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Andrew Seely
Sep 21, 2008, 5:16:35 AM9/21/08
to EmergentSoCal
Ok here's the long overdue update from EmergentSoCal.
As many of you have guessed the activity of EmergentSoCal has been
VERY low over the last 6months to a year.
I'm not even sure how many of you are still interested in pursuing a
conversation about Emergent ideas in Southern California.
The most basic question is: Are people still wanting EmergentSoCal to
be the place where we can hopefully build relationships and
connections as we try and figure out how to best minister to people in
So Cal?
If yes, then we need some people to step up and lead.
EmergentSoCal has from the beginning been organic and has purposefully
not have much of a formal leadership structure. Which may be why it's
activity has been so low. Though in my opinion it needs individuals
who are willing to step up and take initiative when it comes to
planning, hosting events, and connecting people together.
EmergentSoCal has always operated with the understanding that the
members hold the power. Which meant if you had an idea for an event
or wanted feedback then it was your responsibility to take action on
that idea or event.
We had started to set up "guides" for smaller geographical areas as
SoCal is a large place and there were not large concentrations of
people in the broader area (with the exception of San Diego). Though
that project never fully came to fruition.
Here's the jist of it.
I want to get feedback from the EmergentSoCal community as to how to
proceed from here on out. Is it time to call it quits? Do we need a
restart? Where do we go from here? Are there some of you who are
willing to step into "guide" roles and be contact persons for
geographical areas?
I'm calling you out of the woodwork on this one. We need feedback.
Please dig this email out of your junk folder and login to
EmergentSoCal and respond.
Pass this email on. Blog about it. Introduce someone new to
EmergentSoCal.
Look forward to hearing from many of you soon.
Andrew Seely
Guide EmergentSoCal
www.andrewseely.com
twitter: andrewseely
andre...@gmail.com
As many of you have guessed the activity of EmergentSoCal has been
VERY low over the last 6months to a year.
I'm not even sure how many of you are still interested in pursuing a
conversation about Emergent ideas in Southern California.
The most basic question is: Are people still wanting EmergentSoCal to
be the place where we can hopefully build relationships and
connections as we try and figure out how to best minister to people in
So Cal?
If yes, then we need some people to step up and lead.
EmergentSoCal has from the beginning been organic and has purposefully
not have much of a formal leadership structure. Which may be why it's
activity has been so low. Though in my opinion it needs individuals
who are willing to step up and take initiative when it comes to
planning, hosting events, and connecting people together.
EmergentSoCal has always operated with the understanding that the
members hold the power. Which meant if you had an idea for an event
or wanted feedback then it was your responsibility to take action on
that idea or event.
We had started to set up "guides" for smaller geographical areas as
SoCal is a large place and there were not large concentrations of
people in the broader area (with the exception of San Diego). Though
that project never fully came to fruition.
Here's the jist of it.
I want to get feedback from the EmergentSoCal community as to how to
proceed from here on out. Is it time to call it quits? Do we need a
restart? Where do we go from here? Are there some of you who are
willing to step into "guide" roles and be contact persons for
geographical areas?
I'm calling you out of the woodwork on this one. We need feedback.
Please dig this email out of your junk folder and login to
EmergentSoCal and respond.
Pass this email on. Blog about it. Introduce someone new to
EmergentSoCal.
Look forward to hearing from many of you soon.
Andrew Seely
Guide EmergentSoCal
www.andrewseely.com
twitter: andrewseely
andre...@gmail.com
Andrew Seely
Sep 26, 2008, 4:35:28 AM9/26/08
to EmergentSoCal
Anybody have anything to contribute?
http://groups.google.com/group/emergentsocal/browse_thread/thread/57fc65cd45cb4403
http://groups.google.com/group/emergentsocal/browse_thread/thread/57fc65cd45cb4403
Patrick Oden
Sep 27, 2008, 9:34:35 AM9/27/08
to andre...@gmail.com, EmergentSoCal
Hey Andrew,
I guess there has been enough sputtering starts over the last couple of years as to lower enthusiasm. I don't think this means there's nothing going on, I think it means more there's not a lot of motivation for broader organization. I'd be curious to hear why from people.
