Aj Schwanz

I attended a gathering for folks heading up or wanting to start an Emergent Cohort. It took me a while to figure out what the heck they were talking about: is a cohort a worship gathering? The leadership of a worship gathering in the same area?

It turns out that a cohort is a gathering of folks interested in the emerging conversation. It can take place once a quarter, once a month, once a week (though the laterís a bit much). Someone volunteers to coordinate it: they arrange an area, a topic, a time, and get the info out (generally online). The gathering has a topic to look at, such as social justice, poverty, new monasticism, etc. – all through a postmodern lens: what does that look like for individuals? For the local area? For the world? Speakers can rotate through the group, or a speaker can be brought in: but the crux of it is that itís a conversation. Basically itís what we experienced at the conference, but on the local level: a safe place to ask questions and look at whatís going on theologically.

Emergent offers to put the cohort contact information on the website: they help coordinate efforts between cohorts and get info out to folks seeking to find a place to talk.

I had a chat with a person who was frustrated with the ETC: ìWhen folks think that this little conversation is going to change the world, thatís just wrong,î i.e. when we get stuck on the words and terminology and try to figure everything out rather than focus on encountering God (which can happen through conversation and all other realms of our lives), it doesnít work. But if we gather together expecting to be present with God, dialogue with God, and experience with God, then it all comes together.

Jason and I have thought about coordinating such a gathering: we somewhat experience that at Newberg Friends with our Emerging Adventure meetings (figuring out where Godís calling individuals of the church as well as the larger church gathering). But how great would it be to expand the experience: folks from other church gatherings/locations/ways of life. How wonderful would it be to provide a safe place to ask tough questions, to get past this ìthinned out versionî of Christianity that many of us exist in, to see what this whole Christian call of living is really about? Would anyone be interested?

I don’t know that we would fit in with Emergent’s definition of cohorts (I doubt I’m going to attract a whole lot of theologians or emerging leaders), but frankly, I’d like it to be a safe place for *anyone* to question and dialogue: keep it open to all – that seems more representative of the intent behind the gatherings.

Would you be interested in doing something similar? Let me know: even if you’re not in my local area, I think we can pool efforts/support/ideas and get something cool going.