Volu m e II - Purdue University Calumet

It is impossible to tell if decades from now scholars will look back and recognize “The Great Emergence” at
all. Rather, one must acknowledge that this blanket of opinions, scholarship and teachings are changing the
way that Christians view scripture. It is the effort of the Emergent Church Movement to create a bridge
between the modern and postmodern Church, and it is their hope that this bridge is and will allow ideas
from both sides to be shared. To achieve its goal, this bridge must allow ideas flow equally. In conclusion,
I believe that the ECM is and will be a positive factor in the world of Christianity. If the ECM stays true to
its original purpose, it will help facilitate understanding between two different ways of thought and in turn
create a stronger fellowship among Christian believers.
Amendment (4/8/2011)
As with any good “movement,” there have been a few events and changes that have happened to the
ECM in the past year. For one, many churches and leaders have moved away from the label “emergent,”
and have assumed the label “emerging,” instead. The term “emergent” is now reserved for the churches
and pastors who align themselves with the “Emergent Village,” an organization that is supported by the
likes of Brian McLaren, Tony Jones and Doug Pagitt. The label “emerging,” however, has been used to
describe any number of offshoots of the ECM. Many of these offshoots pick and choose what parts of
“emergent” they hold true and have disposed of other parts (many, for example, have shied away from
some of the more “out there” postmodern interpretations of scripture.) It is encouraging to see that
emerging churches have evaluated the ECM, and I also find it encouraging that may of the ideas contained
in the ECM are becoming more mainstream. Many people whom I have talked to, or churchs that I have
attended, have adopted some of the language of the ECM without even knowing that the discussion has a
label. Still more have heard “evil” claims about the ECM, and therefore would never align themselves with
the title. These things said, Emergent/emerging have endured into 2011.
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