1. The Great Emergence: How Christianity Is Changing and Why The Rev. Marilyn Baldwin St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church White Bear Lake, MN June, 2009 From the book by Phyllis Tickle, c. 2008 by Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI

2. 2 Emergence, Emersion The emerging church (sometimes referred to as the emergent movement) is a Christian movement of the late 20th and early 21st century that crosses a number of theological boundaries: participants can be described as evangelical, post- evangelical, liberal, post-liberal, charismatic, neocharismatic, and post- charismatic. (Wikipedia)

3. 3 Emerging Church Proponents… call it a "conversation" to emphasize its developing and decentralized nature, its vast range of standpoints and its commitment to dialogue. What those involved in the conversation mostly agree on is their disillusionment with the organized and institutional church and their support for the deconstruction of modern Christian worship, modern evangelism, and the nature of modern Christian community. (Wikipedia)

4. 4 The Great Emergence Part I: What Is It? Part II: How Did It Come To Be? Part III: Where Is It Going?

5. 5 Part I: What Is It? Changes slipped into our lives somewhat unnoticed, unheralded in late 20 th Century Affect every part of our lives Interface with/context for all aspects Social Culture Politics Economics

6. 6 “The World Is Flat Again” Classic economics applies less to service economies than production-based ones National borders, loyalties not as strong as before Small nations can hold large ones hostage Technology, knowledge have leveled playing field Traditional privilege no longer a given

7. 7 Examples “Information overload” at all levels To-do lists are endless Dependent upon technology outside ourselves for even simple tasks Simple calculations Computer, phone issues disrupt lives Where is the line between human and machine?

8. 8 How Does This Apply To Religion? (specifically, North American Christianity) About every five hundred years the Church feels compelled to hold a giant rummage sale…. We are living in and through one of those five-hundred-year sales. ---Phyllis Tickle, quoting The Rt. Rev. Mark Dyer, Retired Anglican Bishop

9. 9 Understanding History* Pattern of 500-years helpful to understanding and reassurance Empowered structures become unwieldy Must be shaken off so that new growth may occur * “Those who do not understand history are doomed to repeat it” ---George Santayana

10. 10 Three Results or Corollary Events New, more vital form of Christianity emerges Former dominant form becomes “more pure and less ossified” version of itself = two new creatures where there was one Faith has then spread dramatically into new geographic and demographic areas Increasing exponentially range and depth of Christianity Eg., Reformation forced changes upon Roman Church

11. 11 Rummage Sales When the Church Cleans Out Its Attic 500 Years Ago: Great Reformation (16 th Century) growth in relative importance for religion & culture Luther: October 31, 1517 Others had made rumblings for at least a century Other changes went on for at least a century more Wycliff, Zwingli, Knox, Calvin, Hooker

12. 12 Rummage Sales (cont.) 500 Years Earlier: Great Schism (1054) Cultural, theological, practical differences between Eastern and Western Churches Symbolic habits, rituals, sacred means Eastern: (Constantinople) Leavened bread, Greek language, Spirit descended from God the Father Western: (Rome) Unleavened bread, Latin, Spirit descends from Father and Son (filioque clause) Rome excommunicated Constantinople Constantinople declared Rome anathema

13. 13 Rummage Sales (cont.) 500 Years Earlier: (Late 6 th Century) Pope Gregory (I) the Great (590-604) “Cleanup” after the Fall of the Roman Empire (Rome sacked, 410; fell, 476; Senate disbanded in 480) Council of Chalcedon, 451: Issues Nature of Jesus’ Incarnation: divinity vs. humanity Whether Mary was “Mother of God” or of human Eastern, Western, Oriental Christianity

14. 14 Gregory and the Monastics Growing lawlessness, illiteracy of culture Commoners, minor clergy left with little official religious practice or scriptural study Thanks to Gregory (and Benedict before him) Convents, monasteries became repositories for early treasures of Church and learning Power rested in religious communities and especially their leaders

15. 15 First Century CE Obviously most important to Christian faith Christianity born out of Judaism Birth, public ministry, teachings, crucifixion, Resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth changed everything Judaism itself forever changed 70 CE Temple destroyed; 130 Jews barred Jews dispersed; epochs of human time redated Much of Church born in those 60 years

16. 16 Inner Workings of Rummage Sales We are on the cusp of 500-year change We are also the product of one, and all those before Need to gauge present pain against patterns and gains of previous “hinge times” No structure has been lost; only changed by new, not-yet-organized form

