The following explains why we use the term ‘Emerging Church’ to describe what we are doing.  If you have never heard of the Emerging Church, then do read on, but do not make too much of it.  It is a loose description.

I sat down not too long ago with a pastor friend and discussed the definition of the ‘Emerging Church’.  At the time, the term was very new to me, and still is to some degree.  The ideas behind ‘Emerging Church’, however, has been on my mind for some time.  I’ve talked to friends about this concept.  I’ve pastored people using this concept, and I’ve even to some degree changed the way our previous congregation operates based on this concept, all without having heard of the term or knowing that anyone, anywhere on the earth was into these ideas.

Well, I’m not alone - it seems that God has been moving for some time to bring about a change in the church to bring it to a place of authenticity.  I don’t think that it is about adapting to culture - rather it is about removing baggage that we have built into our modern concepts of church that in themselves hinder our relationship with God and our relativity to culture.  The authentic church will always relate to the people of any era.  That is the power of the Gospel.

My pastor friend and I have both come to the same conclusion seperately - that the Emerging Church cannot really be defined.  This is because it is the very fact that Emerging Church cannot be pinned down that makes it the Emerging Church.

While it is the case that the Emerging Church itself cannot be defined, I have come to my own conclusions on why it is called the emerging Church.  I’ve done no research on this, so it is possibly wrong.  As soon as I find out, I’ll probably change this page - so don’t quote me on this.  I have not idea who coined the term, or where it started being used, but I like to think of it like this.

Before I start, let me point out that Emerging Church is also to a lesser degree known as ‘Emergent Church’

‘Emergance’ is a term used to describe properties of a collection of items that do not exist outside the group.  Some metals when combined into an alloy exhibit properties that none of the individual metals show.  Without any formal planning, a flock of birds fly together in formation.  In fact, I am told that if you glue a group of flies to the wings of a small balsawood plane they will soon learn to fly in unison for the shortened term of their natural life, although this is far from a natural circumstance.

A game of monopoly, while following the same rules as the last game played, can end in vastly different results.  In my home growing up, it could end in cheers of victory, or angry shouting matches.  Maybe this did not happen in your home - perhaps because of the emergent culture of your family.

How does this relate to the Emerging Church?  Well, I believe that one group of people, when brought together will have a completely different culture and expression than any other group of people.  If you tried to define the principles on what makes one group work together well, and then tried to apply those very principles to another group, they are unlikely to be as successful in the second group.  The culture, church style and outreach methods of a church should ‘emerge’ from the group that makes up the church.

Regardless of the meaning of the term, we choose to adopt it because it best describes what we are trying to achieve.  It identifies us with likeminded people, and will help someone find us if they are searching for a church that is Emerging..