Emergent: a little less conversation?

I missed my chance to not only host Brian McLaren as he promoted his new book, but also interview him - right here on my humble little blog! Darn it... The timing was just off. I got notice of the opportunity just before we left for Australia, and there was much to-ing and fro-ing before my review copy of the book arrived. By the time I got all my ducks lined up, I'd missed the entire event.

But that didn't stop me from thinking what I'd ask if I got a chance to ask - and perhaps I may still ask by email, if I can get up the courage.

One of the bigger questions that's been on my mind has not yet found an answer, although I've been trawling emergent blogs and ezines and all that. There are hints at it, but nothing definite.

The question is: Will this Emerging Church conversation ever become a movement? In other words - when do we stop talking and start doing?

You see, from my miniscule perspective it still seems like a lot of folk sitting around drinking (fair trade) coffee, talking and thinking. And then we all leave and go carry on with life as normal - well, almost-normal, with a tweaking here and there to match up with our new perspectives.

But I have yet to find a majority who has truly changed, who is all action in line with what they've now deconstructed and then reconstructed, whose deeds match up to their new-found new-defined faith so exactly that it's taking the entire world by storm.

I know there are churches/groups out there (mostly in America/UK, some in Australia, a few scattered elsewhere) that are doing what they believe, but it's still underground, furtive, and you have to really look to find them. (It's a little like trying to find an illegal rave to go to - unless you know who to ask, you'll never discover it.) There's no sweeping swathe of difference in the communities where they flourish. It's still bit-by-bit and one-at-a-time that things are happening. And the stories that might encourage many to take those running leaps are still whispered in closed circles, not shouted from the rooftops (or from the blogs, generally speaking) for the world to gasp at.

Emergent (and I use that term loosely, so I don't have to type "the emerging church" every time...) may still be stamping out fires of criticism from the mainline folk (who get jumpy when things look set to change, and change dramatically). Emergent may still be finding direction. Emergent may still be formulating definitive answers. Doing all that takes time and patience and silence and thinking and talking among ourselves.

But surely it also takes action?

I know Emergent is not into becoming a Movement - getting an organizational heirarchy, developing programmes (perhaps Conferences are exempt - they've had a few already) and funding and all that stuff that can get a movement quagmired down into an organization with too many cogs turning to get anywhere. They (we?) shun it in favour of organic, authentic stuff. So where is the organic, authentic stuff? Shouldn't all the earthy things we've been tending be producing a harvest of bountiful fruit by now?

Shouldn't they be inspiring many of us to try it too - instead of spending days/months/years defending a position and countering accusations?

OK, I shouldn't lump Emergent folks into one big basket. I know many ARE doing good things, experiencing amazing growth and reality in their everyday existance, having eyes opened and seeing change. But it's small-scale, and unless all of us with any interest in this conversation get up off our butts and get our hands dirty, I fear it will peter out into yet another movement that tried, and failed.