17. 17 “Re-Traditioning” Diana Butler Bass Apostolic tradition did not cease to be Canon, Augustinian theology, mysticism still with us Monastic tradition did not cease but still influences us Roman Catholicism’s power, ritual, and theology still inform us Protestant Christianity still important Emphasis on literacy, Scripture

18. 18 Broader Upheaval Colonized Christianity changing in less- developed countries, cultures More sharing, egalitarian assumptions Similar issues in Judaism 500 years BC: Babylonian Captivity, destruction of Solomon’s Temple 1000 BC: End of Age of Judges, David’s monarch established Great Transformation: Emergence of humanity Similarities in Islam? (Shorter history)

19. 19 Cable Of Meaning (after Tickle, p. 35) Waterproof covering (history of community) Mesh sleeve (common imagination) Spirituality Corporeality Morality

20. 20 A Holy Tether Consider “generic religion” – belief system Humanity secured by tether to greater meaning “If there were no god, we would have to invent one”

21. 21 Cable Of Meaning Explained Waterproof covering = story of community Mesh sleeve = common imagination Not necessarily true, but “truth” of community Three strands: Spirituality: Naming central experiences & values of individuals and community Corporeality: Physically embodied religion Morality: Application, enactment of values

22. 22 Cable To Meaning All well as long as cable is intact, suffers no major blow Story and shared illusion are struck a blow simultaneously – major change in culture “Religious duct tape” seals off changes for awhile Healing takes place; new shared values Cultural change cycle starts all over again

23. 23 The Great Emergence Part I: What Is It? Part II: How Did It Come To Be? Part III: Where Is It Going?

24. 24 Part II: How Did It Come to Be? Why is it important? Knowing historical parallels: Allows us to more accurately evaluate & address changes Diminishes sense of failure: my/our fault Most recent parallels in 16 th Century Reformation Makes sense to gain understanding from it

25. 25 The Great Reformation: Prequel to Emergence Reformation didn’t start with Luther’s 95 Theses (1517) but much earlier 1378: Two men elected Pope Urban VI, Italian Clement VII, French Led to cultural, political, and social upheavals Primacy, stability of Seat of Rome shattered Not settled until 1418, after 3 popes vying for power

26. 26 Outcome: Two Major Changes Destroyed idea that popes are chosen by God to be arbitrator of religion and politics Evoked one major question – always present in re-formation: Where now is the authority? Answer didn’t come until Reformation: Sola scriptura, scriptura sola Joined later by “priesthood of all believers”

27. 27 Advantages of New Authority As new source of authority becomes established, chaos gives way to stability New changes, requirements come out of new authority Sola scriptura required literacy of all Literacy accelerated drive toward rationalism, Enlightenment, ultimately literature, science and technology of today

28. 28 Disadvantages of New Authority Divisiveness: many different interpretations of same information New denominations, sects proliferate Bloody history of spread of Christianity Disunity of the Body of Christ Sola scriptura sets up a “paper pope” in place of human one?

29. 29 Further Assaults on Authority 1453: Ottoman Turks capture Constantinople Greek Orthodox intelligentsia leave Turkey for Europe Brought copies of ancient documents in original languages Possessed ability to read ancient languages Brought scientific and mathematics knowledge from Islamic world All contributed to great leap in knowledge and culture in all of Europe: The Renaissance had begun

30. 30 Tension and Conflict Tensions defined religiously after Islam’s founding in 6 th Century Less defined as far as geography Iberian Peninsula (Spain) in 50 years before Luther series of skirmishes Regional kings and Mussulmen (Muslims) Roman Church and Sephardic (Spanish) Jews Catholic monarch’s retaking of Spanish culture Cordoba’s library had over 400,000 volumes Largest in one place since destruction of Alexandria

31. 31 Tension and Conflict (cont’d) Ottomans conquered much of southern Mediterranean by 1417 Inroads to Europe as far as Vienna for the next century Finally repulsed in 1683 Caused reconsideration of Church, state, social & economic orders City-states centralized; duchies became states Merchant classes, transportation, warfare all transformed into modern modes

32. 32 Rise of Protestantism Shifts in loyalties from local lord to distant king Greater independence, responsibility for self Middle class came between ancient aristocracy and peasantry Cash became basis of power Protestantism became expression of new world order Gave authority to new order by “sacramentalizing” important occurrences

