Welcome

The current installment of the COEC began meeting in 2007.

We are currently on a "break," for no particular reason, and many little reasons - mostly pertaining to life circumstances. If anyone is interested in calling a meeting, feel free to post on the blog, join the google group (see link below) and send an email, or contact either Nancy (nancykj10@yahoo.com) or Jesse (schroeder.jesse@gmail.com) for more information.

To receive cohort emails, join our Google group.

11.28.2007

December 8th Meeting

It seems that more people have Dec. 8th available, and to keep it easy to remember, we'll meet at 8pm. Everyone and anyone is welcome to our house in Grove City. If you plan to come, send me an email at schroeder.jesse@gmail.com and I'll give you our address and directions.

I'll post a discussion topic soon, or if someone else would like to suggest a topic that'd be great too!

11.25.2007

D. A. Carson

I've recently picked up D. A. Carson's book, "Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church." It is a very informative read. Carson writes in a very straight-forward manner, not masking anything. I feel like I'm sitting in one of his lecture classes.

Carson attempts to offer a survey of the emergent church movement, although I'm not sure if he focuses too heavily on authors like McLaren, and also lumps some authors such as Kimball into the mix that would separate themselves a bit from emergent (granted this book is about two years old). In his summary, Carson highlights what he feels are the strengths of the movement. However, he also points out what he feels are its greatest weaknesses.

Carson continually returns to what he sees is the Emergent movements blanket condemnation of modernism and everything associated with modernism. He thinks that Emergent is too quick to write off modernism and too quick to jump into postmodernism, which he debates is even an accurate description of the current cultural movement.

Further, Carson seems to isolate the shift of postmodernism to strictly region of epistemology. I'm surprised by this, because by reading and listening to various Emergent thinkers, I find that epistemology is only one area in which a cultural shift is noticed. There are also changes in ecclessiology, missiology, understandings of salvation, and much more. I think Carson ignores a lot of this.

Has anyone else read/listened to any D. A. Carson? If so, what did you think? Any reccomendations for online resources? I know Carson's book, "Becoming Conversant..." was originally presented at Cedarville University as a series of lectures, and as such a response was posted online here.

December Gathering

Hi all you central ohio "emergents" -

It's been over a month I think since we've all hung out, and if we wait until after the holidays, it'll really be a long time!! So I'm suggesting an emergent get-to-getha' sometime before Christmas. Once again, I'll open up my house down in Grove City, which I know might be a little bit of a drive, but I'd love to have you all over.

So here are some suggested dates, and as always, vote for which one fits your schedule best:

- Thurs. Nov. 29 (evening)
- Sat. Dec. 8 (afternoon or evening)


Basically any other Thurs. or Sat. would be best for us, so just let me know!!

- - Jesse