But, I'll share my thoughts and situation. For the past four years I've been away from the active church scene, for all kinds of reasons, writing and finding renewal with God. I stepped away from everything for a while, letting it all go. But, something happened.
By letting it all go I seemed to have found myself pulled back in. Funny how that works. This has resulted in more writing, and now a nice little change of my situation. I'm starting at Fuller Seminary for a PhD in theology this Fall. My study is going to emphasize the theology of Jurgen Moltmann, and the theology/practices of the emerging church.
Meaning, my interest in Emergent SoCal is strong. Being out of the loop, and pretty far away from urban centers, has meant my participation has been restricted. And that will continue for the next few months as I commute to Pasadena. But, starting in January I'm going to be moving there and would definitely be interested in Emergent stuff.
What's so interesting to me about this present situation with Emergent SoCal is the fact that Southern California really is a prime spot. Some of the earliest proto-emerging churches started up here, and So Cal has been for over a century one of the primary growth areas for all kinds of new Christian movements, Pentecostalism being a prime example as well as a number of others. Add to this the fact that one reason I decided on Fuller is the fact that it is probably now the academic center of the emerging/missional movement, with all kinds of leaders and scholars based there or wandering through there.
There's a whole lot going on in SoCal, but so far a lot of the practical activities have been diffuse.
Once I get settled in Pasadena I'd love to figure out who is around and willing to find ways to find a renewed focus.
Hope this was helpful.
Cheers,
Patrick
I guess there has been enough sputtering starts over the last couple of years as to lower enthusiasm. I don't think this means there's nothing going on, I think it means more there's not a lot of motivation for broader organization. I'd be curious to hear why from people.
But, I'll share my thoughts and situation. For the past four years I've been away from the active church scene, for all kinds of reasons, writing and finding renewal with God. I stepped away from everything for a while, letting it all go. But, something happened.
By letting it all go I seemed to have found myself pulled back in. Funny how that works. This has resulted in more writing, and now a nice little change of my situation. I'm starting at Fuller Seminary for a PhD in theology this Fall. My study is going to emphasize the theology of Jurgen Moltmann, and the theology/practices of the emerging church.
Meaning, my interest in Emergent SoCal is strong. Being out of the loop, and pretty far away from urban centers, has meant my participation has been restricted. And that will continue for the next few months as I commute to Pasadena. But, starting in January I'm going to be moving there and would definitely be interested in Emergent stuff.
What's so interesting to me about this present situation with Emergent SoCal is the fact that Southern California really is a prime spot. Some of the earliest proto-emerging churches started up here, and So Cal has been for over a century one of the primary growth areas for all kinds of new Christian movements, Pentecostalism being a prime example as well as a number of others. Add to this the fact that one reason I decided on Fuller is the fact that it is probably now the academic center of the emerging/missional movement, with all kinds of leaders and scholars based there or wandering through there.
There's a whole lot going on in SoCal, but so far a lot of the practical activities have been diffuse.
Once I get settled in Pasadena I'd love to figure out who is around and willing to find ways to find a renewed focus.
Hope this was helpful.
Cheers,
Patrick
scottgsanders
Sep 28, 2008, 2:06:56 PM9/28/08
to EmergentSoCal
For what it's worth, all I have to share is one lurker's opinion.
Which goes a bit like this:
Patrick Oden said in the previous post, "There's a whole lot going on
the conversation. I feel about twitter-ed and facebook-ed to death.
Anyone else? Can I get an "Amen"?
My wife and I have visited (a couple of times now) a gathering of
folks who are trying to put something together. It's inconvenient
(downtown, while we're in the SFV), and a bit "broke-down" in a very
human and appealing way. And after not worshiping or even 'seeking' in
the company of others for a year+, it was so invigorating and
refreshing just to be with people, who, however imperfectly, were
craning upward from the nest.
