And here are the questions to consider -
What has been your experience with the emerging church(the good the bad and the ugly)? How did you enter the conversation, how deep into it are you, and do you identify with it? Have you felt welcome in it? Is it a safe place for you? How does it compare with your previous experiences? Have you felt supported or condemned by friends and family because of your involvement in the conversation (or is it something you still hide)? How has it helped you faith as a women? Is it permission giving? Do you feel like you (or women in general) have a voice? How can it be more supportive of women?
Labels: Emerging Church, Gender Issues
So far my experience with the Emerging Church has been good. In respect to those that are a part of the Emerging Church. My experience has been limited to our Emerging Women blog and my church. The Emerging community that I have encountered has been respectful, loving, encouraging, lent an ear for frustration, and disappointment. This has included women and men. I feel safe at 'Emerging Women' and with those at church that I have connected with. I entered the conversation after some challenging words from my pastor, I began some 'research on my own' and then "A New Kind of Christian" by Brian McLaren was recommended. I was sucked in! I have been reading anything I can for the last 8 months. I'm in deep, and have re-evaluated my beliefs on many levels this year, and came out with many different perspectives.
Compared to my previous experience, it's been challenging, but in a good way. It's weird to describe. I wasn't "in deep" with any church prior to this year. I attended, got my good message, avoided creating too many 'close' relationships because I have seen how 'church people' could be. So I kept my foot in the door, just to be safe. Then 'emerging' dropped into my life, and life changed as I knew it. My faith, and dependence on God is stronger than it has ever been.
My growth occurred because of the respect, the encouragement, and the love in 'emerging'. For those in my church that have helped me, no question was 'off limits'. That was not my experience in the past.
As for the family thing, I have to admit, I am still somewhat in hiding. I share bits and pieces, and many of them know "something is different". I know it won't be long, I have already had a few confrontations that I had to dodge, but I am sure some in my family have never even heard about the 'emerging conversation' or if they have, it is biased.
It has helped my faith as a woman greatly, and yes it has been very permission giving. I feel like I have more of a voice than I did. Again, in the church I am in, the men have been very welcoming, and encouraging. I know that is not always the case. I think that it can be more supportive of women in bringing more women into the "leadership" areas, team teaching, encouraging writing etc. I also think that for some of us, women weren't encouraged to go to seminary, or higher avenues of study. What we got was "tradional-women's place teaching" in bible studies, at church etc. I for one, don't get a lot of the 'theology discussions' but want so bad to be a part of the discussion. I would like to see more of those who didn't study all the history and theologies, be brought into the discussion. I have heard that we have made religion too much about systems, beliefs, and theology, so let's get around that where possible. Sorry for the length, lots of questions to answer.