However - since I get asked this so incredibly often "Where did the term 'emerging church' start?" or what is the difference of "Emerging" or "Emergent" that I thought I would continue Marko's wondering of where the terms originated and also have a post I can then refer people to who ask me this a lot. To some you may not care at all about things like this, but for me it will help putting it here and then referring people to it who ask me.

The origin of the term "Emerging Church"

I first heard the term "emerging church" around 1997 when Leadership Network was using it as their tagline which said "advance scouts for the emerging church". Below is the actual logo and tagline on their web site from April 2000.

I personally thought it sounded cool and somewhat Indiana Jones-like saying you were "advanced scouts for the emerging church". Kind of like we were were explorers out there looking to the horizons to see what the Spirit of God was doing missionally in new forms of churches and ministries. Leadership Network also hosted several conferences which were focused on what at that time was called "Gen X" ministry in 1996 in Colorado Springs and another in 1997 at Mt. Hermon, CA. These conferences were even called "Gen X 1.0" and Gen X 2.0". They hosted another large event in Santa Fe in 1999 as well as several regional gatherings and forums focusing on emerging culture and generations. At these events were where I met so many people and began "networking" and building friendships, as the hope of Leadership Network was for people. David Crowder who at that time was beardless, had long straight hair and always was wearing a baseball cap when he led worship, was at many of these early events.

From "baby buster" to "Gen X" to "postmodern" to "emerging"

Since Leadership Network was hosting these events specifically focused on younger generations and their tag line was (advance scouts for the emerging church), it slowly began being used as as substitute word for what was once "Baby Busters" then became "Gen X"  then "postmodern" then became "emerging". When we realized that the "Gen X" thing was not just an age-group but a cultural change, it shifted to "postmodern" which soon became totally misunderstood and equated with a "style" of music or ministry or worship service rather than a philosophical response to modernism - and most of us were not philosophers and realized we were over our heads trying to even explain it. So the word "emerging church" seemed safer and more non-age specific and began being used more and more, not only for churches and ministries focused on younger generations, but for churches focusing on the fact the culture was really changing and shifting. So the term moved past a generational focus to more of a cultural focus.

However, a lot of the discussion at that time was still mainly about launching new alternative worship gatherings within a church, for younger people or planting new churches for younger generations. The term was mainly being used at that time around 1997-2001 (for the most part among the average church leader who began adopting the term), to describe churches focusing on ministry methodology for emerging generations and what was different than the Boomer church, the seeker church and traditional churches. That would change later to some degree, but that to my remembrance was the primary focus during those years.

When I was discussing book titles with Zondervan for the book I wrote which ended up being called "The Emerging Church" and was published in 2003, it was from Leadership Network where I first heard the term and was inspired to use it for the book title. I even got the domain name "emergingchurch.net" in 2001 to use for the book (which I never actually used but still own the domain from 2001). During the time of 2001 to 2003 the term "emerging church" became more and more popular, other web sites started using it to describe churches etc. So by the time the book was released, the term 'the emerging church' was already established in the circles that were talking about all the Gen X and postmodern things. My book did not start the name (as many have asked me about when they talk to me). I think possibly the book popularized it more in circles that hadn't heard about it before then. But the name was well in usage before the book I wrote came out.

"Emerging Church" simply meant churches who were missional and "being the church" in our emerging culture

For me, the term "the emerging church" simply meant churches who were focusing on the mission of Jesus and thinking about the Kingdom in our emerging culture. It meant churches who were rethinking what it means to be the church in our emerging culture. It meant churches who were "being the church" instead of "going to church" in our emerging culture. Most of the emerging churches initially were focused on younger generations by default of the lack of seeing them in churches and increasing number leaving the church. So it did start more with a mission of specifically seeing emerging generations become part of the church again. There were some distinct values about leadership and community and evangelism approaches that were being established among the churches - but overall at that time it meant missional churches passionate about seeing the gospel of Jesus communicated and lived out to emerging generations. That is at least what I was thinking as I used the term and still do think as I use the term "emerging church". The word "emerging" simply means 'what is coming to the surface'. So I use the term for what is the Spirit of God bringing to the surface in terms of the church that He has since the birth of the church.

