Here's one of the things that get me about these conferences...
OTM is really specific on their website about who this conference is for...
"Young (18-35)/emerging leaders, practitioners of all ages and pastors looking for validation, acceptance, hope and partnership." (emphasis theirs)
Who's here? Not completely sure... but it's not exactly young :)
My sense is that there are a lot of frustrated people here. People in churches of all sizes in this NW area who dig the whole emerging church conversation and are looking for ideas, validation... a way in. They dig the emerging church vibe and want to be around it, in it, to bring it back into their context and get everyone else turned onto it. (I'm fairly sure of this analysis- I've been at enough of these and talked to enough people...)
My fear is that this just isn't workable. These folks eventually end up leaving. Some connect to another community, maybe one a bit more in line with the things they've been thinking and feeling... but many end up as free-range Christians, finding community on an ad-hoc basis. This is, I think, one of the worst of the unintended consequences of the emerging church movement...
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Bob--I was there last year and came away with the exact same feeling. It was a predominantly angsty-boomer crowd. There was a definite feeling of negativity in the air. It was hard being there, personally...I left with a bad taste in my mouth (in spite of the great lineup of speakers).
So yeah, for me: It was less of an evangelism conference, more of a protest rally.
Posted by: Drew Moser | November 03, 2006 at 01:02 PM
bob, do you feel the same sense of frustration / negativity as last year (i was not here, but i heard the same thing). those i have met are not quite in the "angry" phase...
Posted by: todd | November 03, 2006 at 05:31 PM
No... though I wasn't here last year. But I have been at enough emerging church things to know what you are talking about. It's not really anger... I just think that there are many of us who are past that anger phase and many who are just starting and those past need to make room for those who are just beginning... knowing that (hoping that? praying that?) they'll come out on the other side, still loving Jesus and still loving His Body, the Church.
I do think this is an "on ramp" type event... very suitable for those who need some good primer material on missional thinking. I'm finding myself wanting to get down to the nitty gritty off of the more big idea stuff which I have heard a lot... I find myself at this point awash in theory and wanting for concrete moves and help towards missional praxis.
Posted by: bob | November 03, 2006 at 07:24 PM
well perhaps you could be a person who contributes to the process that some people are in. you were once where some of us are.
Posted by: Pam | November 03, 2006 at 07:47 PM
Ahh- that's the work of evergreen! I have found that happening over and over again these past two years...
Posted by: bob | November 03, 2006 at 07:53 PM
bob - i didnt know you were there. thanks for these thoughts. i see similar things in USA.
Posted by: andrew (tall skinny kiwi) | November 03, 2006 at 09:49 PM