Emerging - Missional - Monastic

The language which is used to described new forms of Christian faith is fascinating - some clumsily blend the three words together but actually they seem to represent diverse and different strands of a new experience and practice of Christianity.

There are also important distinctions to be made between the US (and those influenced by it) and the UK (and those influenced by it) into which are mixed Aussie and Kiwi perspectives which some suggest have more in common with the UK experience than the US experience.

A simple of example of this is that in the US the word emerging/emergent has achieved almost denominational status as an off-shoot/antidote to the Evangelical stream of Christianity. Whereas "Missional" seems to be considerably more conservative in its theology (equating often with new forms of evangelism) than in the UK where (particularly in its Anglican forms) it has a more radical and catholic intent.

Some would suggest that the US experience has been hallmarked by frustration with existing patterns of Church and seeking separate alternatives, whereas in the UK is has a greater emphasis on renewal in association with the existing structures.

Missional Anglicans in the UK would be amused to hear that some of the US Bishops did not know who Brian McClaren was before his guest appearence at the Lambeth Conference. I would be hard to imagine many of the evangelical networks in the US extending such an invitation to Brian McClaren.

One of the root issues is that is that Christians within these new traditions are intuitively uneasy with labels anyway.They recognise that the labels already have come to mean something that "they are not" and but which they are judged or pigeon-holed.

There is some helpful delineation of the different strands by Len Hjalmarson in Precipice here and vitally a healthy emphasis on insights and contributions rather than difference.

Some of the uncertainty about labels is demonstrated by Andrew Jones (Tallskinnykiwi) here as CMS and partners seek to support new forms of Church and mission. In this instance I would use the word "Missional Church Fund" since to me it more accurately describes what is intended - but then I realise that it will mean something else to other people outside the UK.

Comments

[andrew]

great post! good insights.

we are thinking of "missional entrepreneurs" to distinguish it from every church under the sun that uses the word missional to describe themselves.

see you at Greenbelt????????

[Chanel CoCo]

Let me great inspiration, thanks

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