33. 33 Rummage Sale – Hinge Time Changes Characterized by/informed by Increasing restraints upon/outright rejections of Pure capitalism Mainline Protestantism’s loss of demographic base Changes in nuclear family Shift from cash to information as base of power Demise of nation-state & rise of globalization

34. 34 Influence of Gutenberg Wycliffe,(d.1388) others argued for presenting Scripture in common language Gutenberg’s printing press (1440) and subsequent inventions made it available Also allowed Luther’s documents, others to be distributed far and wide Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, Newton theories disseminated Called into question previously unquestioned

35. 35 Rethinking Church Authority “3-level universe” proven wrong by Columbus Where were God, Heaven? Was the Church capable of being wrong? Simply, Yes Common story now broken Search for new meaning, adjusted story

36. 36 New Answers To Old Questions Open to question/change: Number and order of sacraments Role of faith and works in salvation Buying of church positions and forgiveness Nature of Communion; proper prayer Timing of baptism Numbering, definitions of Commandments Luther/Reformation opened door to more changes – not final questions

37. 37 Counter-Reformation: Roman Response Luther, others originally envisioned changed Church, not split Fifth Lateran Council (1512-17) within Roman Church pushed for changes Doctrine and practice clarified Devotions, indulgences, Purgatory Training of priests, appointments, factions cleared up

38. 38 Seeking Hegemony Def: Leadership; pride of place Drive to war in several areas Spanish & Italian Inquisitions Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) involved much of Europe over Roman/Protestant control English Civil War (1641-51)

39. 39 Questions of Re-Formation: Darwin, Freud, and the Power of Myth Modern Science as major challenge to story and imagination in place since post- Reformation Darwin’s Origin of Species, 1859 Faraday, Field Theory, 1851 Electromagnetic rotations and induction Principles on which generators and transformers work No “ether” or “matter” as such Light not from angels but a natural phenomenon Changed ways of thinking, being, believing

40. 40 Questions of Re-Formation (Cont’d) Freud: Opened questions of mind and self Jung: Extended explorations of self, collective unconscious; influenced others Campbell: Disestablished Christian “doctrine of particularity” and “exclusivity” New mass communication technologies made information available to all Telegraph, radio, mass news, TV

41. 41 Theological Changes: Reactions 1895: Conference of Conservative Protestants meet Formulate principles of belief: Fundamentals 1950’s on: pioneering education, discussion via TV, common culture Bishop Sheen Televangelists Joseph Campbell: What of solus christus and sola scriptura?

42. 42 The New Self Old theory of “self” existing somewhere in brain Newer ideas of self merging with artificial intelligence: existential questions Self/brain/mind/I/soul/prayer/God/existence Each time of reformation has same question: Where now is the authority? No answers = individual, societal chaos

43. 43 Two Questions of Great Emergence What is human consciousness – what makes us human? How can we live as religious persons in a world of many religions? We cannot have truly entered into stability until we have answered both questions Both questions are in widespread, open discussion All participants are products of 20 th Century; major cultural changes must be examined

44. 44 The Century of Emergence: Einstein, Autos, and Marginalization of Grandma Einstein dominates 20 th Century in many areas, including religion 1905: Published 4 papers that changed our “consensual illusion” forever 1. Quanta or bundles of light proven - later quantum physics - no angels, but natural laws 2. Brownian motion described quantitatively - proof of molecular activity - proof of existence of atoms 3. Special Theory of Relativity - no absolutes in space or in time - all depend on observer 4. Matter and energy not separate but equivalent (E=mc 2 )

45. 45 Heisenberg and Uncertainty Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle came out of Theory of Relativity “Uncertainty” the only fact that could be accepted as fact in both popular mind and academics Literary deconstruction: no absolute truth – all relative to the perceiver All writing – sacred or secular – has no innate meaning outside of reader Battle of The Book

46. 46 Looking for the Real Jesus Sola scriptura already damaged before Einstein or Heisenberg “What if Jesus of Nazareth and Jesus of Western history are not the same? Reimarus, 1770’s “The Quest for the Historical Jesus,” Schweitzer, 1901 – marks the end of an era and opening of another Midcentury finds and methods changed how most view the Gospels Jesus seen as much as guru and sage as God

47. 47 More Einstein, more outcomes: 1915-16: General Theory of Relativity Understanding of time as a fourth dimension, capable of slowing Ongoing expansion of universe; Big Bang Human space exploration Biblical literalism based on inerrancy given a blow Divine authority of Scripture decentralized, turned into “pick-and-choose bazaar” Where now is our authority?