I have lived in LA for 4 years, and I have witnessed and been pummeled
by the ISOLATION parching this city, zapping my energy and that of my
handful of friends who long for God's presence. I think that we rely
far too much on electronic forms to do our communicating for us, and
it adds to the isolation we feel, rather than diminishing it.
Think of it this way: Have you ever REALLY botched an attempt to
diffuse a tense, loaded issue via email? Your intentions were good,
and you thought you were showing all due subtlety, but everything you
said was totally misconstrued?
I have come to realize that online communication is a "supplemental
form" only. You wouldn't send your birth certificate in the mail with
a $0.42 stamp on it, leaving it in your unsecure mailbox to be picked
up, would you? You'd FedEx it with all kinds of insurance, placing it
directly in the hands of the representative, personally, right?
I heard this piece on NPR a few weeks back about a guy who works for
some San Jose computer company (Cisco?). Anyway, he got so bombarded
and so overwhelmed by email (1950 unread or so) that he declared Email
Bankruptcy. He sent a mass email to his whole list, with apologies,
and then wiped his account clean. Deleted EVERY SINGLE EMAIL. Read,
unread, EVERYTHING.
Isn't there a little part of you that finds the idea of that sort of
attractive?
Email (and listserves, by extension), should be used far more
sparingly than we do (me first).
Is that where we are now as an online community? Are those other
forums that are discussing 4-Wheel-Drive Parts-Swapping and the Art of
Crochet more robust than we are because the subject matter is MORE
ENGAGING than what we have gathered here to discuss?
I have more questions than answers here, but I suspect that we have
been reduced to silence because we crave a human, ACTUAL, forum for
these thoughts and feelings. (Back to Patrick's comment about
"practical activities").
Do we need to start fresh here? One path forward might look something
like this:
> We declare listserve bankruptcy.
> We call out for a Listserve Roll-call, inviting hollers-back with regions represented (e.g., Scott from North Hollywood.)
> Someone from each of those areas most heavily represented (SFV, Westside, Southbay, PASADENA, anyone?) volunteers a time and a place for a Pub Night. Choose a local watering hole and a night of the week to go have a pint and say "Hello." No program. No bible study. No book group. All of that MIGHT come later, as an outgrowth of the prefs and needs of each group.
We need an analog to the virtual community we are trying to create
here out of nothing (or out of 'not much', rather).
Any thoughts?
Warmly,
Scott
Which goes a bit like this:
Patrick Oden said in the previous post, "There's a whole lot going on
in SoCal, but so far a lot of the practical activities have been
diffuse."
I think the medium here (online communication) has been worn out, not
diffuse."
the conversation. I feel about twitter-ed and facebook-ed to death.
Anyone else? Can I get an "Amen"?
My wife and I have visited (a couple of times now) a gathering of
folks who are trying to put something together. It's inconvenient
(downtown, while we're in the SFV), and a bit "broke-down" in a very
human and appealing way. And after not worshiping or even 'seeking' in
the company of others for a year+, it was so invigorating and
refreshing just to be with people, who, however imperfectly, were
craning upward from the nest.
I have lived in LA for 4 years, and I have witnessed and been pummeled
by the ISOLATION parching this city, zapping my energy and that of my
handful of friends who long for God's presence. I think that we rely
far too much on electronic forms to do our communicating for us, and
it adds to the isolation we feel, rather than diminishing it.
Think of it this way: Have you ever REALLY botched an attempt to
diffuse a tense, loaded issue via email? Your intentions were good,
and you thought you were showing all due subtlety, but everything you
said was totally misconstrued?
I have come to realize that online communication is a "supplemental
form" only. You wouldn't send your birth certificate in the mail with
a $0.42 stamp on it, leaving it in your unsecure mailbox to be picked
up, would you? You'd FedEx it with all kinds of insurance, placing it
directly in the hands of the representative, personally, right?