The church is always "emerging"

The church has always been emerging since it was birthed and we have seen all types of various expressions of church 'emerge' throughout church history. If anyone disagrees that the church has not been emerging, then simply look at what you are doing now in worship. Mostly everything we do has "emerged" as culture changes. If you sing with an organ, that 'emerged' at a certain time. If you are in a denomination, what that denomination started from 'emerged' at a certain time. For those that say nothing ever changes, then ask if you are giving each other holy kisses when you meet. As that was a part of early Christian worship. But eventually culture changed that and most of us do not go around kissing each other on Sunday mornings in the sanctuary but instead the handshake 'emerged' or however else we may greet one another. We shouldn't be afraid of emerging, as the church has always been emerging in various ways.

That is also why you see diversity among emerging churches that are Baptist or Lutheran etc. as the common link among emerging churches is a missional mindset. That is also why there is no "model" for the "emerging church" but it is more of a mindset than a model as local contexts make a tremendous difference in it all. I have heard lately that it might have been better to say "church who are emerging" (plural) than "the emerging church" (singular) as that sounds exclusive, and I fully agree - although it was never meant to be as the word "church" is plural really in how at least I thought of it when I used the word "emerging church".

The Emerging Church circa 1970

Now, the irony is that about 2 years ago someone bought me a copy of a book called "The Emerging Church" that was published in 1970 written by Bruce Larson and Ralph Osbourn. It actually is a great book and I have been in contact with one of the authors who now is in his 80's. So in 1970 the church was "emerging" and someone even wrote a book about what was emerging then. They actually have a great quote in this book which says:

"If the church be true to its Lord, it may never properly say it has emerged."

I believe that is true and as I have said before, there is someone who is 6 years old right now who in the year 2040 will probably write another book called "The Emerging Church" about what is emerging at that time period.

To my best understanding, this is the origin of the term 'the emerging church' as used in most settings today. I am not sure when it began being used in England, or how it began being used there to describe the alternative worship scene that was also developing - but at least from a USA perspective, that I what I believe is the origin of where we started using the term. I may have some things missing in there, and feel free to comment and add or clarify anything, but to my best remembrance it is Leadership Network back in the late 1990's who first began using the term and it spread from there to be used as a replacement word for the whole "Gen X" then "postmodern" then "emerging church" words of expressing a term for missionally minded churches wanting to engage culture for the gospel.

Today, many people use the term in all sorts of ways - but that is how I personally began using it and why.

The origin of the term "emergent" and "emergent church"

The term "emergent" and "emergent church" began being used as we use it mainly today after the term "emerging church" was being used.

With all the wondering about the origins of the names and even web sites, I was motivated to look up web sites to see when they were first started in figuring out the time period when these terms were being used. Tony Jones suggested I post these dates here for those wanting to know more about timing and origins.

Web Sites first using "emergent" or "emerging"

emergingchurch.org   - May 21, 2001 -  Karen Ward from Apostles Church in Seattle got this domain name and began discussing emerging church issues on it.

emergingchurch.net  - June 12, 2001  - Since the book, The Emerging Church I was writing was in the works, I got the domain name back in 2001.

emergentvillage.org and com   - June 21, 2001 - "Emergent" the organization was formed at this time and they bought these domain names

emergingchurch.com  -  June 22, 2001 -  Youth Specialties bought the domain name on this date from someone who originally bought it in the year 2000 but didn't use it. But Youth Specialties at this time was looking at being involved in emerging church issues so they bought it  from someone else in 2001.

So, we can see that the term "emerging church" was being used to the point of a few of us actually buying domain names in 2001.

"Emergent" was the reestablished theological group from Leadership Networks Young Leaders Network

For the term "emergent" as we use it today about church was first used formally on June 21, 2001 when Tony Jones, Brian McLaren and Doug Pagitt met and had a conference call with some others to come up with a name for a new network they were starting. The reason they were starting "Emergent" was because Leadership Network had orginally formed a theological working group as part of their Young Leaders Network. In this original group with Leadership Network, some key people were Brian McLaren, Tony Jones, Chris Seay, Mark Driscoll and Doug Pagitt (and several others). I wasn't in this group, but I was involved in some of the practitioner events and ministry focused events with the Young Leaders Network.

The Leadership Network Young Leaders theology group was disbanding and had ended. So, Doug, Tony, Brian and some others reformed it and named it "Emergent" on June 21, 2001 and got the domain name "emergentvillage.org and .com" on that day.

