Emergent Convention is in the hands of Emergent for 06 and Beyond

From Doug Pagitt

Youth Specialties announced today that they will no longer be co-hosting the Emergent Convention (nor the National Pastors Convention).
From their Press Release: “The emergentYS Convention began only two years ago as a partnership between Youth Specialties, Emergent, and Zondervan ChurchSource. This event was warmly received by people doing church ministry in new ways to meet the changing needs of our culture in a postmodern society. After much thought and prayer, Youth Specialties has decided stop producing these events. “It became clear that we needed to regain focus on what we exist for—and that is youth workers,” said president of YS, Mark Oestreicher. “This decision was not financially driven, and certainly not a matter of distancing ourselves from our fantastic partner organizations – this was purely driven by a recommitment to our organizational identity.”

The following is a note I wrote for the official announcement: Full announcement

“Over the last four years Emergent has benefited from the friendship and partnership with Youth Specialties in co-hosting The Emergent/YS conventions.
It is with a measure of sadness, but understanding, that we acknowledge and support Youth Specialties decision to no longer administrate and organize the convention.
While we have benefited from their expertise and hard work of making the events happen and will have much to do to replace their extraordinary contribution, we do plan to continue with a national gathering and are grateful that YS is willing to work with us in making that event a success.”

 After talking with a number of people significantly involved in Emergent we really feel this is ideal timing in light of the “new Emergent” structure and are very excited about the future. (If you are not familiar with the Contributors structure take a look here)

We are planning a meeting on Friday night of the convention to get people involved in the 2006 national event – it will probably not be a “convention” (with all the costs involved) but will be a national event with Emergent sensibilities. We are really excited about the possibilities. I will announce on this blog the location of the room when the decision is made. Please consider joining in and invite others for this meeting.

This meeting will actually do double duty providing a time for people to get caught up on the new Emergent structure as well as give input on the event.
We hope the word of this new structure spreads as well as the invitation for others to contribute to the event.




Here is the text of the Contributors structure:


We desire for Emergent to be “our” community. By “our” we mean all of us. Emergent is not intended to be the fulfillment of the dreams of an inner circle, but the lived expression of all involved. Our hope is that emergent is ever changing as new people become part of it. So there really is no one Emergent, Emergent is a growing relational connection of people and organizations. It is not possible to point to the definitive expression of Emergent, and that is a good thing. It might remind us of the kingdom of God in that sense – The kingdom of God what should I compare it to?

Our hope is that the structure of Emergent will allow for the greatest level of participation and creativity. We have tried many versions and are hopeful that this one will serve us for the next season of Emergent. We are using language of Contributor for those involved in emergent because we hope that we see our participation as a means of contributing even more than receiving.

Contributors and Affiliates occupy a central role in the emergent community. They join the Organizing Group in pursuing the mission and goals of emergent and in serving the larger community, and they create new channels for connection, involvement, and belonging.

Contributors are members of the emergent community who agree to fulfill a self-specified function or responsibility in service to the emergent community. They contribute their skills, expertise, time, scholarship, or other resources of their choosing.

Affiliates represent organizations with goals similar to those of emergent. Up to three people from these organizations may be identified as affiliates. Affiliate organizations may be seminaries, mission agencies, Para church groups, publishers, foundations, bands, groups of artists, churches, denominations, networks, websites, etc.

Contributors and Affiliates also seek to exemplify and practice the emergent rule and specifically, they
1) Contribute as they committed,
2) agree to stay informed about emergent plans and needs and share them with others,
3) respond promptly when asked for input or advice,
4) notify the Coordinating Group when they can no longer serve in this capacity,
5) seek to collaborate with other affiliates and contributors,
6) seek to bring others into service as affiliates and contributors too, and
7) attend an annual “reunion” whenever possible

We invite you to consider being a contributor to the life of Emergent. If you would like to be a contributor please send an email to Ivy Beckwith at [email protected] and indicate the ways you see yourself contributing.

Comments

[Sivin Kit]

I'm looking forward to see how all this can develop internationally. I think I'm trying to contribute in some way. Will update you as we see things progress on our end here in Malaysia.

[Tom Smith]

I echo Svin's comment from South Africa.

[Rick Hoffarth]

I am saddened by the YS announcement, but understand. I am just a few months into serving a new church that has both Sunday traditional and Saturday night contemporary > emergent worship services. The emergent church is familiar and unfamiliar. It is an area in my ministry, and of the church I serve, I want and need to grow. I want to get connected and stay with emergent as it moves into new areas of community, worship and spirituality. Please keep me up to date on the work you do. Thanks.

[Joshua Case]

I echo Sivin & Tom from here in Geneva Switzerland. Hopefully, connections will continue to be made and conversations will continue to come together.