You all know the ubiquitous South African Graeme Codrington from his many writings on Future Church, etc. But did you know that his dad, the venerable Dr Reg Codrington has written a great review and synthesis of 5 emerging church books, drawing upon his vast four decades of experience? He responds to books by Carson, Mclaren, McNeil, Claibourne and Sweet. Its about the most honest review I have ever read. He doesnt take sides and has no ax to grind. Behold . . . I give you . . .
Dr Reg Codrington on the Emerging Church
I just love the internet when it allows everyone a voice, no matter where they live. Its Web 2.0, for crying out loud! Its about DRIVEWAYS, not highways, connecting PEOPLE not organizations, its about tiny CANALS, not huge railroads. Its about connecting real people like Graeme's dad who has something important to say with the rest of us who need to hear it.
Technorati Tags: emerging church
Thanks for the link, Andrew - didn't know you tracked Future Church! Reg is quite well-known in South Africa and his article is excellent. The emerging church conversation is generating a lot of conversation among Baptists here, with some people very against *all* of it ("it" being mostly the US Emergent Village guys) and others, while still sitting with the Baptist tradition, are saying good things.
Graeme also had an article of his posted at Sojourners recently, comparing some of the current situation with the US to Apartheid South Africa.
Posted by: Roger Saner | May 03, 2008 at 06:38 PM
interesting. i will take a look. i remember our visit together in south africa quite fondly. i look forward to seeing you again this side of the world.
Posted by: andrew | May 03, 2008 at 07:21 PM
I'm not aware of anything unlikeable about Shane Claiborne ;)
I suspect there might be a wider questioning of penal substitutionary atonement and doctrines of hell though - so if Carson said that I'd say he is probably accurate. Of course, you know more about the mood of EC than I do Andrew, but that is my gut feeling.
Posted by: joe | May 03, 2008 at 08:14 PM
Its been established that Carson should not have roped in Steve Chalke - even Steve denys being part of the emerging church.
however, there has been discussion over penal substitution both in and out of the emerging church over the dominant place of this doctrine compared to other redemption theories.
Scot McKnight has a good book "A community called Atonement" on the subject in which he says penal sub. is one of the clubs we might pullout to explain the substitutionary atonement of Christ (which of course we believe in) but there are other clubs that might be more appropriate in the right circumstances.
And yes, Shane C. is a nice guy and I enjoy hooking up with him on occasion.
Posted by: andrew | May 04, 2008 at 07:56 AM