Links

Due to a domain name loss, if you are trying a link on this site, replace 'emergent.ca' with 'emergentcanada.blogspot.com' in the address. Sorry.

Going offline

Due to the pressures of everyday ministry and job changes, we are going offline here until further notice (i.e. the dribble of posts will finally dry up ;-). This is what we can do:

• Use our unique mailout to promote events across (near) Canada.
• We will also continue to try to connect people that email us looking for like-minded/spirited local community.
• We will try to facilitate local meetings (esp. in Western Canada) - often through partnership.

Groups like resonate, epiphaneia and whole multitude of bloggers (to name but a few) have been extremely helpful in exploring the nature of kingdom, culture and community. There is nothing like getting together physically, but in such a large country with such differing regional contexts, they have shown their worth in supporting, challenging, and educating us.

It's been a while, so let's catch up

'Missional' Conversations

(e)mergent voyageurs has been living and breathing missional identity which led to a helpful response to Bill Kinnon's much-blogged polemic, "The People formerly known as The Congregation." EV's manifesto, "Exploring The Community Coming To Be Known As Missional" and explanatory notes, make for a great discussion within any community.

More recently the blog has focused on Location, which leads me to...

The need for contextualising our missional thinking (where has God placed us? Who are we to serve, and what are the specific inherent issues?) is central. This has led Todd Hiestand to write"The Gospel and the God Forsaken: The Challenge of the Missional Church in Suburbia" He asks:

"...where is the hidden, “under the surface,” poverty of our world? Despite its nice exterior of SUV’s and housing developments, could it be that the suburban world is as God-forsaken as any place on the globe? This paper will argue that it is. If this is true, what does it mean to be the church in suburban America? What does it mean to be “missional” in a context where there are very few apparent and obvious needs?"

Obviously much is being written in these areas, and these papers are what they are... valuable pieces of a developing puzzle. Thanks to both.

Elsewhere in the News

Jo and Jeremy (Thinkerlabs) are on the road, and over the next twelve months invite us to journey with them in an attempt to capture to film what God is up to in Canada on our shift as the church. Focusing primarily on church plants and other new forms of church, this initiative is not a 'how to’ but rather a ‘how it is’. The hope? To discover, encourage and connect church leaders and communities…and have a little fun in the process.

Here's the latest from the documentary blog: West Coast Wrap. Now the boys move onto Saskatoon.

Elsewhere in the World: Amahoro Africa

To quote TallSkinnyKiwi:

"To move parts of the conversation from the campfire of postmodernism to postcoloialism is not just to shift the focus from theology to missiology, where much of it belongs, but it also involves a shift from the issue of knowledge to the issue of power. And of the three concerns of postmodern thinking [knowledge, power and aesthetics] the Western church has got stuck on the epistemological questions of knowledge to the neglect of justice and power. Maybe the African church will show the Western church how to navigate these waters."

So, if you (like me) did not get the chance to go to Uganda in May, and regret it - then you can live and learn vicariously from the postcolonial voice. Here's one lecture summary to start you off:

One African Postcolonial Theology: The Imperative to Differ
(Notes from a lecture by Dr Kenzo Mabiala at the Amahoro Gathering )

The church in Africa is at a cross roads, poised to become a major force in the world. But we will only be successful in this if we have the courage to differ, to innovate.

In a world that is increasingly becoming a global village, there are not only the obvious changes (like communications, travel, products, etc), but also that we are changing our view of the world. This is as important and profound a change as the shift to the modern era from the middle ages.

Around the world, this is often referred to as postmodernism. In Africa, this is happening, too, under the guise of postcolonialism. This is more than a time or an era – it is a mindset or an attitude, too. There are those who cannot move forward until they have dealt with the demons of colonialism.

Knowledge is never innocent. It is a play between two forces: power and control. The first generation of African scholars saw the colonial problem, and the solution was to regress to pre-colonial, pre-Christian, pre-Islamic Africa. But, they have realised that this is an impossibility. The challenge going forward is to integrate all aspects of who we are now (e.g. Congolese, Christian, technologically advanced individual), rather than denying any one of these aspects of who we are.

