Isn't Emerging Spirit long over? Haven't we moved on to the Comprehensive Review process?

Excuse me for sounding cynical. The news about the WC has me reeling, I guess.

It is P3.  I was trying to come up with better wording.  'Young adults' is usually seen as more narrow age group than what I'm asking about.

I'm asking this after seeing comments in a few places that left me questioning a few things.

What is the Comprehensive Review about?  I'm not in with all the church speak and church geek stuff :)

It is designed to help us discern our future as a denomination, if I understand it correctly. 

Sorry to sound so cynical, but I am not sure we really gave Emerging Spirit a chance. 

P3, I'm feeling it too.  I also feel like some of the suggestions are a bit short-sighted when it comes to what non-anonymous social media is to some.

I'm looking for some positives, and try to figure out what my future communties will be.

Hi chemgal,

If you haven't already check out Edge:

http://www.edge-ucc.ca/

This appears to be the basket the UCCAN is currently keeping its eggs in. 

I note that at least one of the Edge Consultants (Lesley Harrison) was involved in the Emerging Spirit team.  I have no idea what kind of continuity that provides.

Grace and peace to you.

John

My local congregation didn't seem to be aware of Emerging Spirit, WC or the desirability to be welcoming, instead of saying the words like a mantra. 

In all the time this initiative was 'running' I heard of no activities connected to it, no invitations attend a workshop based on spritualty, just more security blanket occasions for the aging congregation

I wasn't surprised by this - the congregation wasn't prepared for Emerging Spirit and many members were furious about the advertising campaign. Maybe this was just the particular congregation, but I doubt that.  I have met some younger people who loved the adverts, visited the WC and went to their United Churches.  One visit told them that 'this church stuff wasn't for them', despite the wonderful ads.  As my grandids would say - An Epic Fail.

Thanks Revjohn.  It appears to be mainly geared toward ministry, but still looks worthwhile to spend some time checking it out.

I think this is a very good point - if you're going to advertise that you're different than what people expect, then when someone responds to the advertising campaign, don't be what they expected.

There are several sad or lamentable edges to Kay's comments.  First, some congregations are social clubs with a very narrow sense of what mission is -- they care little about the wider church as they set about resisting God's spirit of change in their space.  Our denomination provides for a great deal of congregational choice -- permitting cutting edge mission to happen in some places and not much helpful to persist in others.  My concern with Emerging Spirit was that it seemed to oversimplify the diversity that exists in every age group.