Phyllis Tickle Time
Oct 21st, 2008 by John
Phyllis Tickle time.
I had the opportunity to hear Phyllis Tickle at Baker Book House on Ocotober 17 discuss her newest book The Great Emergence: How Christianity is Changing and Why (Baker).
Phyllis is a delightful lady. And unusual…how many Anglicans do you know who have a strong Southern Baptist influence? She is a profound communicator who can take you spellbound through church history in a short time (I heard her at the National Pastors Convention 2008 do just that). She is funny, too, and her wit can defuse some of the tension that the findings of her research create.
What research is that? Every 500 years (give or take a few) the world itself goes through “a great emergence.” Phyllis emphasizes that “emergence” is not a religious term. It defines global changes. Think back 500 years and you land in the era of the Renaissance and its subset the Reformation…now known, as Phyllis points out, as The GREAT Reformation. Did you know that a book was published in 1970 titled “The Emerging Church”? How old were Doug Pagitt and Tony Jones in 1970?
Phyllis’s contribution is how global emergence filters into and transforms Christianity. On this topic Phyllis’s expertise and wisdom (she is 74…she told us) takes center stage. How does “the great emergence” transform our view of “church,” “authority,” and long-held “denominational distinctives.” A fast-spinning spiral of chaotic change is magnetic to some and feared by others. Emergents of all types jump into the fray and seek to discern how God is at work in the change. Traditionalists in all expressions of Christianity, on the other hand, flee to the corners of change and shout loudly about “slippery slopes” and “heresy” and “apostasy.” Aren’t we glad that Martin Luther and John Calvin didn’t give into “the traditionalists” of their day?
In the arena of ideas Phyllis can be trusted and followed. Julie and I use her 3 volumes on praying The Divine Hours.
I thank Baker Book House for hosting such a significant author as Phyllis Tickle.
*photo credit: Dave Baker
Popularity: 2% [?]
This is funny that you mention this because I am doing a project in my teacher credential program and my groupmates wanted to do the Renaissance and Reformation for our topic. I agreed, but was dismayed when one of the girls referred to the reformation as the time when people started rejecting Christianity. Neither of the girls in my group are, to my knowledge, Christians, but it is interesting to hear about their perception of the Christianity.
For the assessment project at the end they wanted to compare an event that is happening today to an event similar to the Reformation. I’ll give you one guess as to what my answer was…
It is exciting to share these ideas in non-Christians circles to hear their feedback on it. Thanks for all your great thoughts here John.
Danny,
) for you. I think you’ll enjoy Phyllis’s book. Let me know how it goes. God bless!
What a great (there’s that word “great” again
John
Danny,
Duh! I meant to write “great opportunity.”
I started listening to The Great Emergence on audio book a couple of days ago. I’m loving it so far! The narrator is an older lady, which I like, because I can almost imagine Ms. Tickle reading it herself.
Hummmmm……Leaving us on a vision for an exciting and new church–embracing new discoveries, challenges, “others worldviews” , and having a mind-set to embrace it. I listened greatly today to a very wise youthful pastoral leader….making “great mention he did” at the critical state in which our world is heading; and how “honestly” we need to reconsile OUR children in an understanding & proper demonstration of “church endeavors/behaviors” before its too late-and we’ve lost everyone. A senior pastor should make great effort when seeking the proper authentic pastoral leader for Our youth…one of consistency, understanding , and “a full knowledge of gospel” but with repentance/humbling behaviors attached to it. Our current adults-peers have been soooo emmensly tramatized by our world as its crumbling–almost leaving our children with the effort-a must- to pick up the pieces for gaining its strength back again–The Church.
How wonderful and precious to meet such a wonderful author and believer in Christ. You lucky dog!
I just purchased the book last week and I look forward to reading it. She seems like an extraordinary person.
Good Evening…….to whom ever is reading with delight , and a love for emerging, and truthfully embracing others to Christ …..A need to know this might be of great importance. What Rahab wrote up top in a few distinguishing sentences was meant every word—-would not take but one back. A PASTOR needs to stand firm with his/her belt tightly affirmed around their waist-no need for loosing it–God supplies that Graceif needed. Truth Matters to God. A very important qualification that is “a must” when being hired on to accomodate a parishioner/childrens staff is one that walks a pretty tight rope when it comes to authenticness , and truthfullnesss no matter what situation is at hand. Otherwise we defile ourselves….as well as the inncocent in the Church. Curbing around details that were important to God is a shame…..Example: A widow and her children. Un truth-telling is a cardinal Sin. Rahab
I was so disappointed. I saw that she was coming to Baker and immediately took the evening off. Unfortunately, I thought I had seen that she was here on the 27th, so when I read on the 21st that she had come already, I was quite put out.
[...] Tickle Gets Blogged on: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33, [...]
[...] Tickle Gets Blogged on: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33, [...]