Evangelicalism and the Emerging Church: A Congregational Study of a Vineyard ChurchWith the Christian church in the west in decline, some churches are undergoing difficult transitions as they seek to become relevant, to both themselves and their surrounding cultures. The book details an ethnographic study of a Vineyard congregation making sense of their Vineyard roots and their growing relationship with the self-proclaimed 'emerging church' network. Through a rich account of congregational life and tensions, universal issues are raised such as relating to religious parentage, creating safe places for spirituality, Christian growth and maturity, communication with contemporary culture, and the challenges of identity reconstruction. This book is the first to conduct an academic study of a Vineyard congregation in the United Kingdom. |
Contents
Approaching the Emerging Church | 1 |
Becoming Familiar with Jacobsfield Vineyard | 37 |
Hearing the Stories of Jacobsfield Vineyard | 59 |
Identifying a Central Theological Question | 91 |
Reflections for a Wider Context | 101 |
JV Demographic Survey | 129 |
Semistructured Interview Questionnaire | 131 |
| 133 | |
| 145 | |
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Common terms and phrases
analysis approach asked attendance beliefs Bible biblical Blackwell central question central theological question challenges Chapter Christian faith Christian tradition communicating with culture community of faith comparative concept contemporary culture context conversation crisis demographic Emergent Village emerging church emerging church movement emphasis ethnography explore fieldwork grounded theory helpful hermeneutical historical theology home group identify identity interpretation involved Jacobsfield Vineyard Jamieson Jesus John Wimber journey JV congregational study JV's JVers Lawton leaders leadership liminal Matt Lawton meaning messy spirituality method ministry mission mutually critical correlation participant observation pastoral Pattison perspectives phronesis post-modern practical theology pragmatic evangelicals praxis reconstruction relationship relevant religious responses result role semi-structured interviews shared significant situation social sciences specific spiritual maturity story Sunday services survey task teaching themes theologians theological disciplines theological reflection theory transformation understanding Vineyard church Vineyard movement Webber's worship worship leaders younger evangelicals