Emergent Canada
Before I go on, though, I should be clear: Though I will express concerns and critiques about this news, please do not think that I am against it. In fact, I have invited the folks at Emergent Canada to respond to any comments or concerns expressed here. Emergent Canada, should it develop further, will have my prayer and support as fellow voyageurs on this faith journey.
From there, I began exploring several Canadian (and other international) websites & blogs, as well as writing a few emails. I then started Emergent Voyageurs in order to better engage the conversation. It took off far quicker than I had anticipated. I soon was connecting online and in person with many people across Canada and the globe.
However, it was with RESONATE.ca that I found not only a vibrant and thoroughly welcoming “emergent” community, but one that was authentically, organically, indigenously Canadian. RESONATE has been more welcoming and affirming than any other e-community I have encountered thus far.
When I received todays announcement, my first reaction was moderate concern. What jumped out the most was the name- Emergent Canada- and its intentional affiliation with Emergent US and Emergent UK. Don’t get me wrong, I think both entities are excellent. However, I have found that they are not entirely fitting models to our Canadian context. I was also concerned that taking the name will further “franchise” the emerging journey more than it should be (in my opinion).
I am also concerned that this has birth out of very localized initiative. As the site said of Brian McLaren’s (who I have deep, deep respect for) visit with them, “In the months after this, [Brian] handed us the ball to start something ‘distinctly Canadian’”. While I appreciate Brian’s leadership in the conversation, I am not sure that his handing the ball off qualifies for national representation.
Rather, I would hope that, should Canadians believe that we need a formal expression of the emerging journey, not to mention a organizational link (formal or otherwise) to Emergent US (& UK), it would grow from a natural community of relationships, which I believe RESONATE represents.
Again, please do not misunderstand. I neither think that Emergent Canada is usurping RESONATE or that RESONATE should (or wants to) have this role. I am simply concerned at the nature of the development of this new endeavour, that, perhaps, the cart is being put before the horse.
In the end, I believe there is great potential for good in Emergent Canada, which means there is also great potential for problems. This is inevitable. For one, I want to say I am committed to serve them, moving through these challenges, as they have expressed great openness and willingness to be shaped from without, by all who want to invest.
As long as we recognize that each group, network and even individual, represents a piece in the larger mosaic, we will growing to become a vibrant and beautiful picture. Emergent.ca will play a complimentary role in it, I have little doubt.
While this does not represent all the concerns I have about Emergent Canada, it is a starting point. I look forward to adding their voice to this dialogue here, as well as that of all of you.
Peace,
Jamie Arpin-Ricci
Good observations, Jamie… I forsee this being of discussionary value (I felt like making up a new word just there) tomorrow evening at the King’s Head.
For now, I’ll weigh in to say that I also have a few concerns about the whole Emergent Canada thing. I left a few thoughts in http://tallskinnykiwi.typepad.com/tallskinnykiwi/2005/08/on_emergent_can.html#comment-8557385" title="On Emergent Canada">a comment on Andrew Jones’ post (which points back here as you know). Basically I wonder if it’s realistic to organize a national group that doesn’t first have regional representation. The geography is considerable, and the culture on both coasts differs widely from that where you and I live, which is different from the center of the known universe "down east." istm that Emergent Canada, if it’s needed, might serve as an overall group to which all the regional groups can relate. As I noted in my comment to TSK, I think this reflects the "melting pot vs. mosaic" comparison between Canada and the USA.
Even the S’toon culture or mindset that Resonate emanates is different from that here in Winnipeg, so I would agree with Jordan that Resonate is more regional; unlike what you seem to imply above, I don’t think it would make a good national group. I could be wrong, of course, and things can change which would inevitably happen with a deliberate involving of people from across the country.
This actually highlights another concern about Emergent.ca… when I first saw the Canadian Emergent rep noted on the US site months back now, I was surprised… it was one church on the West coast. I’ve heard of the church and wouldn’t have imagined it to be considered an emerging expression of church, but then I’ve had no contact there for quite a few years now. Things change. I expect Emerg-Ca’s current "reaching out" will significanly drive the fleshing-out of Emergent Canada and will serve to widen the conversation much. If it were to remain a West-coast expression, it wouldn’t be nearly as relevant to the rest of the country. I’m sure there’s a reason it didn’t happen before now, but the questionnaire seems to be an effort to change this… just want to be sure and point that out so I don’t sound too negative. I really do hope that something functional and inclusive can be born from it.
I looked through the Emergent.ca questionnaire, but on almost every question I wanted to add a disclaimer, qualifier, or clarifying comment, so I haven’t figured out exactly how I would complete it yet. At least where the mention of "friends of emergent" appears there’s a text-box where I can make comments about paying for friendship, which is a real turn-off to me. Makes the thing sound like prostitution.
There, I’ve said too much already… will save the rest for conversation over a pint or two.
Although I feel like a tiny fish swimming with much bigger fish in the incredibly beautiful pond of emerging ecumenical conversation…I hope I can a little bit to the conversation. It is to bad the after the " Shifting Realities " conference at Lambrick Park Church in Victoria, that the ball seemed to have been left on the court while people walked away. I think that was the real opportunity for conversation between the embryonic " emergent Canada " and the ongoing conversation in " Resonate." That being said, it begs the question," is Emergent Canada really necessary?"
