Emergence in Austin

Last updated on: October 22, 2007 at 12:20 am by Scot McKnight

Emergence in Austin 2007-10-22T00:20:01-05:00 Scot McKnight

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Kris and I really enjoyed the emerging event this past Friday and Saturday in Austin, TX, at Gateway Church (pastor John Burke, of*No Perfect People Allowed*). Here are a few of our thoughts on the weekend that revolved around the multi-authored book Beliefs of the Emerging Church:

First, we are thankful to John Raymond and Zondervan, along with a few sponsors, for this event. John has been a friend of ours for many years (and his dad was my basketball coach in college, and John the manager of the team), and we have lots of hilarious memories when he lived with us for a time during his days at Trinity. John is a widely respected authority in the emerging movement, and may know more than anyone about this movement. And we are just as thankful to Gateway Church for hosting it. Their facilities there in Austin are awesome.
Second, many of you are aware that Dan Kimball’s father is not doing well health-wise, and so Dan was with his mom and dad in New Jersey. We missed him. Our prayers are with his whole family.
Third, Josh Carney, a young teacher pastor at University Baptist in Waco, pinch-hit for Dan and splendidly contributed to the conversation. Lindsay and their little boy, Roy, came along and constantly reminded us of the family nature of the event. [Josh, it needs to be observed, is a Green Bay Packers fan.] In listening to and conversing with Danielle Shroyer, at Journey, it became obvious to Kris and me why so many see her as an articulate and wise young leader in the emerging movement worldwide. Doug Pagitt, who wrote one of the best books (Church Re-imagined) we have on what local ministry looks like among the emerging movement (also see his An Emergent Manifesto of Hope, kept everyone honest and on their toes.

And rounding off this team of panelists and presenters was John Burke, teaching pastor at Gateway and the author of a very fine book about creating a come as you are culture in a church (No Perfect People Allowed). It was great to be with John Burke again, and his humble, honest, and compassionate gospel work in Austin is one worth observing and learning from.

It was my responsibility to facilitate conversation about what these leaders and their churches believe, so we asked questions about Scripture and atonement. On Saturday morning we broke up the group into four so that each of the panelists (minus yours truly) could ask questions of these pastors on emerging churches, and then I presented some ideas on the emerging movement as a safe place for questions. Then four in the crowd asked great questions for our panelists about the difficulties they are having in ministering.
One of the most outstanding features of this event was the spirit of conversation with respect to other churches. There have been some times when the emerging movement has been critical — too critical — of the evangelical movement or traditional churches. No more. I saw nothing but appreciation and respect. I saw this not only in the more traditional emerging leaders, Danielle and Doug, but also in a young emerging pastor, Josh. There was even a respect (of course with healthy disagreements) for what megachurches are doing. Kris observed that finally there seemed to be a spirit that we are all in this together for the good of the Kingdom.
Another feature of emerging events is connecting with others in the same journey. It was great to see my former NPU colleage and now a professor/administrator at Vanguard, Daniel de Roulet (Finding Your Plot). We met so many readers of this blog, including Scott Morizot and Anni Judkins. And we were glad to meet Carla Barnhill from Solomon’s Porch; we have heard of her work so many times it was nice to meet her in person. I took my usual beating for never wearing blue jeans, for never wearing a T-shirt, for folks being able to see my belt, for not having a soul patch, and for tucking in my shirts. Ah, I say to myself, someday these folks will start dressing their age, too. Next time I will have a T-shirt with a special saying.
Too clarify for those who urged us … yes … Rudy‘s was our lunch for both days. Kris snapped a picture of John and me at Rudy’s.

Emerging Movement

Previous Post

October 22, 2007

Colossians Remixed 26

Next Post

October 22, 2007 Before Women Were Pastors

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Acts of the Apostles Adam Advent Anabaptism Angels Anglican Apologetics Atonement Baptism BCP Prayers Bible Biblical Studies Birds Blogging Bloglossary Bonhoeffer Books Calvinism Christianity Church Church History Coffee Colossians Commentary Recs Conversion Creation Creeds Culture Death Ecclesiastes Economics Education Embracing Grace Emergent Emerging Movement Eschatology Essays Ethics Eucharist Evangelicalism Family Fasting Fathers Fellowship of Differents Footsteps Tour Fun and Whimsical Gospel Grace Happiness Heaven Hell Holy Spirit Irenaeus James Jesus Jesus Creed Job Justification Kingdom of God Law Lectures Lent Liberalism Love and Marriage Mabanteneni Manhood Mary Miracles Missio Alliance MissioLife Missional Missional Jesus Movies and Film New Perspective Northern Seminary OneLife Origins Project Orthodox Parables Pastor's Spouse Pastoring and Leading Pastoring and Preaching Patristics Paul Paul-John Tour Pharisees Pietism Political Theology Prayer and Formation Preaching Problems for Faith Psalm 119 Psalms Public Issues Purgatory Religions Resurrection Revelation Romans Rule of JCreed Science and Faith Sermon on the Mount Sports Ten Commandments Theology Third Way Top Ten Lists Translations Uncategorized Universalism University Ministry Way Out Weekly Meanderings Wisdom Women and Ministry Work Worship Writing & Blogging Youth Ministry

Select a Month July 2021 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 0000

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does Paul tell the Ephesians not to let the sun go down on?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Your disputes Your unforgiveness Your sin Your anger