For those still trying to work out what "emerging church" is, here is a nice, easy to read article that reports fairly on the developments:  read it here.

I am becoming increasingly concerned with the label (as many are), since it can mean so many things, and nothing at all.  People like Don Carson, who claim to critique "emerging church", have created straw men and easily burn them down, thinking they've answered all possible "emerging church" positions.  They haven't.

The problem is that there is no single "emerging church" philosophy or theology.  Problem, yes.  But the solution is not to impose such a framework yet.  The solution is to continue to trust the process.  Certainly those who are leading various parts of the emerging church process seem to be clearer and clearer in their descriptions of what it is.  Give it time.  Allow it to emerge.  After all, the Reformation didn't have a completely worked out theology the day after Luther posted his theses did it?

C

I appreciate what you said here. I'd like to get more of your thoughts on this. My concern is actually the process. Many already speak in absolutes; finality. The room for dialogue is beginning to shrink (maybe observed in the shrinking dialogues through the blogs in the last year). My hope is that we continue the dialogue. And I have made the same comparison with Luther. WE need to remember that the reformation took about a 100 years to get off the ground. Of course before the age of communication, but still...

Posted by: steward77 25 Sep, 2006 - 15:22:53

Carson hasn't really created 'straw men' because although he might not have accurately portrayed the broader body of ministers who associate themselves with the emerging movement (a point he has conceded himself), those 'straw men' that he does portray are Mclaren, Burke, Chalke and other Emergent Village crew. You can accuse Carson of misrepresenting the grassroots emerging pastor but you can't accuse him of misrepresenting the 'big guns' whom most of the grassroots guys read and look up to - unfortunately their literature convicts them.

Not many people know that Carson has been involved in on going dialogue with Mclaren since he published his book - that speaks volumes for Carson's genuine concern - he's not trying to take pot shots at 'straw men' - a simple overview of his career will show you that he's not that type of Reformed academic

Posted by: Stephen Murray 10 Oct, 2006 - 20:47:14

Hi Spooh. How do you know Carson has been dialoguing with McLaren - and is any of that conversation available online?

Posted by: Roger Saner 12 Oct, 2006 - 16:50:11

Hi Roger

A colleague of mine who knows Carson personally first informed me of this - I have since seen two other blogs reference it, but I don't think it's available online. I just spent about two hours trying to find those blog references, and I must humbly admit defeat - I know this looks bad, but I read it quite a while ago and I honestly couldn't find it again.
Sorry. Will let you know if I find anything else.

Posted by: Stephen Murray 12 Oct, 2006 - 21:56:05

I emailed Brian and asked him (hey - try emailing Carson and ask him directly!). He replied and said they had some private email conversation which they agreed not to make public. It doesn't seem to have gone on for very long. It definitely isn't "ongoing dialogue."

Posted by: Roger Saner 13 Oct, 2006 - 14:56:13

That's helpful - I retract the 'ongoing dialouge'. I'm afraid I don't have Carson's email address - but I will be meeting him in January at a conference so if I get a chance I'll ask him and maybe ask a few other questions about EC.

Posted by: Stephen Murray 13 Oct, 2006 - 18:32:39

Kewl - is Carson coming here to a conference or are you going to hear him somewhere else?

Posted by: Roger Saner 16 Oct, 2006 - 13:48:55

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