Emerging and Emergent Distinctions

For some it doesn't matter, for others it does.

Scot McKnight (who has an excellent, excellent and challenging book coming out soon, The Blue Parakeet) wrote in the latest edition of Christianity Today (September 2008, page 60):

"I maintain a crucial distinction between two related streams: emergent and the broader emerging movement. Emergent is crystallized in Emergent Village and its leaders Brian McLaren, Tony Jones, and Doug Pagitt. Emerging is a mix of orthodox, missional, evangelical, church-centered and social justice leaders and lay folk. When I think of this broader emerging movement, I think of Dan Kimball at Vintage Faith Church in Santa Cruz, Dave Dunbar at Biblical Seminary in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch and their book The Shaping of Things To Come, and Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz."

Scot is going to be part of shaping a new network being formed right now, which I will be sharing more of as it develops. But I am curious if others agree with Scot about this distinction and the importance of it or not.

From talking to Scot, I know that we both feel that the urgency of the gospel need in our world today is far more significant and important than making distinctions about terminology like this. But I do get asked a lot about this, so as petty as words may be - it does become an issue in discussions. I thought the quote from this new article is worth attention and discussion. If anyone has any personal questions for me, I am always happy to answer them about any of this.