Why am I attracted to postmodernism, emerging thinking and postcolonialism? Because they are asking the right questions.

Identity is created, not inherited. In Christ, we can be recreated.

When we study theology, we must realise that every theology is a contextual theology – yes, even Calvin and Luther.

Postmodernity is incredulity towards meta narratives. Every story is told around a plot, and that story is not innocent.

Those (like Carson) who are trying to maintain modernity, do not see modernity through the eyes of the oppressed. In Africa, modernity brought slavery and colonial oppression. It is like the “smell of an abusive father” – even when it is no longer there, you still have the smell of him in your nose (this analogy from a Congolese philosopher).

Africa has an opportunity to choose an identity – to choose how to respond and how to integrate. Africans must respond with boldness, creativity and difference.

You can listen the full podcasts here.

Uncle Brian's reflection on the Amahoro gathering is here, then use the sidebar to get a day-by-day feel for what happened.

Upcoming Gatherings

Soularize 2007 is a year-long online collaborative learning journey which will culminate with a three day learning party, hosted by Spencer Burke, in Nassau, Bahamas, October 25-27, 2007, where you will hear from and interact with N. T. Wright, Brennan Manning, Rita Nakashima Brock, and Fr. Richard Rohr on the future of the Church.

Even if you haven't been a part so far, it is open to you. Despite the obvious hardship of the location, it should be a valuable time ;-) Unless you're sailing, Carbon Credits are an option.

In closing... a resource Reminder

At allelon.org there is truly a feast of tasty, diverse offerings. If you haven't try one today.

Forming Missional Leaders (BC)

Feedback from recent gatherings...

The Evolving Church: Restoring Justice (ON)

For an overview of the gathering, talks and conversations check out Nathan's post which starts: "We are guessing there was about 760 people there throughout the day not including speakers for volunteers. While I’m not a numbers guy all that much, seeing The Meeting House that full of people passionate about social justice was an inspiration..."

Possibly the greatest note-taker ever is Daryl. His posts can be found on his blog, but what is even better is the pdf collection which talks in depth about nearly every session.

Other links here.

What is the Emerging Church? (QC)– sponsored by Christian Direction and ETEM

Thursday was in French with about 35 people, and Friday in English with around 15. One really nice surprise was the fact that Eric invited Jean-Yves Cossette from Québec City. He was there to deal with the theological/philosophical dimension. Wow! Jean-Yves knows his stuff! He’s read Derrida/Foucault in the original French and knows how to bring it into real-life situations. I was responsible for covering some Emerging Church Practices so I tried to make a less academic presentation by setting up some meditation stations and using lots of pix from various emerging communities. I also led my part of the discussion with a community of local friends (thanks - Julien, Andrea, Nick and Stef) who helped with some of the tougher questions and practical issues. Fortunately, most in attendance were genuinely seeking to understand the movement, and some others were actually wondering how to connect with it more.
Dave Brazzeal

The Thin Place (QC) – sponsored by YWAM

Jeff Pratt from Axiom in New Haven, Conn, did a great job leading what was to many their first entry-level silent retreat. There were periods of teaching on the concept of silent retreat followed by periods of silence. The setting at an old school in Dunham, QC made for a quirky place to explore and find an indoor sacred-space for yourself. Or you could wander in the woods or walk up the road to the beautiful horse farms. Gab set up a nice interactive worship experience on Saturday night, but it seemed many in the group weren’t used to that sort of thing. Pierre LeBel lined up with Jeff to make it an annual event for the next few years.
Dave Brazzeal

Local Groups

Recently I was contacted by David in Red Deer (see below) who desires to get together with others thinking about the emerging / missional church. So I thought it would be worth highlighting all those looking to start informal groups. If you live nearby and are of a similar mind, or know others who do, or simply want to give words of advice/ encouragement then please contact them:

