This video has Dr. Ray Bolger, an emerging church leader, speaking of the emerging church. His insights are very helpful, and I believe representative of most emerging churches. Church as family vs. institution is critical. Emerging movements are all about community...not building or organization.
I really like his description of the emerging church as trying to find God's fingerprints on culture. My view of truth is that Truth is God's fingerprints in the universe. Therefore, in all things we can find some truth, but in no single thing can we find all truth. Emerging Church movements recognize this and are approaching faith more humbly. We believe in Truth, but with the understanding that we know only in part...as through a mirror, dimly, but one day we will know fully...and be fully known.
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Especially Bolger's description of the way many communities want to remain small, raises for me the following question. Can "emerging churches" be self sustaining within the structures of mainline protestantism or are they better suited to be smaller, specific ministries within the structure of a specific congregation?
Perhaps both...for a while; however, many of the emerging church movements believe that these faith communities will be the one that survive.
Mainline structures are barely self-sustaining themselves. They are bulky in overhead cost and manpower. They are top-down structured. This style of organization appears to be fossilizing.
Many emerging churches are growing. They have very low overhead as they focus upon community participation in every facet.
Ironically, I believe many local churches in mainline traditions could adjust to this very easily. The structure itself is holding us back. The question is will the "greater" churches allow their structure to morph?
In my mind, local churches would prefer the structuring aspect. I think most churches' concerns would be on the openness and missional components. Unfortunately, most churches really don't want new people because that means change (including change of power).
Interesting to know.
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