In my last blog post, sharing from the deep heart of an African-American friend, three extra important responses have come in with regard to the emerging church and inter-racial/ethnic issues and situations. Liz I'm just getting acquainted with, and beginning to learn more of the Latino situation. Scott, who with his wife, formerly worked in the severe poverty stricken slums of Bangkok, and now is a part of some exceptional ministry with the poor, misplaced and poverty stricken in the inner-city of Denver. Rick I've known forever since his sojourn in college...and he and his wife have been major mentors concerning hard-core inner-city ministry, especially where they live in Washington, DC, and in ministering to/with African/Americans anywhere, of any economic strata.
I sincerely respect these people. I value and honor their extreme care for the Kingdom and their sincere, vibrant, hard-won Kingdom work. Few put me in "humble mode" more than they do. Their faithfulness in extra tough places is incarnational and missional to the max.
But...somehow, this white olde man is stirred by the seeming lack of cross-over in some areas of the emerging church. I hope/know that some emerging hearts beat for the inter-racial, ethnic, and even inter-generational perspectives that MUST be a future part of the emerging conversation. But the imposing quiet in these areneas...with so much verbage in other important emerging areneas...is intriguing...and perplexing.
A strange thought has been enveloping me that if we don't get more intentional concerning the whole church...and all God's children...of any age, ethnicity/heritage or economic place in society...we will quickly just be back to where we were with the church...and boomer church re-dos don't excite me much. I, for one, at almost 64yo, don't have the time left to go backwards.
Thus...a question that has been burning in my soul for some time now is (and especially since the last EC conference in Nashville this past May)...does the current chatter concerning what has been/is being defined as the emerging church have any room for racial and age diversity? So far, I've not seen enough...have heard little intentional talk...and am eager to find out how more can develop.
Any and all insights, thoughts, comments and questions are most welcome. Or am I lone voice on these issues in my wondering and wandering around the emerging landscape?
These are hugely important questions in my mind. It would be great to weigh in with more time and energy today, but I won't. Nice to see Rick Yorgey's name on a comment on the previous post. One group of folks where this conversation is intentional is Christian Community Development Association. Their annual conference this year is in Indianapolis, November 16-20 (I think). I have worked in and along side ministries in urban areas where cultural heritage and economics have been central issues for 20 years or more. Another blog that hits on this topic somewhat routinely is that of Rudy Carrasco, urbanonramps.com.
Keep up the good conversation.
Posted by: Glen Peterson | October 23, 2005 at 03:54 PM
I'm with you. Being white and my wife being black, we have a stake in this. After entering the 'conversation' I noticed the deficiency.
Have you read Scot McNight's serious on this over at jesuscreed.org? It's under the Embracing Grace category there. Good stuff.
Rich
Posted by: rich | October 23, 2005 at 05:26 PM
Wes, I can't make the formal announcement here, but I can say that Emergent as an organization is planning an event that specifically deals with racial and ethnic diversity. As you know, I have been working in this area for the past three years, having offered opportunities for conversation at the past two EC's in Nashville. This conversation has been way too slow, but I am hopeful that folks like Susie, Rich Johnson, Anthony, and others are pushing it forward with greater speed.
The issue of age diversity has been less prominent, and needs to increase. Certainly, there are several older adults in my congregation that I would characterize as emergent, and young adults who are entrenched in modernity. What would be the five key issues you would identify on this issue?
Posted by: jay | October 23, 2005 at 08:46 PM
I would second the recommendation for CCDA (Christian Community Development Association). Annual conference in late fall draws 1-2k people seeking much of what you're after, Wes, if I read you right. It grew out of the vision of John Perkins, an African-American civil rights activist (evangelical in theology) who's now kind of the grand old man of the movement. Now incorporating many other streams of the body of Christ, including what might be a smattering of the emergent stream (along with traditional black gospel churches, latino churches, youth ministries, evangelical suburban churches serving the poor, social activists, etc).
Our Mile High Ministries staff in Denver usually attends but no bucks for travel this year, so we'll miss Indy next month. Check it out if you can though... I'd love to see emergent folks engage with this crowd, and be a little part of the mix myself.
Posted by: Scott Dewey | October 24, 2005 at 02:48 PM
Done lots of thinking about the age stuff - and no not heaps of discussion happens in the general emerging church world. In fact - I've just written a paper on it.
AND this year I've been living with a Sri Lankan friend who is very conscious of racial issues.
Posted by: Barb | October 25, 2005 at 01:48 AM