Emergence 2007 - Austin (first night)

Tonight I attended Emergence 2007 at Gateway. The first session was about theology and it reminded me of seminary in some ways. I enjoyed the banter between the various pastors. I really enjoyed that they seemed to respect and admire one another - even though they had different theologies and perspectives. I came away with some thoughts...

• I like Doug Pagitt. I think he's right on track... He makes me want to read the Bible at a deeper level than I currently do - which is a good thing. I also love his understanding of community. I now want to go and read some of his books.
• Scott McKnight - He would be sooo fun to have as a professor. Great, witty, and fun. Pretty darn smart too.
• I already liked Burke. Now that I know he likes soccer as much or more than me, I like him even more. He called me by my name too... At one point in the session, he echoed my thoughts of what God has been teaching me today. He actually said, "when I planted gateway, I came to the point of realizing that I needed to be constantly in the Word." I am there brother...
• The other two people I can't remember their names, but both churches I can... UBC in Waco and The Journey in Dallas. Can't wait to learn more about their "practices" which is what tomorrow's session is about.

So I came away with one final thing... Am I Emergent? Where do I fit in the Emerging "conversation?" Those are questions I have been asking. Doug and Scott have come up with three categories - those who are postmodern and doing gospel from that perspective - those who minister and do life with post moderns - and those who minister to post moderns. I think I am the later, although not completely :)

Comments

[Marlow]

Ah...Wish I was there.