What Leaders Need to Know about
the Emerging Church
By Susan Cox-Johnson

It was only a few years ago that I first heard of “The Emerging Church.” I encountered the literature of the emerging church in an evangelism class, and it immediately resonated with me. At that time, I was serving Broadway United Methodist Church located in Kansas City. Once one of the largest United Methodist churches in western Missouri, Broadway was trying to feel its way into the 21^st Century, trying to connect with the many young adults living in its not-quite-urban/not-quite-suburban neighborhood. What authors like Brian McLaren, Stanley Grenz, and Robert Webber had to say rang true. About that same time, I began worshipping at "Jacob's Well" on Sunday evenings and experienced incredible energy among the many young adults attending there. The pastor, Tim Keel, is a member of the coordinating body of Emergent Village.

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Learning to See and Listen to Younger Adults
By Susan Cox-Johnson

As a United Methodist district superintendent, I have begun a three-year younger adult initiative. Meeting with each of the congregations in my district, I have tried to raise their consciousness about the young persons in their communities. I talk about God leading us out into the community and opening our eyes to the younger adults who are already there. Whether a church is in the country or the city, there are younger adults around who have not yet heard the Good News in an engaging way.

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Leaders do not need answers.
Leaders must have the right questions.

Few organizations are adept at adapting to changing circumstances, but the church seems to be particularly reluctant to adjust to new circumstances. These three questions are used by the Johnson & Johnson Company as they plan for each of their business units.

What has changed?
Why?
What are we going to do about it?

Editors:  Lovett H. Weems, Jr. and Ann A. Michel
Production and distribution:  Joe Arnold

Copyright © 2006 by the G. Douglass Lewis Center for Church Leadership. Leading Ideas material may be freely distributed with attribution (exclusive of material protected by separate copyright).