48. 48 Enter Pentecostalism 1906: Black LA preacher’s new doctrine that Spirit gifts are accompanied by speaking in tongues Azusa Street Revival spread like wildfire in US and world 2006: 500 million Pentecostalists – 2 nd only to RC Church of all classes, races, genders Worship style influenced others, especially evangelicals

49. 49 Beginnings of Pentecostalism African-American community was largest “untheologized” community spirituality Black spiritual experience and contact with divine have been central since before Azusa Street; mainstream since then Assumes direct contact with God and direct agency of Holy Spirit Spirit takes precedence over Scripture First answer to “Where is authority?” - Spirit ¼ of emergents are Pentecostal by heritage or affinity

50. 50 Leaving Grandma in the Rearview Mirror 1908: First popular mass-produced US car Freed Americans from ties to home, family, community, church Changed Sabbath forever to Sunday: shopping, errands, sports took precedence over church and family gatherings “Grandma” was enforcer of biblical learning, church attendance, generational ties

51. 51 The Influence of Karl Marx Published Communist Manifesto in 1848 Built on ideas of Hegel: dialectical materialism Opposites exist only when in opposition When conflict if resolved, the two synthesize All of life is a becoming, never a being All creation part of some Absolute that is becoming Marx: State must be supreme; all other forms of authority must cease to exist for people to thrive Das Kapital, 1867: Owners always looking to make goods more cheaply on the backs of workers Workers would revolt, which must be prevented State should own all things, keeping ownership from individuals

52. 52 Marx’s Influence (cont’d) Communist/socialist authority in conflict with religion and Reformation concepts Human responsibility, worth, purpose Others argued for a proto-secular humanism: what is best for most Midcentury churches took over in socializing young Building programs for meeting halls, gyms encouraged uniformity of belief Not same as belief in God

53. 53 The Spiritual Strand and A.A. Children of 40’s, 50’s “spiritual but not religious” Growth of AA, other groups after 1935 encouraged people to “choose your own concept of God/Higher Power” Leap from doctrinal to experiential Wounded as better healers than experts, authorities, clergy Revived small-group dynamic

54. 54 Strangers and Countrymen 1965 Immigration and Nationality Services Act passed Long memories of cheap labor imported from other countries; Asians targeted Wars opened Asia to US; later, US to Asian immigrants By end of Great Depression, Americans primarily urban with time and opportunities Free time leads most to awareness of self, internal experience

55. 55 A New Religion Most mainline Christianity gave no religious vocabulary or practices Asian immigrants brought Buddhism Rich narrative of wisdom experience Tranquil meditative tools “unencumbered by theism” “Insinuated itself” into Christian and Jewish practice Journey of the spirit did not require the baggage of religion

56. 56 The Drug Age For some, drugs offered different reality and adjusted perception of subjectivity Again, American culture had taught little or nothing about spirituality Experimentation became a way to encounter mystery, experience Questioned nature of consciousness, further disorienting participants “Clear trajectory from Timothy Leary to the Great Emergence”

57. 57 The Erosion of Sola Scriptura Years leading to Civil War had caused Scripture to be questioned by slavery opponents Freedom, equality legally guaranteed if not personally WWI and II called gender equity into question Women got the vote; seeds of Women’s Movement planted Divorce hurdle was overcome Ordination of women, episcopacy Gay rights as last challenge to biblical literalism When last fight is won, where will be the authority?

58. 58 The Corporeal Strand Protestantism codified as a set of beliefs Religious sensibilities that have assumed body, form, & power = CORPOREAL Often exhibited in fights over hymnals, biblical translations, rituals Race/gender/sexual preference have crossed barriers to become cultural fights May be a sign we are nearing the end of focus on corporeal, perhaps to begin with moral

59. 59 The Moral Strand Roe v. Wade often cited as first sign of moral question: What defines human? Jack Kevorkian, “mercy killing” Terry Schiavo was most recent major case to question difference Inflict vs. permit death Questions still open and debated

