02.03.09
The Younger Evangelicals.. and more..
On January 23rd.. the day we left for Mexico.. David Fitch blogged some thoughts on the types of people in the missional conversation. Following similar lines to the work of Bob Webber (2002) David divided the conversation based on the way we view knowledge, and where we anchor our knowing (self or community). He pushed at “tendencies” rather than rigid types, acknowledging that the lines easily blur. He wrote,
“I suggest there are Reformed Missionals, Anabaptist Missionals, and Pragmatic Missionals. I suggest that each of these theologies tends towards a certain kind of epistemology and understanding of culture that influences how we think about missional church.”
Now that is quite a loaded statement. David hits at theological traditions, philosophical underpinnings, and even stance toward culture.. and this last one is hughly influenced by tradition, philosophy, and even personal (rational-emotive) dimensions. But I think the effort at taxonomy, always tentative and limited.. is really helpful. It pushes me to examine my assumptions and to ask new questions.
I dug Bob Webber’s book from my shelf and gave a quick read of the very detailed charts he offers for about ten different areas, including “evangelism,” “leadership,” and “ecclesiology.” Running these thru the grid of David’s post I offer a summary chart. I know.. these terms too beg definition. But if you already stand somewhere in the missional conversation you will get my drift in most cases.
First, here is a post on leadership from last August that offers just one of the charts from The Younger Evangelicals. And now following is my summary chart.
Read David’s post.. what do you think? Is this kind of taxonomy helpful in understanding the different emphases out there? For an alternate taxonomy (asking different questions) of the conversation, check out “Missional, Emergent and Monastic: A Traveler’s Guide.”
NextReformation » BC MBs - Annual Convention said,
April 29, 2009 at 8:10 am
[...] That began a long and winding journey through the Vineyard, out of church entirely (at least, the organized system) and now back among MBs. It feels a little like coming home – but of course you can never really go home. You are different, and so is the “home” you return to. It saddens me that Mennonites have lost so much. I know.. for every loss there is some kind of gain.. but I don’t believe Mennonites are better off having become much like the evangelical mainstream. [...]
youngtheologians.ca » Beyond 2010.. more said,
January 20, 2010 at 10:45 am
[...] James Toews write in response, “we need to learn again .. to study Scripture together.” Amen. Really critical. But intensely complex esp when questions like “what is culture” and “what is our task in relation to culture” and “what is it to be human” are unsettled.. Because we approach Scripture from such different places in this fragmented reality. I’ll bet there are at least three distinct grids.. maybe more.. and they are nuanced. (Maybe Webbers’ typology of pragmatic, traditional, emergent is helpful.. I tried an adaptation HERE.) Niebuhr is unhelpful and terribly dated (though Bruce Guenther warns against a facile critique). But most Anabaptist thinkers would agree that we are called to be an alternative culture among the cultures of this world, with our own forming practices. (Practices shape culture) [...]
NextReformation » McLaren – New or Old? said,
February 25, 2010 at 10:35 am
[...] Related: Missional, Emergent, Monastic — a Traveler’s Guide and The Younger Evangelicals [...]
NextReformation » Canada – Origins? said,
February 26, 2010 at 5:02 am
[...] The Gospel Coalition, the Origins Project, Emergent.. is David Fitch right that what we are seeing is some new definition among groups and movements now that we are some years along in the post-modern faith project? (Michael DeFazio tries to chart a taxonomy HERE. Previously I tried to combine some of David’s thoughts with some of Webbers HERE). [...]