I refer you to a new friend's blog for the context of my response below, even if you don't want to take the time to read his blog, you may find this helpful.
This is a very thoughtful reflection on EC and its interrelatedness with what the majority of us are "comfortable" with. You hit it on the head when you said that the EC is, if nothing else, contextual. It's a lesson we all can learn for ministry. EC is NOT a "packaged next great thing" that we should all adopt, far from it. What we should adopt is the uber attentive nature to context, context, context. The biggest problem that faces the Lutherans of today (and most other mainline denominations) is a desire for sameness, but beyond that, an ignorance regarding the surrounding context for ministry. Even churches that have undergone extensive research and evaluation in a context, such as a mission start or hopefully an established congregation, miss the mark if they aren't in a continual process of renewal and investigation as to the intersection of God's Kingdom crashing in and the streets that run in front of the church buildings where they are planted. Churches, even EC's, need to perpetually wonder with God what it means to say "God's work, our hands" (credit to a great tag line by the ELCA).
After spending a month in Seattle observing EC communities of all flavors, I'd say that the one thing that is certain for me is that I cannot get on board with all of them. For anyone to make an assertion based upon one experience or even upon reading a few books, may be to judge too broadly. Some of the churches I visited really dragged me into deeper conversation and reflection, while others were so far from my understanding of "church" that I could only shake my head and give credit to context for making them what they were.
Now that I've co-opted your blog space instead of using my own, let me just add one more book for folks to read, it's brief but excellent (apologies if you've already recommended this book) - Emerging Ministry: Being Church Today by Nathan C.P. Frambach. It's a small paperback in the Lutheran Voices series.
peace,
Paul :o)
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Not sure how I found your blog now. Maybe through Eric?
Anyway, I appreciated the second last paragraph. This is one of the many things that I like about the emergent church. There are so many differences and various expressions but they're to be celebrated. So if you don't agree, "That's great too, I love you anyway ...".
Among my personal frustrations is that the many (not all) who are critical of the emerging church thing almost pretend that there is more unity amongst themselves than there really is. Even among those in the same denomination or even within the same church.
Now granted, there are many other things that the emerging church is saying, and thus many criticisms, but I think it serves your point. There are so many different voices, you can't just listen to one and think that's a complete conclusion. When you factor in the humble posture that many have in this conversation and you have something beautiful.
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