Words from The Crone

I am now officially an “Anglimergent!” As I stare at that word I feel a bit like I have landed on another planet and am not quite sure where to go next. The planet feels safe and welcoming but, very unknown. There are many other people with me on this journey in ”Anglimergentland,” and they all seem friendly enough. What is most mystifying however is that many of us, well, okay, at least me, can’t quite make out the path or even where the end of this journey will be.

A word of explanation here. First, I am an Episcopalian in The Episcopal Church an organization of over 2 million people. Second, this Episcopal Church (TEC) is a member of a larger community called “The Anglican Communion,” at least for now. Some in that communion are upset with TEC because we ordain homosexuals in our orders of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, but that’s another story.

Finally, I am a member of an ever growing group of people called “Emergents,” or “Emerging” people of God. We are seeking some new kind of Christianity that, as I understand it, takes us back to the very roots of our beginnings. I am seeking a way to think and be like Jesus in an honest and authentic way and to live my life in such a way that I promote Jesus’ wish that “We may all be one” (John 17:20 Holy Bible). This movement has been characterized as a cleaning out of the attic and holding a rummage sale. Getting rid of the old stuff that has no real meaning but that we keep around for no solid reason. Selling off useless items and using the income to produce something new and useful for all humanity.

And so, I am an “Anglimergent” (and I guess also an Episcomergent too). I still want to hang on to the best of my faith tradition while moving out in that faith to be a part of, and to make something better of that tradition. I am emerging and while the future is uncertain and the end unknown, it is exciting, and refreshing, and a spiritual journey that I welcome. Want to know more? Read Phyllis Tickle’s book “The Great Emergence,” or Brian McLaren’s book “A New Kind of Christianity.” Or, go to the link http://anglimergent.com . If you go to http://emergentvillage.org you will find many groups (called Cohorts) all over the world where you can meet these emergent souls. Or just Google Emergent Church and have a go at it! Who knows, you may become one of us too!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 19th, 2010 at 11:37 AM and is filed under Life in General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.