• Halifax, NS - Carol Smith | {carolsmith167} AT {hotmail} DOT {com}
  
• Calgary, AB - Rick Bayer | {rbayer} AT {telus} DOT {net}
• Edmonton, AB - Stan King | {stan} AT {westana} DOT {com}
• Alliston, ON - Wes Harcourt | {wes.harcourt} AT {sympatico} DOT {ca}
• Great Vancouver (south), BC - Tim Ibbotson | {quantimtheory} AT {gmail} DOT {com}
  
• Regina, SK - Cory Vance | {cdv} AT {askbeltone} DOT {com}
• Red Deer, AB - David Heinrichs | {prairieoasis} AT {gmail} DOT {com} | (403)346-4432

A little more info here

The Evolving Church... a natural selection

This Toronto gathering has just announced more workshop leaders, including Sylvia Keesmaat- co-author of Colossians Re-mixed and professor at the Toronto School of Theology. Her workshop is entitled Justice and Creation Care. Also... Lorna Maracle Dodge on the theme of Justice and the First Nations. This comes from their keynote, Shane Claiborne:

"When the church becomes a place of brokerage rather than an organic community, she ceases to be alive. She ceases to be something we are, the living bride of Christ. The church becomes a distribution center, a place where the poor come to get stuff and the rich come to dump stuff. Both go away satisfied (the rich feel good, the poor get clothed and fed), but no one leaves transformed. No radical community is formed. And Jesus did not set up a program but modeled a way of life that incarnated the reign of God, a community in which people are reconciled and our debts are forgiven just as we forgive our debtors (all economic words). That reign did not spread through organizational establishments or structural systems. It spread like disease – through touch, through breath, through life. It spread through people infected by love"

Missional Matrix

Off The Map has invited some of todays leading thinkers on all things missional to share their view from the road and help us make meaning out of the theological and very personal twists and turns we find ourselves navigating as leaders. With Scot McKnight...

In Seattle, in March... so a little drive for the left-coasters... here for more.

Lenton Sessions (BC)

Economics and Ecology
Must a robust economy keep ecological concerns in the back seat? It just might be possible to keep a healthy environment and still have a healthy economy. Come and find out how in this speakers forum. Speakers from the finance and environmental sectors will make presentations and participants will discuss them and develop a Christian perspective on these issues.

Easter-Wings: poems and pilgrimage – Wilma Vanderleek
Walk through Lent with George Herbert, a 16th century Anglican priest in a little rural parish in England. Herbert wrote poems full of unusual pictures of the Christian life that were a great comfort to Christians in his day. We'll read and enjoy one poem a week and then let Herbert's honest struggle to find God in the middle of his suffering and doubts and even rebellion connect with our own joys and sorrows this Lent 2007.

The Stations of the Cross – Albert Westerhuis
From the earliest days, when pilgrims came to see Jerusalem, they were anxious to follow in the footsteps of Jesus on his way to crucifixion. Over time, fourteen “stations” were developed as a way to remember the passion story, and eventually churches created replicas of these stations in their sanctuaries. In this course we will study the history of the stations of the cross and create our own for use during the week before Easter.

February 25 – April 1 at 6 – 7pm (worship from 5:30pm)
Fleetwood Christian Reformed Church
9165 – 160 Str, Surrey, BC
www.fleetwoodcrc.org
604-584-6244

The Thin Place

Pierre LeBel wants to invite you to a very special and unusual retreat. The Thin Place is organized by YWAM Quebec, www.curieux.ca and Impact Churches in Montreal. Jeff Pratt is the founder of YWAM AXIOM in New Haven (Yale U) and is well connected to the emerging church movement in the US and the UK. As a young Mormon priest, it was his encounter with the cross that brought him to Jesus and, since then, to Christian ministry. On the eve of Easter, we'll focus on the relevance of the cross as the heart of the gospel, even in our post-Christian and postmodern culture. Click on the picture for more info...