I heard this piece on NPR a few weeks back about a guy who works for
some San Jose computer company (Cisco?). Anyway, he got so bombarded
and so overwhelmed by email (1950 unread or so) that he declared Email
Bankruptcy. He sent a mass email to his whole list, with apologies,
and then wiped his account clean. Deleted EVERY SINGLE EMAIL. Read,
unread, EVERYTHING.
Isn't there a little part of you that finds the idea of that sort of
attractive?
Email (and listserves, by extension), should be used far more
sparingly than we do (me first).
Is that where we are now as an online community? Are those other
forums that are discussing 4-Wheel-Drive Parts-Swapping and the Art of
Crochet more robust than we are because the subject matter is MORE
ENGAGING than what we have gathered here to discuss?
I have more questions than answers here, but I suspect that we have
been reduced to silence because we crave a human, ACTUAL, forum for
these thoughts and feelings. (Back to Patrick's comment about
"practical activities").
Do we need to start fresh here? One path forward might look something
like this:
> We declare listserve bankruptcy.
> We call out for a Listserve Roll-call, inviting hollers-back with regions represented (e.g., Scott from North Hollywood.)
> Someone from each of those areas most heavily represented (SFV, Westside, Southbay, PASADENA, anyone?) volunteers a time and a place for a Pub Night. Choose a local watering hole and a night of the week to go have a pint and say "Hello." No program. No bible study. No book group. All of that MIGHT come later, as an outgrowth of the prefs and needs of each group.
We need an analog to the virtual community we are trying to create
here out of nothing (or out of 'not much', rather).
Any thoughts?
Warmly,
Scott
> On Fri, Sep 26, 2008 at 1:35 AM, Andrew Seely <andrewse...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Anybody have anything to contribute?
>
> >http://groups.google.com/group/emergentsocal/browse_thread/thread/57f...>
> > Anybody have anything to contribute?
>
Andrew Seely
Sep 28, 2008, 6:30:09 PM9/28/08
to EmergentSoCal
Great input so far. Keep it up folks, the most people that respond
the better understanding we will have of the direction this group is
going to have for the future.
Pass the word along.
the better understanding we will have of the direction this group is
going to have for the future.
Pass the word along.
Bethany
Sep 29, 2008, 10:41:57 AM9/29/08
to EmergentSoCal
I am so on board with your assessment of things, Scott. To that end,
based on his 3 action-points:
> We declare listserve bankruptcy.
> We call out for a Listserve Roll-call, inviting hollers-back with regions represented (e.g., Scott from North Hollywood.)
> Someone from each of those areas most heavily represented (SFV, Westside, Southbay, PASADENA, anyone?) volunteers a time and a place for a Pub Night.
I'm Bethany from Pasadena. I'm just about to start a PhD program in
Christian Ethics at Fuller (really "just about"...my first class is
today), and when things get shaken out a little better in terms of
scheduling, if no one else from Pasadena has named a time/place by
then, I'll jump in there and do that.
Peace,
Bethany
> > >http://groups.google.com/group/emergentsocal/browse_thread/thread/57f...- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
based on his 3 action-points:
> We declare listserve bankruptcy.
> We call out for a Listserve Roll-call, inviting hollers-back with regions represented (e.g., Scott from North Hollywood.)
> Someone from each of those areas most heavily represented (SFV, Westside, Southbay, PASADENA, anyone?) volunteers a time and a place for a Pub Night.
Christian Ethics at Fuller (really "just about"...my first class is
today), and when things get shaken out a little better in terms of
scheduling, if no one else from Pasadena has named a time/place by
then, I'll jump in there and do that.
Peace,
Bethany
>
> - Show quoted text -
kristinmyers
Sep 29, 2008, 7:24:38 PM9/29/08
to EmergentSoCal
I just want to be where the people are... online or in a pub. :)
I'm Kristin in Pasadena. I just graduated from Fuller and am looking
for graphic design work. My interest in Emergent SoCal is admittedly
very curious with potential to be strong. I can't seem to get myself
to church on Sunday, as hard as I will it to happen. There are some
great churches 45+ minutes away I'd go to be, but it's just too far to
drive. I would love to build relationships and get involved in a
network locally.
