Emergent Convention Reflections: General Sessions & Emerging Worship(?)
May 23, 2004
First, let me say that I really enjoy the music of the David Crowder Band (DCB). When I recorded a CD a few weeks ago, I played some of his songs. But, the general consensus (at least from the people I was talking with this past week) is that the Emergent Convention would do better to branch off from the DCB. Other than the people off in a corner doing the bicycle labyrinth, you really couldn’t tell much of a difference in the General Sessions between the Emergent Convention / National Pastor’s Convention / National Youth Workers Convention. There is the same stage, hype, music, worship-style, etc. I’m just not sure I get it.
People will still come to the Emergent Convention even if the DCB does not come. I do have to be honest, and say that I was pretty stoked that the DCB was going to be at Nashville. However, as soon as they started playing at the first General Session, and as soon as he started doing his same “schtick” between worship songs, I really felt that something was not right here. It just didn’t seem to fit…at all.
Last year’s General Sessions even seemed to be a bit more “emergent” (for lack of a better word) than this year, and I’m wondering the reasons for the changes. Last year, Tony Jones did a meditation or prayer exercise during each General Session. I know that Yaconelli had a strong presence and role in mediating between YS & Emergent, and I wonder if him not being around brought about any of these changes.
Tags: Blogging, Emergent, Emergent-Convention, emerging-church
Posted in Emergent
Adam Walker Cleaveland: 
May 23rd, 2004 at 6:59 am
i too missed tony’s meditations…
our lovely 3 story airplane hanger…for a conference room…didn’t help the worship experience either…
but as you say in the previous post…the family reunion made up for many weaknesses…
we do need to be more inclusive of new voices in the “music” worship and other worship forms…
i really appreciated having jeanie up front…her retelling of scripture was a highlight…
and also having women key notes…
much improvement in this area!
not to mention the women in ministry breakfast…i’ll be posting my photos later sunday…
thanks adam for coming to the breakfast and supporting women!
thanks too for all the hang time and laughter!
blessings as you leave wendell and hit the road!
lil
May 23rd, 2004 at 9:46 am
Thanks for all the insights on EC. Interesting to see how this thing evolves.
May 23rd, 2004 at 10:03 am
Thanks again for helping me to feel like I was…not exactly there, but at least connected by great blogging! Did they record cd’s of seminars like they do at YS? Did they give out an order sheet? Do you have one? Can I see?
Sincerely,
Resource Copper
May 23rd, 2004 at 10:56 am
The more things change, the more they stay the same! True reformation is always Word reformation, not the changing of structures and methods.
May 24th, 2004 at 12:15 pm
Chris, here’s the link to order tapes/cds.
http://www.psitapesales.com/
May 24th, 2004 at 11:36 pm
yeah, i was excited to see DCB live (i hadn’t ever before), but i was really disappointed with how he was seemingly forced into the general sessions. I’m excited about next year, though . . . hopefully the changes come as planned.