'PUB THEOLOGY' AND THE EMERGING CHURCH

I am reading Phyllis Tickle’s book, Emergence Christianity: What It Is, Where It Is Going, and Why It Matters, on my kindle. Here is a selection that caught my eye near the end of the book on the unpredictable and “organic” nature of emerging churches:

“Another considerable part of the reason for the disparity in thinking between inherited church and fresh expressions church is that measuring by numbers, visibility, and influence presupposes, to some greater or lesser extent, a tomorrow that is not only more significant than today but that is also obligatory. Permanence, long-range planning, and longevity are virtues for any institution. They are burdens for Emergence, burdens whose maintenance ultimately and inevitably will become taskmasters, not to mention threatening impediments to the mobility and immediacy that are required if the kingdom of God is to be served on this earth.

'Thus, a pub theology group may be deliberately started or, more likely, it may simply happen because the pub is, after all, a neighborhood pub and conducive to serious talk. As a group, this one may gather together a dozen people, or perhaps even three dozen people, all of whom are modestly curious about religion, or are royally annoyed with the Christianity they see around them and want a place to say so, or are looking for authentic Bible discussion with somebody else who truly cares as much. Or perhaps they simply are passionate about worship that is authentic. Or maybe they just seek the familiar company and sustained, personal prayer support of other devout Christians. Or maybe they are just somewhere in between all of those. Whatever they are, that group will become what the Spirit and the members make of it in prayer and participation.”

* ~Tickle, Phyllis (2012-09-01). Emergence Christianity: What It Is, Where It Is Going, and Why It Matters (Kindle Locations 1210-1229). Baker Book Group. Kindle Edition.

~ Tomorrow I will post the section following this. Her description of pub theology group reminds me of our 'god party' group that started in Homestead in Stick & Stein's bar 6 years ago. I read this passage to our group last night and we discussed it and possible outcomes.