Emerging or Emergent?  

What do these two terms mean?  The critique has been leveled at the emerging church, "What is it going tobe once it has "emerged?"  That particular critique shows a decidedly modern lack of the understanding of metaphor in postmodern culture and language.  In fact, the metaphor connoted by the term "emerging" is quite Biblical. "Emergent" comes from another, more specific context but still conveys many of the same analogies as "emerging."

"Emerging"

Some people don't particularly like the term; others have spoken of how rich a descriptive metaphor they find it.  (Which shows how the postmodern world is as rich and diverse and any could possibly imagine!)  One person said that the term "emerging" conjured up for him images from the movie "Alien" where the creature "emerged" from the middle of someone's abdominal cavity early on in the movie!  If that's not enough of an image, he went on to say that maybe instead of that picture, he'd offer one of an "emerging" boil or pimple on an adolescent face! ( I agree with what you may be thinking:  Neither of those is really helpful in the current discussion!)

However: If we begin from the concept of of faith and discipleship as primarily a journey - something that some traditions point to with language like the process of sanctification versus the transforming moment of salvation, then the metaphor of emerging begins to take on a richness beyond any single metaphor.  We are continually emerging as we move deeper into the life of faith in relationship to Jesus. 

Today, I've moved farther in my faith than I was yesterday (or at least I hope I have) so I can certainly say that I've emerged a bit more than I was then.  In this sense, emerging is a close cousin to the way Presbyterians use the word reformed and always being reformed.  In a sense, the metaphor of emerging is saying the same thing, just with a new and fresh metaphor that perhaps will speak to some in ways reformed will not.  This also answers the critique quoted above:  We can't speak to what we'll be once we've emerged because it is a never ending process.  Tthe journey of discipleship is never completed.

"Emergent":

This is a different term.  Primarily it refers to those who resonate at some point with the ongoing discussions in the Emergent Village, which is described best on the website, www.emergentvillage.com:  "Emergent is a friendship. Becoming a part of a friendship is a quite different from being part of an organization. It's more like joining a conversation.  To join a conversation, you need to hang around and get a feeling for what's been said before you arrived. This involves listening, maybe asking a few questions (doing a little homework) at the sidelines of the main conversation. Then you wait for a good place to contribute to the conversation-with an apt question, an observation, a story, whatever. A friendship is always mutual: you contribute to influence and enrich others, and you listen and learn and are influenced and enriched too."

When those first involved in what would become the emergent village were brainstorming a name to identify this group, Doug Pagitt ( pastor of Solomon's Porch in Minneapolis, MN) recommended borrowing the term from the study of forestry.  Emergent growth is growth on the forest floor that might escape notice at first glance but which contributes to the overall health of the entire ecosystem.  Thus was born a term which is an apt metaphor for growth and change that in many areas is still embryonic and overlooked, yet is contributing to the overall health of many Christian communities all over the world. (Some of that contribution is probably still being overlooked by many who aren't yet looking for it.)

Regardless of which term really hooks up for you personally, a bit of pondering and thought will open up all the richness either can paint into a new picture of faith and vitality in our discipleship journey.  So as to "Emerging" or "Emergent"?  Take your pick!  Or do like I do, and use both.