Awake

Designing the Emertional Church

Months back, I saw the word "Emertional" scribbled on the white board in Pastor John's study. I chuckled. "Emertional? Is that a word?" John's expression came alive as he explained it and I had to smile at his child-like enthusiasm for his newly-coined term which married "emerging" with "traditional" and references a particular vision of the Church that we as Villagers have been working out for the past several years (and many more years to come). "Giving the Emertional Church Its Due" is a recent post on Pastor's blog that explains what he means by the emertional church and why we should consider it. Mid-entry, he explains...

The following is a church I want to be a part of: Intimately large (not necessarily an oxymoron), a community devoted to one another, yet expanding in its capacity in order to create a movement; increasing its capacity to be global, doing the kind of cross cultural ministry that greater resources enable it to do.

Now some reading might squawk at "intimately large (not necessarily an oxymoron)" and I would as well were it not for our efforts on the building committee to advocate for and ensure, even, a design of a larger sanctuary that does not sacrifice intimacy. One that in fact, by design, encourages it. Design decisions like, the back row of the sanctuary is no further from the platform that it is currently, though the capacity is three-times as great. The inclusion of four spacious alcove spaces, two on each side, in the interior walls of the sanctuary, that invite prayer, communion, and even reconciliation—all during service, as well as before and after and any time of the week. A large lobby or "Hub" with a fireplace and couches and chairs a plenty that invite lingering conversation instead of our current small foyer that screams "get me out of here" instead of the gentle invitation of "welcome and why not linger awhile here?"

To some, it seems preposterous and even sometimes evil for a church to build and grow. (Some might contend that the terms "build and grow" should not co-exist.) Indeed, many churches have failed miserably in their execution of such a task, breaking hearts and budgets in the process. For us, though, each week, has brought one miracle after another. And I'm not using the term miracle lightly. I am not the only one to notice these miracles. More and more I sense the faith of the people increase--not just Villagers either, but our architects as well. Personally, many cold and bitter areas of my heart have warmed and softened and instead of sarcasm and intellectual cynicism spouting unrelentlessly out of my mouth, awe and wonder and even joy come forth instead.

We are not even close to being "there" yet. But I believe now more than ever that this path that we are on is one where we are chasing after, trying as hard as we can to catch up with God, instead of asking him to bless our so-called brillant plans. That seems right to me. A proper posture for the church: to run hard after God instead of warm a pew in comfortable cultural proximity to our neighbor.

There is much for us to learn in the process. We need to drive fewer cars. Use the bus stop that's right in front of the property. Come to church as families instead of individuals. All of this will be good for us to learn. We are learning it already, however slowly. Just last week a young woman proudly recounted to me how she got a ride to church with her sister on the way in and with her boyfriend on the way home. One less car. (Now we just need to multiply that!)

So check out either Pastor John's blog or RadicalConnections.org to learn more about this crazy intimately-large-traditional-emerging-missional-movement-of-a-church thing (with an open mind, if you don't mind).

Happy emertional church-envisioning. I've rambled on long enough. ;-)