60. 60 Technological Advances Roman Catholic leadership ¼ of today’s emergents are of Roman Catholic background Impact of Vatican I & II on all of Christianity I: Papal Infallibility; origin, role of Scripture II: Ecumenism, interfaith dialogue, theology of religion Medical advances & ethical questions Beginning & end of life issues

61. 61 Technological Advances (cont’d) Impact of personal music devices Changed expectations from performed to participatory music Changes in political boundaries, loyalties Money no longer sole basis of power Information now holds power in most cases Religious experience has moved from sacred to secular to electronic space Internet connects without hierarchy, yet disconnects from local community

62. 62 Technological Advances (cont’d) Enables “priesthood of all believers” in ways the Reformers could not imagine Huge implications for emergents Opens information to all Opens dis-information as well No mentoring, formation, credentials Rise of “aggressive atheism” in response to worldwide connectedness Theodicy of natural and human-caused disasters, wars

63. 63 Rosie the Riveter Mobilization of troops and materials for WWII required women in war mfg. jobs Over 20 million women worked in defense Others cared for their children, did other related work Peace sent most back to domestic oblivion Restiveness from having had power New technologies left much time, little to do Role expectations of returning GIs, wives differed

64. 64 Rosie the Riveter (cont’d) Rosie increased social life in acceptable ways Telephone contacts Church volunteer work, fellowship Young women had memory of a different upbringing – power of women Domestic, work, and social life would change forever as they came to adulthood

65. 65 Family Reconfigured 1960: Birth control pill changed women’s options Family planning More equality in jobs Smaller, later families Two-income families Child care elsewhere Loss of mother role, traditional family Where now is the basis for our social order?

66. 66 Scripture’s Place GenX children no longer learned bible stories, morality at home Scriptural ignorance results in two possibilities: Some eagerly seek engagement with it Others ignore, avoid it – “send to attic” with antiques Where is this all going?

67. 67 The Great Emergence Part I: What Is It? Part II: How Did It Come To Be? Part III: Where Is It Going?

68. 68 Part III: Where Is It Going? No one really knows – we can only imagine, forecast possibilities Like others before A generalized social/political/economic/ intellectual/cultural shift Initiating in, but not limited to, Western experience We speak of North American Christianity but other religions, areas involved as well Emergence in UK 20 years ahead – useful for our purposes

69. 69 Learning From History After “sale” was over, Christianity readjusted, grew, and spread Today’s Emergents have spread Geographically Numerically In depth In passion In belief of Christian call to brotherhood of all New way of living out faith?

70. 70 The Gathering Center Many Faces of a Church Emerging Early church first called “Christian” only when Barnabas and Paul were called to Antioch “Protestant” name used at least 12 years after Luther’s Theses No way to pinpoint when, where, what history will see as emergent Walter Rauschenbusch, 1907, first id’d Western humanity in “a revolutionary epoch… as thorough as Renaissance and Reformation” Paul Tillich, 1950’s, spoke of “shifting times and shifting foundations”

71. 71 Sketching the Church 1960’s observers noted changes in a diagram – a quadrilateral Liturgicals Social Justice Christians RenewalistsConservatives aka Charismatic & Pentecostal aka Mainline Aka Fundamental

72. 72 Changing Shapes No longer fit neatly into boxes Now more of a cruciform shape Liturgicals Social Justice Christians RenewalistsConservatives

73. 73 Changing Shapes (cont’d) Locate self or community based on importance in Christian practice Liturgicals Social Justice Christians RenewalistsConservatives Intersections loose and flexible

74. 74 Changing Shapes (cont’d) Top: Intersection between faith & works Where will you be at 10 AM on Sunday? Liturgicals Social Justice Christians RenewalistsConservatives Places on a spectrum rather than boundaries

75. 75 Changing Shapes (cont’d) Liturgicals Social Justice Christians RenewalistsConservatives Bottom: Belief more important than what one does - orthodoxy Top: Action more important than belief - orthopraxy

76. 76 The Gathering Center Liturgicals Social Justice Christians RenewalistsConservatives

77. 77 The Gathering Center (cont’d) 20 th – 21 st Century changes Lifestyle from rural isolation to high-density suburban/urban Labor from solitary to constant contact Given that religion is relatively very important to Americans, it is natural that we should discuss it in both private & working lives “Watercooler theology”

78. 78 Watercooler Theology Conversation about God in public Diversity in conversationalists about God No longer just reserved for clergy Open opinions on interpretations of current events Old divisions begin to melt, especially in “four corners” area Finding “empty spot” or hunger or question or experience to talk about