I find Resonate extremely unique, it has it’s own identity, character and story…(We) I am Canadian. It is totally different from Emergent US and Emergent UK, and I wonder how much will be lost in Emergent Canada? Another question that comes to mind is how much of the discussion will be influenced by Emergent US? The reality is Resonate has been the emgerging conversation in Canada for quite awhile…and what I love about Resonate is it’s all inclusive…you value the little fish as much as the big fish. You don’t know how much that means to us little guys learning to swim in the current that is moving across the christian landscape of this country. I wonder how much little fish would be valued in Emergent Canada.
I till am amazed at how far the resonate conversation has weaved in to the spiritual landscape of the country, what started of as a regional seed, has and is continuing to spread and grow across this country. If Emergent Canada can make the conversation more national and create conversation with Emergent US and UK could be a good thing…I just hope it won’t come at the cost of a unique identity and conversation that is already happening.
The likelihood of me being near the Kings Head seems remote so I will pen a few thoughts on your conversation, to add to a brief post on Jordon’s site. I should say at the outset, this is great stuff – and needed to boot… So these comments will be a little disjointed, but hey I come from a scientific background, so do not expect eloquence.
From Jamie:
"I have found that they (Emergent US & UK) are not entirely fitting models to our Canadian context. I was also concerned that taking the name will further "franchise" the emerging journey more than it should be"
I agree with the one-model-does-not-fit-all philosophy. Isn’t that a huge part of the emerging conversation? We should not adopt someone else’s model. Done. Dusted. The questionnaire is just a start at giving us (who should us be? – see Jordoncooper.com) enough to see where to go next, if anywhere… The name and legitimate concerns over ‘franchising’/ labelling should all be looked at, I agree.
"very localized initiative" and "I am not sure that his (Brian’s) handing the ball off qualifies for national representation"
This has been initiated from 3 men (gender inclusivity where are you?) from one church, and this NEEDS TO CHANGE SOON. This group cannot be the leadership of a national organization. Independent of any reasons of why the ‘ball’ came our way, I think that our job is to kick it up in the air where everyone can see it, and see who comes to play. Only national representation, will bring national representation, to be a little facile.
"natural community of relationships, which I believe RESONATE represents."
I agree wholeheartedly. ‘We’ should only exist, if we bring something more to the table.
From the Brother:
"I wonder if it’s realistic to organize a national group that doesn’t first have regional representation"
Yep. I agree.
"I’ve heard of the church and wouldn’t have imagined it to be considered an emerging expression of church, but then I’ve had no contact there for quite a few years now."
Indeed times change, especially in the last two years at the church. Plus we have been ‘a church of two churches’ (to oversimplify, modern and er.. emerging) for almost 10 years. Though strained in the early years, the relationship between the two is becoming more mutually beneficial every week (literally).
"Prostitution"
Fundraising ideas are up for grabs, and, if agreed, then we should be slow to associate ourselves or ‘our favours’ with Hosea’s wife.
Ron:
Another question that comes to mind is how much of the discussion will be influenced by Emergent US?
See points above, but to be useful or effective, it will need to be completely Canadian, and our links with Emergent US are not forcing our hand in any way.
"I wonder how much little fish would be valued in Emergent Canada."
Hopefully as much as any fish. Though the idea of being a ‘fish’ may resonate more in some regions than others
"I just hope it won’t come at the cost of a unique identity and conversation that is already happening."
A good point to end on. If it does, then it should never happen.
A couple of concerns, which can be addressed, fleshed out, refuted, etc. as the conversation continues…
A) Franchising is a concern. As I jokingly referred to at TSK’s blog, we’re not http://www.timhortons.com/">Tim Horton’s.
B) Regionalism in Canada being what it is, it will be difficult and possibly detrimental to have a national voice from Victoria (Lambrick Park Church and The Place are the same church, just different services); as others have already pointed out, even the fine work of Resonate does not attempt to be national, but encourages the regional connections that are relationally, not organizationally, connected.
C) A survey seemed, oh how can I say this… so "modern"? How about a forum, or comments like every other blog? Conversation, instead of data tabulation? It’s a small thing, which I don’t want to blow out of proportion, but given the concerns of franchising (point A above), taking a survey seems kinda impersonal. Easily addressed, of course.
I know this will be discussed more at the King’s Head tonight; till then…
thanks for the link back
one day, i hope to join you for a drink at the kings head
do you guys ever relate with Underground Railroad and their network of ministries to alt. culture/ punk – its an international network based in Vancouver BC
When i was doing ministry among alternative/creatives in san francisco (95-98), they were the only network i knew of in north america that was doing this-
maybe your paths will cross in the future
I share some of these concerns.. It probably would have been better for emergent canada to be born out of resonate in some fashion… at least the distinctly canadian origin and broader national conversation was already in place.
I too wasn’t quite sure what to do with the survey form.. I filled it in half-heartedly, more in faith.. as a statement of a desire for solidarity than a sense that the solidarity was there..
I’ll just add this to the tail of my earlier comment on this post…I wonder if it might be wise for Simon and the Folks at The Place/Lambrick Park Church ( Emergent Canada ) to talk with some of the folks that have been in the Resonate conversation from the beginning, and those in the informal conversation before that…as to get an idea of where the conversation already is at… a staring point.
I don’t know maybe the regional contacts also might be good resource people. You almost sense that it is a good idea to build on something that is already there, than starting from scratch. Anyway, just some random thoughts…Shalom Ron+