Monday, August 24, 2009

Phyllis Tickle's "The Great Emergence"

Are we in a "Great Emergence?" [Talk amongst yourselves.]
Questions (some mine, some Phyllis Tickle's):

PT describes the shifts in Christianity over the last 2000 years. The split of Asiatic and African Christians from European Christians, the formal establishment of a structured Monastic tradition in Christianity (500s AD), the split of the Roman Catholic Church from the Orthodox church (1000s), the Reformation (1500s) and in the 2000s is there another shift?


Luther discussed how there should be a priesthood of all believers - is that more possible now-days thanks to technology, literacy and access to various Christian traditions and practices?

How much of Christian tradition is from the Hellenist (Greek) and Roman traditions? Should there be an effort to become more like the early church (ie, pre-Constantine or, maybe more Jewish?)

Where is the authority of the larger Christian church today?
(Popes, priests, mega-church pastors, Scripture, Holy Spirit, the Christian community)

How can we live responsibly as devout and faithful adherents of one religion in a world full of devout and faithful adherents to many other religions (who we are coming into greater contact with!)?

Are you Orthopraxic, Orthodoxic, Orthonomic or Theonomic (is there a personality quiz for this one?)?
If you are all of the above, you may be "emergent/emerging"
Phyllis Tickle describes the Christian landscape not as "left and right" but using an idea, developed previously, that there are four quadrants --> "Liturgicals", "Social Justice Christians", "Renewalists", and "conservatives". She describes the "Great Emergence" as made up of those Christians trying to seek a balance between these four traditions, centered amid orthopraxy and orthodoxy, orthonomy and theonomy.

See: http://www.thegreatemergence.com/Home for more info about the book.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Schedule for the next few months...

Hello All!
For the next few months we will be meeting on the third Thursdays of the month twice - once at lunch and once in the evening - you pick!

Info can be found at the Metro Detroit Emergent Cohort webpage.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

February Cohort

February Cohort tentatively scheduled for Saturday February 28 at noon.
Location: TBA

However - we discussed having a weekday Cohort as well hopefully starting as early as this month, if you have a day preference, post a comment, or email me at mpjm223@gmail.com

We had a great conversation at the January cohort ranging from serious to light hearted. Our group included people of many denominational backgrounds (Catholic, Disciples of Christ, Lutheran, Methodist, and Presbyterian) many working directly in ministry, but some "lay" people too. We shared where we saw God working in our ministries and our lives and look forward to meeting again together this month.

If you are interested in joining us, do not hesitate to contact me or even just show up!

See also the Emerge Detroit Website:
http://www.emergedetroit.org/groups/metro-detroit-emergent-cohort

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

New Year - next Cohort Jan. 31

Hello to any and all.

We are hoping to meet some new folks in new places this year as a Cohort.

Info about the next cohort meet can be found at the Emerge Detroit website.

And updated info can also be found at emergedetroit.org

Hope to hear from some new folks in the new year!