In any movement, there are always "insiders," those who, by circumstance or preference, find themselves acting as leaders. It's just the way it happens. But I think the emerging movement is at least aware of that and makes conscious efforts to open up the discussion and invite others in. I just wish there were more emergent cohorts throughout the world. Especially near me…haha.

Many people who might love to get more involved find ourselves stranded, either by geography or financial issues (I certainly can't afford to just go to whatever regional/national gathering might be the next emergent event). Finding some way to help people connect with others in their area would be a tremendous step in establishing new and different cohorts. Perhaps the current Emergent leaders can find some way to help broaden the conversation and invite new voices via the website? Or something?

Those discussions don’t define the whole of the conversation or create a dogma that must be believed to be emerging, but are a valid part of the conversation. And it is messy. Just having those conversations scares off some people. But should we stunt our spiritual development so that others wont feel uncomfortable? I say just speak up for what you believe, but be okay if that gets some push-back. That’s all all of us are doing.

That reminds me of conversations I've had with a friend who (until recently) was a Unitarian/Universalist (he recently reconverted to Christianity, in part, according to him, because of his exposure to the emerging church). The UU, like the EC, also values diversity of opinions and multiple viewpoints. However, according to my friend, what this meant in practice is that any actual differences would be watered down to the lowest common denominator, or simply left unmentioned so as not to offend or make anyone feel uncomfortable. We determined that the difference between this and most emerging church settings is that ECers value the full expression of diversity. Rather than seeking unity by downplaying or avoiding differences, as my friend's UU church did, we'd rather just lay them all out there and value them for what they are. How else could you have a conversation unless you have folks who are willing to express different points of view? For ECers (in theory at least, and often in practice in my experience) unity is based on relationship, not on agreement, and it is this relationship that makes it safe to express one's questions and opinions, even when they disagree. It's messier, but it's also more fun and a lot more worthwhile.

And yet, there is more openness than you've yet seen, and I'm glad you're seeing it here, and showing it yourself. Kudos, and welcome. (Says the outsider.

I guess what I'm groping towards expressing is not so much a critique, as the flip side of a blessing. (Every curse has a little blessing, and vice versa.) To me, it's impossible not to feel a little like an outsider, because through the web you're aware of far more conversations than any one person can ever participate in. And they're all wonderful and hope-filled and inspiring, and I want to take part in them all, and the reality that I can't leaves me inevitably wanting more even as I celebrate the bits I do get to participate in.

That said, good as it is, it's still not a substitute for skin-to-skin relationships, not for me. Which is also not a critique, b/c EV recognizes that, and has adopted a value of pilgrimage, making time to meet in person.

All of that's intended to say that I think EV could make not a single mistake, and still have people saying they feel like outsiders. Maybe we're just wired that way – something to do with Augustine's God-shaped hole.

Jim – I forgot about the Houston move. But houston is like Chicago and could benefit from multiple cohorts/connections points. And while the future of EV is being determined, i am pretty sure the general cohort structure will remain and people are well aware of the need for a better system to connect people.

Chris – You are right, this is a conversation that only some can enter into in certain ways. But I do know a few people who have no computer or internet access who do blog and join in discussion with the free access they get at their local library. For better or worse this community exists and it exists online. as i've said before – as a stay at home mom who spends god portions of my day sitting on the couch nursing a baby, I would go crazy without access to this community. I can't get out, I can't spend time with friends. Sure I would love to go to cohorts, book discussions and all that but without childcare that is impossible. I have met friends in real life, and yes they are all over the country, and this is the only way to stay connected. As for events, those are my vacation. i'd much rather spend the time and money with a community I love than waste the time at say Disneyworld…

Pippin – in truth there is a wide diversity of belief within the emerging conversations. There are the traditionally liberal and conversative and a bunch of us who don't fit either camp. I think where the issue lies is in allowing conversations to occur even if those conversations don't represent everyone. Some of us do need to discuss why we are no longer conservative and to ask questions about our faith. let us be ourselves is important. Those discussions don't define the whole of the conversation or create a dogma that must be believed to be emerging, but are a valid part of the conversation. And it is messy. Just having those conversations scares off some people. But should we stunt our spiritual development so that others wont feel uncomfortable? I say just speak up for what you believe, but be okay if that gets some push-back. That's all all of us are doing.

Karl – while i think there are very few extreme complemetarians or anti-environmentalists who would be comfortable within this discussion, like mike said those opinions are welcome as long as they are respectfully delivered. Trying to convince me of their view is fine, telling us how evil we are for not agreeing with them would cause issues. It's not the opinions themselves that are the issues, but the way the relationship is developed.

Maybe this is my “thing”? To help find the technology solution to allow EV central to “track” loners and interested parties and identify emerging quorums that can either be sent to existing cohorts or form new ones as needed? My suspicion is that the Google Maps API should make this not particularly difficult at all to do.

If that's something you'd be interested in and have an ability for, I can put you in touch with the right people when the time comes (i.e. whoever is going to be working on the website once the new structure of EV is decided on).

I kind of thought something like the way Meetup.com works would be useful, where it keeps track of how many people from a given area are interested in a cohort and then allows someone to step-up and organize a "meetup" once there is critical mass.

My sense is that the strength of emergent is also its weakness. The reality that emergent village continues to describe itself as a "generative friendship" means that inherently there will be people who say, "does that mean if I don't feel like I am friends with these people, I'm not in?"

I really appreciate the loose and open non-structure of EV. On the other hand, I think it also contributes to realities such as not having national support for local cohorts, not knowing exactly how to decide whom to invite to a national gathering to discern the organization's future, etc., and folks new to the conversation not having a clear sense of how to get "inside."

My guess is that if EV continues in its current non-structure, other organizations with greater comfort with structure will spring up, and I actually don't think that is a bad thing.

Thank you for giving up your weekend to serve the conversation, Julie, and for posting these thoughts.

Karl, in support of what Mike's saying about conservatives in leadership, the organizer of EmergentColumbia (where I was up until last September) is pro-business and is very skeptical about Global Warming. But he's also pro-relationship and pro-conversation.