What a full day! So after my sermon yesterday morning, I needed to get myself rehydrated. Stopped by the Tenleytown Whole Foods and grabbed a bottle of Naked Juice Mighty Mango. Then an afternoon nap, leftovers for dinner, and get our monthly skypecast going. I looked around for a way to record the skypecast, and there are a handful of softwares out there you’d have to pay for to record. PrettyMay was the most generous in its trial/demo version, and allows you to record up to 30 minutes for free. So that’s what I used.
We recorded our 2nd Asian American Emergents skypecast! Our turn out has doubled, this time including Emergent Asia’s Sivin Kit, as well as Ben Pun, David Park, Peter Ong, Tim Liu, and Theo Wong.
You can listen in to part 1 and part 2 online. Part 1:
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Part 2:
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I felt good that I’m no longer the only Asian face interested in the emergent conversation. It’s also fascinating to hear how the emerging church conversation in Malaysia started up and has many similarities (far as I know) to how it started in the US. It really is best labeled as a conversation.
And, Tim had these great thoughts as a closing remark:
In my experience, AsAm churches tend to be even more conservative in terms of practice than American churches. They tend to be slower to adapt to changes and are rarely forerunners in ministry innovation. Many people (such as Dan Kimball) see the emerging church as a response to the contemporary worship movement. But in my (Chinese) church, we are barely contemporary. We still have those who feel that drums are of the devil. So I think the Asian churches maybe just need more time to catch up. Also, I wonder if anyone else notices the overlaps between the postmodern culture and the Eastern/Asian worldview? For example, preaching in narrative and in non-linear flow of thought is normal for Asians. When I preach to the 1st genearation adults in my church, they love to hear stories and narrative. Its already part of how they communicate. Another example is the emphasis on community and relationships in the Emerging church. Its already is a central part of asian culture. So in a lot of ways, I could see the AsAm church very welcoming to some aspects of the emerging church if it is presented in the right way.
Great conversation…Reallly enjoyed it. I think that some of the questions that we are bringing up are deep enough that we can actually try trim it down to a single topic or aspect per call– especially with so many voices and perspectives. Glad to see that it’s growing and looking forward to more!
[...] After our 2nd Asian American Emergent Skypecast (you can listen to the recordings here), a dear friend and I got into further discussion about challenges in the Asian American church. As we got into our own little exchange, which I wish I had the wherewithal to record, we noted that there was a conflict of interest between what is best for the Gospel, best for the church, versus what is best for the individual. For instance, in a dilemma of the preservation of one’s own pastoral job versus promoting reconciliation between churches, in our observations, usually ends up in a staunch defense of the former. In the case of preserving culture and hierarchy versus openness and stretching of comfort zones, we naturally gravitate away from the latter. It seems that often churches and pastors are influenced by economics, opportunity, and “markets” as much as, or possibly more than any spiritual force. While we give the benefit of the doubt to these leaders, and understand the necessity of a diversity and a multiplicity of churches, the tension between being led and driven by the Gospel versus the natural inclination for self-preservation and personal interest is rarely explored collectively in humility from an Asian-American church pulpit. [...]
Great time of sharing and chiming in from some great thinkers and practitioners of the faith. I really found that many of the things we talked about were just beginning to percolate and I am looking forward to learn and unlearn some things. thanks DJ for being so generous in bringing us together and recording this…I look forward to the next skypecast
[...] I wonder how this plays out in the way Asian Americans are seen in the mainline Christian community as outsiders and not innovators. Every Christian conference or training seminar I have been to rarely has an Asian American representative…we are almost invisible or a non-issue in this area, as if we have nothing to contribute to this. I believe that there are prominent and innovative Asian American men and women who have much to offer with both broader approaches to ministry as well as nuanced and particular narratives that capture the contextual aspect of the Asian American church. I remember that for a time, I felt like the token Asian American in meetings and in some ways brought a wave of celebrity that seemed a bit unwarranted. As I think more about the Asian American Emergent conversation that DJ Huang is developing, I feel we are making strides towards bringing to the forefront the gifted voices of leaders out there. I am hopeful. [...]
Thanks again DJ, you’re not alone! How about this topic for the future: Social Justice and the Asian Church — why are Asians so adverse to reaching out to the poor and marginalized?
Also, is anybody else going to John Piper’s Desiring God Conference on Postmodernism (featuring Piper, Tim Keller, Mark Driscoll, David Wells…) in September? I’ll be there…
Hey all . . . now I am really envious (I’ll pray for myself
of the not being able to join you all for the latest skypecast. Sounds like some good stuff. I’ll be sure to listen to the recording. Not sure where everyone is located, but I am doing some traveling if we can connect in person: DC (Sep 14-17), Miami (Oct 2-8) Las Vegas (Oct 14-19) . . .
Oh one more comment about Tim’s closing remarks. AMEN! I have been trying to talk about the connections between Asian culture and postmodernity for a while and until e-meeting some of y’all, I would blank stares from the White folks and suspicious ones from the Asians . . . Asian Emergents UNITE!