Circuit Rider's Post - Emergence Now

I’ve just spent two and a half days with faith leaders who are trying to wrap their hearts and heads around a movement we’ve heard so much about – Emergent Church.  Columbia Theological Seminary hosted this conference called Emergence Now, which featured Phyllis Tickle, Tony Jones, Philip Clayton and Bruce Reyes-Chow.  I signed up to attend so I could meet and learn with people from around the region who would be coming to hear about how church is changing in the 21st century. 

I had the pleasure of attending with the pastor of Kirkwood United Church of Christ, Susannah Davis.  Susannah also happens to be the convener of the Atlanta Professional Network (ProNet) Chapter of The Beatitudes Society and the mentor for the cohort of Fellows coming to Atlanta this summer.  And the icing on the cake? A great group of these leaders came out to The Beatitudes Society reception on the first evening of the conference.  Yep – local and regional pastors plus students mingled and shared their stories with Phyllis, Tony, Philip and even Barbara Brown Taylor at a little bistro called (appropriately enough) Carpe Diem!

I’ve said it many times and I’m sure I will say it many more – I have the best job in the world.  As the Circuit Rider for The Beatitudes Society I get to meet some amazingly vibrant, faithful people online and on the road.  In my virtual and terrestrial travels I get to hear stories and exchange ideas with faith leaders from every denomination and no denomination.  It is my job to connect these folks with one another whether they live a few blocks away or are separated by many states.  There are progressive faith leaders preaching and teaching and serving all over this country in a myriad of faithful ways and they are my companions on this journey.

Last summer I spent a few days exploring spiritual practices at the Fetzer Institute with our hard working Fellows and then later with our bold and imaginative chapter conveners – connecting and learning.  Last month, with lovely stemware in which swirled a toasty cabernet,  I met with students, clergy, Diana Butler Bass, Robert Jones, Carol Howard Merrit and Jennifer Butler at Bus Boys and Poets in Washington D.C.  A few weeks ago I had an exciting conversation over a rich latté at Kavarna in funky little Oakhurst, Georgia with some or our newest leaders from Candler School of Theology.  And every day I exchange email, Facebook messages and Tweets with pastors, students, teachers and organizers.  And of course this week was fantastic meeting so many wonderful people at Emergence Now!

During the days of this conference, as Susannah and I sat and absorbed the brilliance of the gathered luminaries (that is a whole blog unto itself) we also occasionally whispered quizzically about who was here with us.  Not all attendees would call themselves Emergent, and maybe not progressive but nonetheless they know there is something new and wonderful going on in the life of church that drew them to this conference to learn more and meet others who are grappling with these issues every day.  As I talked and listened with folks in the pews, over lunch and during breaks I was blessed to hear stories of congregations hungry to grow in new ways, and not just numerically.   These leaders, mostly from around the south, were grateful to learn about y’all – progressive leaders and students from every corner of the nation! 

All this rambling is not really about loving my job, or about me at all – it’s about the blessing of  loving and serving you and what you are doing out there.   It’s all about the connections you make and the resources you have that nourish you in your ministry.  Whether you are a seasoned leader of a conventional congregation, a new pastor facilitating an emergent faith community or a seminary student studying, working, serving and organizing – take heart in the knowledge that there are folks of all walks of life living into their calling as progressive leaders much like you.  

And that's where The Beatitudes Society (and your Circuit Rider) comes in.  We want to help you connect with the pastors, educators, authors and non-profit directors who are about the work of living out the gospel in ways that serve our most vulnerable citizens and protect our fragile planet.  Yes – there is a network of progressive faith leaders scattered around this country who are leaning into a new way of leading.   And guess what?   I know there are leaders right in your own community with whom you can connect, with whom you can grow.  Maybe even enough folks to form your own little ProNet chapter of The Beatitudes Society.  If you’d like to explore how to do just that – join us on Be@ts 2.0, drop me a line or give me a call (805.729.0904).

Like I said, I have the best job in the world and I can’t wait to meet you.