79. 79 Ubiquitous theology Public, shared, and vital Media age expedited communication and diversity New center not quite Protestant or any other Melange picked from each quadrant Established churches could not accommodate New faithful began meeting among themselves House churches sprang up along with unlikely meeting places All share incarnational characteristic: Jesus is incarnate as is worship – of the whole body

80. 80 Centripetal Force Gathers energy by bringing in more of its own Swirling, mixing from quadrant to quadrant Sweeping toward center Expands in waves of influence Results in new way of being Christian & church Predicted by scholars Dismissed as generational by established churches

81. 81 Error in Assessment Denominations failed to account for “rummage sale” factor – massive cultural shift Culture had become post-everything Modern Denominational Rational Enlightenment Literate ??? No means of returning/no desire to do so

82. 82 Backlash Major changes between inherited and emergent church result in backlash Dramatic change perceived as threat to status quo Fundamentalism (early 20 th C.) one example Reaction is not necessarily a bad thing Scholars predicted @ 10% of born Christians would push back violently against center; new diagram

83. 83 The Rose Liturgicals Social Justice Christians Renewalists Conservatives The Rose was the symbol of the Great Reformation

84. 84 Backlash Examples Congregations, ecclesial units, individuals would aggressively dedicate resources to reversing all changes Fallout from consecration of Bp. Robinson in Episcopal Church Election of conservative Roman pontiff, local bishop Splintering of Presbyterian Church Choosing sides unavoidable Each quadrant develops reactionists, purists “Ballast” against too-hasty changes in stormy sea

85. 85 Surrounding Currents Other sections of quadrants can be assigned by rough percentages Exception: Unknown % emergent Spectrum or sliding scale in widening ring Ultimately 60% may be Emergent by the time the movement is mature 30-35% neither Emergent or reactors

86. 86 The Surrounding Currents Liturgicals Social Justice Christians Renewalists Conservatives Hyphenates Progressives Re-Traditioning Traditionalists

87. 87 Surrounding Currents Flexible, open boundary lines Outer corners peopled by persuaded quadrant dwellers Inherited church of parents, grandparents Lend stability to faith in transition Will accommodate to and assist gradual change Will participate in realignments across sectarian lines

88. 88 Re-Traditioning Christians 1 ring closer to center Choose to stay with inherited church but wish to make it more fully what it was “Fond refurbishers” want to fix & live in it for all time Increase comfort, beauty, welcome to all Their task is the most remarkable, arduous, and richest of all

89. 89 Progressive Christians 1 track closer to center Want to maintain position in institutional Christianity yet give up controlling doctrine, practices Remain within Protestant communions Seek to adapt to realities of postmodernity Remodelers, not refurbishers; “open place up” Def: Believes in loving God, neighbor, self; thinks that 2 out of 3 ain’t bad” – Eric Elnes

90. 90 “Hyphenateds” Nearest to center Names bear literal or implied hyphens: Presby-mergents, Anglo-emergents Meth-emergents, Luth-emergents, etc. Now losing the “-” Most schizophrenic of circles; most vibrant, colorful,vital Tear down the house on Grandpa’s land; build anew Most difficult to predict future

91. 91 7. The Way Ahead Mapping Fault Lines and Fusions Different Bases of Authority Left of vertical axis has different base of authority than the right Left: (all in tension)Right: Scripture +sola scriptura Spirit +scriptura sola Liturgy + Apostolic tradition +

92. 92 The Bases of Authority (a) Liturgicals Social Justice Christians RenewalistsConservatives Orthodoxy Orthopraxy

93. 93 Orthonomy and Theonomy Numbers diminishing for traditionalists Orthopraxy (right practice) remains in upper quadrants Orthodoxy (right doctrine) in place for lower quadrants Emergence grows & occupies no quadrant; comes from all of them Open space on both sides of vertical axis

94. 94 The Bases of Authority (b) Liturgicals Social Justice Christians RenewalistsConservatives Orthodoxy Orthopraxy OrthonomyTheonomy

95. 95 Orthonomy New word coined from ancient Greek Ortho = correct + nomy = naming harmony, divine beauty “correct harmoniousness” Employment of purity to discern truth Many emergents confused about arguments over exact historicity, doctrine “Must be true since it is so beautiful”

96. 96 Orthonomy – Keatsian Heresy? “Beauty is truth and truth beauty” =/= Beauty in the eye of the beholder Action or object not divine or authoritative just because of its beauty or harmoniousness Emergents on right side of axis use a word of their own: theonomy Greek “theos” = God + “nomy” “Only God can be the source of perfection” How best to understand God’s meaning?

