What’d You Think?

scottellis — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 07:08:02 +0000

So the Whitworth event went off without a hitch. Everything ran extremely smooth schedule wise. If you see Scott Kinder-Pile, Tim Dolan, Isaac Bubna, or Craig Goodwin, please give them a hug and a big thank-you. They did a wonderful job planning the event.

Now that it’s over, what did you think? Any initial thoughts or comments?

I personally felt like Tony did a great job of unsettling of unsettling people with his opening talk. Maybe to the point of coming across as arrogant. I think a few people left the first evening feeling like, “So much for the dialog between Mainliners and Emergents. It’s Emergent’s way or you’re going to get mocked.” Then as Karen, John, and Doug spoke, people found themselves opening up and saying more and more, ” Oh yeah, I can see how this or that can be done in my church.” or “Oh, maybe their beliefs are not as far off the deep end as I initially thought. “

So overall, I loved it. I tried to do as little talking and as much listening/eavesdropping as possible. I left with very much hope as to how Emergent and the views put forth this weekend can affect our churches here in the Spokane area. On a side note, I thought Tony had excellent cowboy boots and I loved that Karen kept bobbing her head and singing along to the music in her own presentation.

What were your thoughts?

We’ll try to plan a get together in the coming week or two to share things we learned and what we agreed or disagreed with. Also, if you you’re new to the cohort site, let us know who you are and we’ll get in touch.

Peace,

Scott Ellis

An Emergent Mainline Dialogue

scottellis — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 17:46:16 +0000

Whitworth University and the Presbytery of the Inland Northwest present a forum for discussion that will raise more questions than we can answer. An Emergent Mainline Dialogue will host Tony Jones, Karen Ward, John Franke, and Doug Pagitt; who will consider the vital witness to Jesus Christ that is being made amid the cracks of the institutional church as we know it. Nuances abound. And we need to talk about them without feeling threatened. Moreover, our hunch is that mainliners may have things to teach that emerging generations still need to learn. As Philip said to Nathaniel regarding anything new that might be coming out of Nazareth, “Come and see!”

Info and Registration

Can You Hear Me Now?

scottellis — Wed, 02 May 2007 23:58:46 +0000

Understanding Postmodern Cultural Languages

Presented By: River Church
Guest Speaker: Dr. Rick Chromey
Location: The Service Station
Date & Time: Friday May 18; 7:00p.m. Saturday, May 19th; 10:00a.m. & 1:00p.m.
Registration Fee: $10.00 (Call 509.710.1319 or email jhickman31 at msn.com to register)

Friday Session One

The World is F-A-T

How well do you know your digital A-B-C’s? MP3, JPEG, GPS, MPEG. The world is now “flat” and “fat.” In this session we’ll investigate how a digital culture is recasting, reshaping and reinventing cultural languages from a modern frame to a postmodern path. We’ll also introduce how the church is largely failing to communicate in these dialects.

Saturday Session 1

“Can You Hear Me Now?” Part I

In a high-tech culture, we long for high-touch moments. So how can the Church give post-moderns a hug? In this session we’ll explore how technology is creating a “hyper-relational” culture that speaks in dialects of community, connection, tolerance and global. We’ll also address how the church might respond to these unique dialects in evangelism, worship, and education.

Saturday Session II

“Can You Hear Me Now?” Part II

Reality television isn’t a fad. It’s here to stay and reflects a universal rising cultural language of “experiential.” Post-moderns hunger for an authentic, participatory, spiritual experience. They’re on a journey into extreme living. They also think with their eyes. Television has single-handedly altered how our culture processes information. Consequently, post-moderns enjoy imaginative, fluid and instantaneous visual communication. They can visually multitask. Consequently, the church (and other institutions) must reinvent how it interacts and communicates through experiences and images. We’ll also brainstorm a few “eye-deas” too!

About Rick Chromey

He is professor of Youth and Family Ministry at Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, KY. In a quart century of professional youth ministry, Chromey has served churches and colleges as a youth and children’s pastor, professor and trainer.

Chromey graduated with his doctorate from George Fox Seminary in Leadership in the Emerging Culture.

He has authored two books and enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, music and motorcycles.

Updated First Meeting Date

scottellis — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 08:09:24 +0000

Hey everyone, the first meeting is now going to be Saturday, May 5th. A couple people who were at the Mission Learning Day in Seattle are moving this Saturday, so it would make for a big day for them. It’s been great meeting some of you, and I look forward to our first gathering. I think we’ll still shoot for 7:00pm at the Empyrean. Please comment on what you’d like the first meeting to look like. Peace, Scott.

First Meeting

scottellis — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 06:42:12 +0000

So, who’s up for a meeting? How does April 28th sound? That’s a Saturday, and I was thinking 7-ish. I believe the Book Parlor reading group already meets at the Empyrean, so that sounds good to me for a first meeting. They’ve got great coffee, some cool sodas, and a few fine brews. Let me know what you think about the date and time. The Seattle Mission Learning Day is the week before, so I thought we could all tell a little about our own stories and background, and then those who were at the Learning Day could share some of their highlights. It’d also be great to brainstorm what we’d like the cohort to look like and accomplish. On an encouraging note, we had 50 hits to the site yesterday, so it looks like the cohort could start taking shape fairly quickly! Peace and Happy Easter, Scott

Who Are You?

scottellis — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 17:50:55 +0000

Since Adam W.C. first referenced us, we’ve been getting about 10 views a day; so it seems there’s some interest in a Spokane Cohort. Now it’s time to let us know who you are. Leave a comment here or contact Scott and let us know what you’d like out of a cohort in Spokane? Daniel, I liked your blog, but I couldn’t find a way to get in touch. I did see a pic of Sarah G., though, which was very exciting! Can’t wait to meet you.

Seattle Mission Learning Day

scottellis — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 17:28:55 +0000

Come develop new skills for neighborhood mission – find out what is old/new in emerging, local, mission to update your firmware and reboot your congregation’s mission in today’s culture. Get all the info here.

Anyone going should comment here and we can set up a carpool.

Passion Week Guide

scottellis — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 00:20:38 +0000

Here’s a simple prayer/reading guide that Crosswalk Community Church put together for the upcoming week. Crosswalk is sharing communion together Thursday night, having a more contemplative Good Friday gathering, and then letting loose Easter Morning. How is your community celebrating Palm Sunday through Easter?

Can You Hear Me Now?

scottellis — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 06:12:54 +0000

Understanding Postmodern Cultural Languages

Presented By: River Church
Guest Speaker: Dr. Rick Chromey
Location: The Service Station
Date & Time: Friday May 18; 7:00p.m. Saturday, May 19th; 10:00a.m. & 1:00p.m.
Registration Fee: $10.00 (Call 509.710.1319 or email jhickman31 at msn.com to register)

Friday Session One

The World is F-A-T

Saturday Session 1

“Can You Hear Me Now?” Part I

Saturday Session II

“Can You Hear Me Now?” Part II

About Rick Chrome

Chromey graduated with his doctorate from George Fox Seminary in Leadership in the Emerging Culture.

He has authored two books and enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, music and motorcycles.

Spokane Cohort

scottellis — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 02:56:23 +0000

So this is it! We’re finally starting a cohort. What will it look like? Your guess is as good as mine. To start out, We’re going to read Listening To The Beliefs Of The Emerging Church If you’d like to join us, comment on this post, and we’ll be in touch.