Five Years Ago, Five Years From Now
by Tony Jones
Almost exactly five years ago, a group gathered at my family cabin in northern Minnesota to talk about the future of this thing we were/are a part of. We were in the process of leaving the protective umbrella of Leadership Network, and we were branching out on our own. As you can see, sitting arond the table, were a great group of people: me (with son, Tanner), Brad Cecil, Sally Morgenthaller, Brian McLaren, Al Roxburgh, Todd Hunter, Danielle Shroyer, and Tim Conder; Doug Pagitt and Julie Jones are standing in the back, and the inimitable Rudy Carrasco took the picture. Jason Mitchell is not pictured.
Recently, Danielle found her notes from that meeting, and here's what they say:
Initial Musings:
Something's not working. Why?
How can we be honest about our faith and our doubt?
We have expanding misgivings about our beliefs, our belief systems and practices.
We think some of our beliefs are wrong, we think some of our systems are unhelpful, and some of our practices are misguided.
We retain confidence in Jesus but are convinced that a thorough
revolution, re-evaluation, re-formation, deconstruction, reconstruction
of our ways are needed.
alternative space----recover the story----transmit to the world
Goals/Dreams:
conferences
forums/dialogues
books- joint projects as well as individual
consulting to churches, denominations
new churches
mentoring artists
more networking
learning structures/training centers
monastic communities
journal/periodical
website
seminary/parachurch presence
media/arts influencers
mentoring emerging leaders
Top 3 First Year Goals:
conference
learning structures
journal/periodical/website
We're having another meeting next week, five years and two weeks later, again at my cabin. Some faces in the current Emergent Coordinating Group are the same, and there are some new faces. We have lots to celebrate, five years later. Much of what we dreamed has come to pass. But we still stand at a liminal moment, one in which the church needs thorough revolution if it hopes to stand as God's partner in the Grand Re-Creation.
So we ask for your prayers as we meet next week. If you know someone on the ECG, and you have some ideas about what we should aim for in the next five years, drop us an email.
We're having another meeting next week, five years and two weeks later, again at my cabin. Some faces in the current Emergent Coordinating Group are the same, and there are some new faces. We have lots to celebrate, five years later. Much of what we dreamed has come to pass. But we still stand at a liminal moment, one in which the church needs thorough revolution if it hopes to stand as God's partner in the Grand Re-Creation.
So we ask for your prayers as we meet next week. If you know someone on the ECG, and you have some ideas about what we should aim for in the next five years, drop us an email.
