify with the life of Jesus
- transform the secular realm
- live highly communal lives
As a result they:
- welcome the stranger
- serve with generosity
- participate as producers
- create as created beings
- lead as a body, and
- take part in spiritual activities
(Emerging Churches, pp. 44-45)
Brosend notes that “Emergent is not about church architecture although it is concerned with liturgical space. It’s not about special liturgies although it cares passionately about worship. It’s not a particular interpretation of the Bible, but scripture is focal. Emergent Churches are more interested in who is in than who is out. They love to explore deeply and richly, and they don’t want dogmas or fixed reading of tradition to get in the way of that. The emphasis seems to be on community, scripture and worship. An emphasis, but no narrow definition. Bishop Rickel notes that the Church of the Apostles and its current Abbess, Karen Ward, in Seattle serves as one example.
So back to my opening question: Are we an emergent church? I think so and I hope so given the characteristics of Emergent as described above. And yet I am suspicious and hesitant to jump on the latest theological trend in calling ourselves Emergent with a capital E. Said differently, the Church since its beginning has been of necessity “emerging” given cultural, historical and theological shifts, not to mention conflicts and crises that have confronted the Church since its inception. The Church has been in process of reformation beginning with apostles and into the present, hardly confined to once every 500 years.
Given the current preoccupation of mainline churches with declining attendance, finances, membership and influence coupled with internal struggles over doctrinal matters, especially human sexuality and issues of ecclesiastical order and Church governance, it is time for new and old ideas to emerge and reemerge, reformation to continue, an openness to revelation and new beginnings born of repentance and humility.
After all, isn’t that what the season of Advent is all about – preparation and waiting faithfully for something to “emerge”?
As we begin the new year of the Church, I wish you a blessed Advent,
+Craig
By Bishop Craig B. Anderson