Emergent Village Coordinating Group – 2
Yesterday was a very full, tiring, but excellent day at the Emegent Village Coordinating Group meetings here in Minneapolis. We started the say with Ryan & Holly Sharp sharing a bit of their story of recent travels, plus shared some of their very powerful and beautiful music. Let me just give a clear and confident endorsement for this great couple and their art.
Tim Bednar of echurch.com gave us a walk through to the near completed new Emergent Village website (to be launched soon). If any of you are like me, you rarely visit the site anymore, as the contact is outdated and static. That is why they have created a remarkably interactive, resource and networking matrix with the new (and yet unreleased) site. I really look forward to put it to good use and recommend it to others. Stay tuned for the launch announcement.
As the day progressed, the conversation turned to several key matters, such as Emergent Village’s signing on with ONE.org, with a great deal of back and forth on the need for a balance of theological reflection and concerted praxis on the issues of global justice. While I believe that EV is still somewhat lacking in the praxis department, I also see that without a robust theology to compliment our action, we are likely to perpetuate models for action that could contribute to the problems we seek to change. Should praxis precede reflection? Personally, I believe they should be simultaneous, each feeding the other.
We also looked at the publishing partnerships that Emergent Village has entered into, explaining the process and details of how those partnerships work. I think the multi-publisher agreements will allow for a diversity of authors, styles and content to emerge. Having grown up around publishers and writers, I hope to throw my hat in and serve this process in any way I can. One area that didn’t get explored, which I wish I had brought up, was the possibility of produce “emergent” fiction. While Brian McLaren’s trilogy is great, I was think of something somewhat more literary. I hope to do a post on “emergent” fiction in the near future.
We also looked at several events coming in the next few years, inlcuding the continued theological gatherings, several justice orientated events and intentionality in planning event as the next US election to engage issues such as a political theology and other relevant topics. Dwight Friesen did a short, but thought provoking presentation on scale-free networks and the implication on the organizational and communal development of Emergent Village. Great food for thought.
From there, we all headed over to Tony’s place for a BBQ, where we able to relax and further develop the friendship that hold the Village together. After a good night sleep, I am ready to face the rest of the day, which I learned was the last day of meetings. Since I booked my ticket on the original plan for the meetings to end on Wednesday, I will be hanging an extra night at the ever so hospitable home of the Musick’s.
Today was only a hlaf day of meetings, but it was an intense one, especially given how tired everyone is. We started the day with some excellent music written and performed by Troy Bronsink (who has been staying at the Musick’s with myself and Damien O’Farrell). We then moved into the important but challenging topic of women within the emerging church conversation. It’s not difficult given we all believe and affirm women in leadership, but difficult insofar as, in our attempt to affirm this belief and walk it out, the question of “How” continually comes up.
Some believe that having gender specific events further contributes to the problem it is seeking to address, while others recognize a need for a safe place for women to gain the freedom and confidence need to further engage. Some in the conversation are tired of the critique and want to get on with the work at hand, while others are just entering into the conversation. Much needs to be worked through, with various important perspectives. In the end, I believe that the passion and commitment of women like Elizabeth Potter, who I had the chance to chat with this afternoon. While there are many women involved in leading Emergent, I can think of few as appropriate to take the lead on this challenge as she.
We also spent some time talking about the financial realities of Emergent Village. Many critiques (and not a few emergent fans) have blaze Emergent Village for any mention of money, which I think is completely unfair. While money does complicate matters, it does not necessarily corrupt matters- and in the case of EV, Tony Jones and the EV Board, it most certainly has not corrupted. While not going into detail, I can say with great confidence that they are handling the financial aspects with utmost integrity. If anything, in their commitment to such, often short change themselves.
On the matter of finances, Doug Pagitt made an excellent point. Through the great generosity of several people and groups, many have enjoyed the benefits of this great organization. However, having not paid anything, people begin to tell themselves the story that these things can happen without money, thus attack fundraising efforts. Further, many people, in shallow idealism, look down on wealthy people or companies who are donors, crying “Compromise!”, accusing Emergent Village leaders of “selling out”.
The reality is that this movement has always required resources and will continue to require more. Therefore, we would all do well to expect the best out of our sisters & brothers, not to mention practice due diligence before leveling sanctimonious accusations. After this meeting, most of the reservations I had about the financial aspect of EV have been answered well.
The day ended with a seriously engaging conversation about the possibility of a significant Emergent Village event in 2008. The challenge stemmed from the question of the nature of the event and the timing. Again, I will not go into details on this topic yet (being unsure how much can be shared on it at this stage). However, I will say that I think the idea is excellent and the timing is right if the planning and preparation start now. This is the time for big risks birthing out of big vision. That being said, it will require the commitment and resources of many people, as it is far too sweeping an idea to be handled by a few “insiders”. Seeing the group at these meetings, I have little doubt people will rise to the challenge.
We ended the day with a nice long walk around a lake in the city. It was the perfect way to end out time together- sunshine and Creation, great conversation and a relaxed congeniality. Above all, I have been deeply blessed by the great networking, a boost of encouragement and vision, and many wonderful new friends. I hope to be involved in future events with Emergent Village.
