Wednesday
Jul062005
The Purpose-Driven Emerging Church
Wednesday, July 6, 2005 at 10:04PM From Rick Warren's Ministry Toolbox:
In an application seminar designed to help participants make the Purpose Driven paradigm work in an emerging church context, Cornelius told church leaders to be careful of what they read about building an emerging church. Many books on the subject do not figure in the need for church growth.
Another article here.
On a related note, Jordon has re-linked to a chart that compares the pragmatic evangelicals (in which I would include Saddleback and the PD paradigm) with the younger evangelicals (including the emerging church). Different creatures altogether.
Reader Comments (5)
So where do you put Cornelius and his PD paradigm in a supposedly emerging-generation church? I don't think he gets what the emerging church is about (although I'm not sure I know enough to be speaking either). As I was reading Cornelius, however, I began to wonder if much of the talk about the emerging generation is "same-old, same-old," and the post-modern generation is really just wanting to have their felt-needs met like the older generations. After all, human nature hasn't changed. The more things change the more they stay the same?
The quote reminded me how big the values difference between the modern and those that are postmodern. Success and church growth are two of the core values of modernity. Just imagine, a church not based on church growth!? How outrageous is that!
If by church growth is meant the fundamental values of the CGM, I see both moderns and postmoderns who have a problem with it. If by church growth is meant a church that is growing, is that a value we want to jettison? I don't think that's what is meant, but I thought I'd just clarify.
it took me a while to figure out the real name of Cornelius' church, and finally found the church's name, Bay Area Fellowship, and its website at www.bayareafellowship.com
I'm pretty sure they're defining emerging by age. Saddleback makes this mistake too when it claims to have one of the largest emerging crowds in America. Interesting website - it makes my Safari browser crash.