Count me in for a pub night with folks from Pasadena/San Gabriel
Valley to talk further.
I'm Kristin in Pasadena. I just graduated from Fuller and am looking
for graphic design work. My interest in Emergent SoCal is admittedly
very curious with potential to be strong. I can't seem to get myself
to church on Sunday, as hard as I will it to happen. There are some
great churches 45+ minutes away I'd go to be, but it's just too far to
drive. I would love to build relationships and get involved in a
network locally.
Count me in for a pub night with folks from Pasadena/San Gabriel
Valley to talk further.
Tripp
Oct 6, 2008, 5:13:04 PM10/6/08
to EmergentSoCal
Hey Everybody
I arrive in Redondo Beach oct 11 ut have been the cohrot organizer in
Winston Salem prior to moving out west. Whenever people decide to get
together I will try to be there. I too will be doing a phd and
working at a church. Looking forward to it.
tripp fuller
I arrive in Redondo Beach oct 11 ut have been the cohrot organizer in
Winston Salem prior to moving out west. Whenever people decide to get
together I will try to be there. I too will be doing a phd and
working at a church. Looking forward to it.
tripp fuller
Margaret Lee
Oct 31, 2008, 2:15:29 PM10/31/08
to tripp....@gmail.com, EmergentSoCal
hi all,
my husband and i are looking forward to watching the election results on tuesday and thought it might be fun to watch it with a complete group of strangers. ;) actually, we were wondering where all the progressive evangelicals in LA are and thought it would be fun to watch it with some emergent people.
since it seems like nothing has been organized since andrew's email last month, y'alls are welcome to come and enjoy election fun at our place so that some of us can get to know one another. i must warn you that we are huge obama fans- though of course, all political persuasions are welcome.
email me if you're interested. we live in west los angeles (sawtelle and national) in ucla housing. festivities will start at 5 pm.
margaret
my husband and i are looking forward to watching the election results on tuesday and thought it might be fun to watch it with a complete group of strangers. ;) actually, we were wondering where all the progressive evangelicals in LA are and thought it would be fun to watch it with some emergent people.
since it seems like nothing has been organized since andrew's email last month, y'alls are welcome to come and enjoy election fun at our place so that some of us can get to know one another. i must warn you that we are huge obama fans- though of course, all political persuasions are welcome.
email me if you're interested. we live in west los angeles (sawtelle and national) in ucla housing. festivities will start at 5 pm.
margaret
philosop...@gmail.com
Nov 15, 2008, 1:07:56 AM11/15/08
to EmergentSoCal
Andrew Seely
Nov 15, 2008, 5:28:37 AM11/15/08
to EmergentSoCal
Hey Jeff
I'm out here in the Valley and would love to grab a beer or coffee or
whatever and talk about whatever.
As for right now in terms of activity of EmergentSoCal, we are in a
period of assessment and discernment about where the group is headed
and if it needs to exist. But like I said I am totally open to
meeting up and finding some time.
Let me know if that sounds great and hopefully we can start getting
you connected to others who are asking the same sort of questions you
are and wrestling with some of the same ideas.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Andrew
PS for whatever reasons both philospherfreak@aol and @gmail got
bounced back so i wasn't able to email you.
On Nov 14, 10:07 pm, "philosopherfr...@aol.com"
<philosopherfr...@gmail.com> wrote:
I'm out here in the Valley and would love to grab a beer or coffee or
whatever and talk about whatever.
As for right now in terms of activity of EmergentSoCal, we are in a
period of assessment and discernment about where the group is headed
and if it needs to exist. But like I said I am totally open to
meeting up and finding some time.
Let me know if that sounds great and hopefully we can start getting
you connected to others who are asking the same sort of questions you
are and wrestling with some of the same ideas.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Andrew
PS for whatever reasons both philospherfreak@aol and @gmail got
bounced back so i wasn't able to email you.
On Nov 14, 10:07 pm, "philosopherfr...@aol.com"
<philosopherfr...@gmail.com> wrote:
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