97. 97 Networked Authority New Christianity/emergent church must discover Authority base Delivery system Governing agency Must find something other than Luther’s sola scriptura Seen as insufficient, outmoded

98. Historical Authority Church has always utilized ideological currents of culture in general Early church copied Rome’s governance Under Gregory church’s authority was administered through monasteries and convents in similar hierarchical order Roman church defined authority in single position: system of kings, lords of pre- Reformation culture Reformation created democratic theology of priesthood of all believers; elected leaders 98

99. Emergent Authority? Scripture-and-community combined: network theory (math, physics, Web) Church more of a network than an entity Self-organized system of relations between parts Each part of smaller networks in complex levels Each is a working piece as long as connection remains intact No one part or network has entire truth Crowd sourcing = total egalitarianism 99

100. New Concept of Church Egalitarianism = respect for worth of each Indifference to capitalism, individualism Becoming the church = discovering what it means that the kingdom of God is within Each person a bit of a much grander network Established leaders, scholars, priests have only human understanding Message will flash to, from remote parts of network and be tempered by community 100

101. “What Is Emergent/Emerging Church?” A conversation: bottom-up vs. top-down Global: no barriers as to nationality, race, class, economic status Radical: relational, non-hierarchical, post- democratized form of Christianity for the future Impetus in the secular emergence Theory and tools found in theology, experience of quadrants plus one group 101

102. A Gift from the Quakers Early support in conservative quadrant Evangelicalism Lacked flexibility to shift to new model Quakers belong in no quadrant “Proto-network theory” in interplay of revelation, discernment, Scripture, governance Recent writers described different approach to spirituality and orderly being (Richard Foster, Parker Palmer, J. Brent Bill), John Wimber of Assn. of Vineyard churches) 102

103. A Gift from the Quakers (cont’d) I believe…we are witnessing a new reformation …challenging not doctrine the the medium. These new paradigm churches have discarded many of the attributes of established religion…creating a new genre of worship music, restructuring the organization, and radicalizing the principle of the priesthood of all believers. -- Donald E. Miller, Firestone Professor of Religion, USC, 1997. 103

104. Center Set and Bounded Set Don’t always fit into established churches or quadrants Often don’t fit the community from which they came Center-set: let people sort out by how close they want to get to the center Assumes something other than rules holding things together Presence of rules assumes some authority, consequence Bounded-set = defining who’s in, out 104

105. Center Set and Bounded Set (cont’d) “Believe-behave-belong” fits bounded-set Roman Catholicism, historic Protestantism Requires adherence to beliefs, conduct “Belong-behave-believe” reverses process Occurs in center-set approach One can belong and can seek more Will begin to behave in a different manner not imposed by rules Behavior shapes belief until both are one 105

106. Narrative Emergence thinking often critiqued as anti- intellectualism Postmodern/emergents recognize paradox in life and logical thinking Logic suffers from sufficient perspective Meta-narrative also product of human thought Narrative speaks truth to the heart so it may inform the mind Markedly different principle of human organization and understanding 106

107. The Problem With Constantine Growing distrust for precepts, teachings of post-Constantinian church Doctrine formalized at his direction Theology shifted from Judaic wholistic concepts of life and structure Became Hellenized dualism, Greco-Roman cultural hierarchy Body = evil, suspect; soul = separate, good Salvation concept went from how to live out God’s will to a guaranteed ticket to Paradise Great Emergence about restoring wholeness to Christian life 107

108. Future Possibilities Great Emergence may rewrite Christian Theology Atonement, origin of evil up for question New theology may be more embodied, paradoxical, narrative, mystical than before Roman, Protestant communions will need to adjust to massive changes Protestantism will have major impact Will need to assume greater collegiality 108

109. Not Easy To Discern How will the Great Emergence interface with results, consequences of realignments? How will Emergents themselves consider resulting Christianity? The growing emergent movement must be intentional about faith and what it is to become Once-inocuous movement no longer is 109

110. The Emergent Mission 110 “The church became a place to go… …Let us make it a people to be.”