While working as the worship coordinator for last week’s church planting conference and training event, I was reminded of my own passion for the “missional” church and all things “emergent-y.” I attended this same conference two years ago as a student and at that time it helped to jump-start my own thinking about what the church of the 21st century, post-modern era will look like.
The event I was a part of was not a missional church or emergent conference per se, though there were some very strong missional undercurrents. The jump to emergent is more one of my own. I am drawn towards many of the conversations that are going on that are connected with the larger emergent conversation.
A good friend of mine recently got to be a part of Brian McLaren’s visit to Goshen (IN) and had I not been at my brother’s wedding in Virginia I would have been there too. Just last week I found out about another upcoming opportunity to hear from some of the folks who are at the center of the emergent conversation, the “church basement roadshow.”
I heard about the roadshow from the Emergent Village weblog and was immediately interested. I must admit that much of my interest was generated because of Doug Pagitt’s being a part of the event. I’ve read a couple of his books (Church Re-Imagined, Preaching Re-Imagined) and have been very impressed. So to see that he was a part of this tour was an instant endorsement for me.
Whenever I see such an event announced the first thing I do is look for the tour dates and locations. After finding them, I began to get disheartened as I read. First leg: west coast. Far from Richmond, IN. Second leg: the heartland (midwest). I had my hopes up for this one, but the closest they come is Kansas City. Third leg: east coast. My heart continued to drop. Having grown up in Virginia, the east coast I know is far from Indiana. Atlanta, Charlotte, Pittsburgh, all the usuals were there. However at the very bottom of the list, the last stop, there it was … Indianapolis! Now I’m not sure whose map they’re using to consider Indy “east coast” but I don’t mind.
I’m putting it on my calendar now … Monday August 4th I’ll be at Lockerbie Central United Methodist Church in Indianapolis to be a part of the Church Basement Roadshow. Let me know if you want to come along!
Yes I’ll be there! Its on my calendar now. GREAT website, btw.
Hey thanks for the blog about the roadshow.
it should be a great night!