Confusing because the terms "emerging" and "emergent" are so simliar

The confusing part in all this in terms of words, was that the "emerging church" was being used at that time and becoming more prevalent as described in the earlier blog entry. Tony told me that when he, Brian and Doug were thinking of new names for the theology group that was formerly the Leadership Network one - they were not trying to play off the "emerging church" term. Tony said, that naming it "emergent" was because the word is defined as the "coming to the surface" of new organic life beginning and reproducing and that was why they chose the word. Marko described in his blog the definition of the word "emergent" in terms of the organic nature of it really well.

So "emergent" was not named because it was similar to "emerging church" - that was coincidence and Tony told me if there was any connection, it was subconscious, not intentional.

Youth Specialties got involved

What happened next, was that Mark Oestreicher from Youth Specialties and myself were talking a lot about what happens beyond youth ministry. There was growing interest at that time for Youth Specialties to be developing events and books for the post-youth ministry years. So Mark and I flew up to Minneapolis to meet with Brian, Tony and Doug. This was on June 22-23, 2001. It turned out that Brian, Tony and Doug and others on a conference call the day before had formally named the new theological group "Emergent". So with that having been established, the conversation in the meeting then turned to Youth Specialties partnering with "Emergent" (the organization) to publish books and events. Thus the "emergentYS" line developed and the "Emergent Convention" that was attached to the National Pastors Convention that Youth Specialties was already putting on.

Meanwhile, the term "emerging church" was continuing to be being used for churches rethinking what it means to be the church in our emerging culture and about the mission of Jesus etc. And now "Emergent" the organization was birthed which was primarily a theological discussion in the beginning. Yet everything we do should be thought through in terms of theology, so even if the initial emerging church discussion was more on methodology, there still needs to be discussion on what is the theology behind our methodology.

The terms "emerging church" and "emergent" began being used as the same thing to many people

Because the words were so similar (emerging and emergent), through time they sort of became interchangeably used rather than two distinct terms as they were originally. Because "Emergent" was part of the growing "emerging church" discussion, it sort of became confusing knowing what was emerging, what was emergent, what was the same, what was different.

As the terms "emerging church" and "emergent" began being more and more known, the confusion of course was natural because of their similarity. Some people also starting thinking "emerging church" or even "emergent" was a style of ministry. I still hear people today saying we have an "emergent worship service" and all they are talking about is the style of a worship gathering catering to younger people. Emergent is an organization and network, not a style of ministry. The Emerging Church is also not just a style of ministry - it is about rethinking what it means to be the church in our emerging culture. But that is also what Emergent is doing, so the confusion and blending of the two terms is understandable.

Through time people started even saying "Emergent Church" instead of "Emerging Church" or use both terms as describing the same thing - instead of having Emergents focus more on theology and Emerging Church more on methodology as it started initially.

It would be so interesting to think if back in June 2001, if they would have named the group "Odyssey" or something instead of "emergent". Then there wouldn't have been the confusion and blending of "emerging" and "emergent". I wonder if we would have "the odyssey church" used as a term today.

It is confusing and I get confused thinking through the terminology sometimes as they mean so many different things to different people. But in how things have now developed, it really is not important to be making any definite distinctions of the terms "emerging" or "emergent anymore. What is important is whether or not our churches are faithful in serving Jesus on the mission He sent us on, and whether we are seeing the gospel of Jesus change lives and make a difference - not whether we are "emerging" or "emergent" or anything else for that matter.

"The Emergent Church" circa 1981

What is funny, is a couple of months ago, as I stumbled on the "The Emerging Church" book written in 1970 as I described in the previous blog entry I also stumbled upon another book. There was a book called "The Emergent Church" written in 1981 by Johann Baptist Metz. It was a book focusing on change in the church happening at that time period both theologically and politically, and was written in Germany so it has that perspective. So, nothing new under the sun, as the saying goes in terms of names.

So this ends all you ever wanted or didn't want to know about how the words "emergent" and "emerging" were first used. That is the best I can remember and seek out. I may have some things wrong, but from my persepctive thats how I best can explain it.

All of this word discussion is very silly and trivial

What all this word origin discussion means in the light of world problems, people suffering, wars etc. is so incredibly insignificant and even silly - but now I have answered what I get asked a lot and hope for those that care - this helps distinguish some of the idfferences of "emerging" and "emergent" as originally developed as we use them today.

Dan Kimball