Like so many in the emerging church conversation, I read a few Brian McLaren books, read Tony’s Post-Modern Youth Ministry, heard that Doug Pagitt was really pushing the envelope with this re-imagining thing, etc. Like so many, I was getting disenfranchised with the traditional way of doing, thinking about, and being the Church. Like so many, I know that I didn’t want to follow in the footsteps of certain well-intentioned, sincere-hearted people because I was witnessing not only a mass exodus of young people leaving the church, but on a different level, the possible extinction of their Christian faith as well. It was no longer about finding a relevant, younger, cooler worship church, but about discovering/imagining/creating perhaps a new and different way of doing things. We needed something much, much different. In Church on the Other Side, McLaren, writes in the opening, “When you have a new culture, you need a new church. You have a new culture.” Hmm, where could I go to continue these conversations? Eventually I found my way into a cohort.
The cohort experience has been a much-needed and welcomed time for me. It was through the Philly cohort that met in the home of Scott Jones that allowed me to appreciate the “now what?” discussions that much of my reading has sought. Even better, I made some great friendships with people like Scott, Todd Hiestand and I even met John Franke which is significant because eventually I found my way enrolling at Biblical Seminary.
In 2006, I moved to the north Jersey (and the Philly cohort was never the same. Who knew is was the keystone to the whole thing? – just kidding). I started attending the one in NYC and have made some beautiful friendships there as well. But between the meetings, the distance, and the business of life, I was not able to participate as frequent as I would have liked. Fortunately inniative-taker extraordinaire Thomas Turner began the North Jersey cohort and it’s been a good thing for several of us.
It’s here that I would like you to pay attention again. The emergent church thing has been described as a “friendship” or a “conversation” and it’s in the cohorts that you get to appreciate the reality of that. It is not a recruitment time, nor is it a time of bashing fundamentalists, nor is it cheap training of emergent propaganda. Rather it’s a time and place to enjoy conversation with generous minded people that may or may not be very different from you. As a post-conservative, I have really appreciated this space.
If you live in the north jersey area, our next meeting is March 12th at 7.00 at the Allendale Bar and Grill. Let me know if you need directions or a ride. If you live outside this area, you can look for the one closest to you here. And if there isn’t, consider starting one with a few friends. It’s a very, very good thing.
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