Strictly Emergent

Since it's been awhile since I did a "strictly emergent" blog entry, I thought I would do one tonight. Every once in a while, I need to remind myself of that calling to be bi-lingual, especially when I am doing so much work right now getting ready for an another appointment season, and thinking about the churches and pastors in my district, and my language definitely is majority Methodist-speak (a very good one, but not my only language..ah, that they might be one!!!). So to be true to my other language, that of postmodern theological orientations; of contemporary evangelical theology; that language filled with names like McLaren and Vorhees (Oh, I wanted so much to be at the mainline emergent conference this week, but I just couldn't go with all that I had to do here) and King and Keel and Volf and Jones and lots more ---and so, here is what I DO have coming up in my emerging world:

--In mid February, I meet with a pastor in the conference in Columbia who saw my Leading Ideas piece and wants to talk about renewal in his churches and things emerging

--The second weekend in March, I've been asked to give a two hour presentation on things emerging to the South Central Jurisdictional communicators

--I have been asked by the Nazarene Publishing House to do a podcast around their new spiritual formation resource Rendezvous which helps folks get in touch with their desire to "fall in love with God" as the young man explained to me on the phone...I think I was asked because I gave a presentation at the Nazarene Seminary a couple of months ago about my interest in the emergent conversation

--On April 10 Brian McLaren will be speaking at Platte Woods UMC (my largest church) prior to giving the Wallace Chappell lecture at Saint Paul School of Theology the next day. Thank you, Foundation for Evangelism, Doug Powe and Hal Knight for allowing to be a part of getting this done (I am hoping I don't have a cabinet meeting these days..I may call in sick --Just kidding of course...)

--On April 17 I preach at chapel at Saint Paul, presumably the word "emergent" will plop out of my mouth at some point

--In June I am leading a workshop at Bishop's Week at Mount Sequoyah on...guess what???

And I hope to be asked to do some other things--I REALLY wanted to go to the Young Adult summit at Sequoyah in late May, but I indeed DO have a cabinet meeting during the same time.

Well, thanks for letting me do this. here are three passions in my life: My children; my call to the superintendency; my calling to be a part of the emergent conversation. Thank God that they are not mutually exclusive.