I just finished Emerging Churches: Creating Christian Community in Postmodern Cultures written by Ryan Bolger and Eddie Gibbs, both professors at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. Wow, they spent 5 years researching the emerging church in the UK and the USA, interviewing numerous and often relatively unknown leaders and proponents of this fascinating conversation. They do a really thorough job of relating the ins and outs of the emerging church, putting real meat on the bones. I think this book succintly and intelligently lays out for people what this enigma is all about in all its different contexts. They have given a forum for numerous people to express themselves about what emergent and emerging means for them in their particular contexts. I had no idea until I read the book that my good friend, Pete Rollins from ikon in Belfast, N. Ireland was one of those leaders included. The book is so accessible to people, whether they are conversant in emergent or not. For those who are conversant, it offers fresh insights into communities not heard much from and for those not conversant, explains emerging church in manageable and easy to understand terminology.
Here are some quotes about the book:
"Emerging is just about wrought-iron candles and prayer stations, right? Think again. Gibbs and Bolger have given us invaluable insight into the deeper values shaping ministries for postmoderns. If you're serious about mission in today's much-altered Western world, you can't miss this book."
- Sally Morgenthaler
"Mention "emerging churches" around a random selection of today's church leaders and half will have no idea what you are talking about while the other half are busy trying to plant one. This book informs the uninitiated while also helping overeager planters understand that these unique communities, as their name implies, emerge gradually, many times without the help of the institutional church. Fuller Seminary researchers Gibbs and Bolger spent five years collecting data in both the U.S. and U.K. and interviewing 50 leaders—most under the age of 40—to uncover important patterns among emerging churches. They emphasize the life of faith as Jesus demonstrated, employ a "going out" attitude toward the world rather than expecting people to "come to" their communities and consider all of life sacred. Also, these communities prefer relationships to meetings, so there may be no set worship gathering time or, indeed, no fixed place to meet. The authors paint emerging churches as attractive, hopeful and ever-evolving, populated by some of the most vibrant, open-minded and service-oriented young Christians. Readers who are attached to "church business as usual" will be shaken up by this book, while those ready for a change will find it energizing."
- Publishers Weekly from Amazon.com
This is what I am giving for Christmas presents this year! Thank you, Eddie Gibbs, Ryan Bolger, Baker Academic Publishing, and all you wonderful emerging church leaders out there! Pax!







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