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The Church Is Flat: The Relational Ecclesiology of the Emerging Church Movement
The Church Is Flat is the first significant, researched study into the ecclesiology of the emerging church movement. Research into eight congregations is put into conversation with the theology of Jürgen Moltmann, concluding with pragmatic proposals for the the practice of a truly relational ecclesiology.
Tony Jones visited eight emerging church congregations (Cedar Ridge Community Church, Pathways Church, Vintage Faith Church, Journey Church, Solomon's Porch, House of Mercy, Church of the Apostles, and Jacob's Well), facilitating interviews, focus groups, and surveys.
After interpreting the data, Jones pulls out the most significant practices of these congregations and judges them relative to the relational ecclesiology of Jürgen Moltmann. Finally, Jones proposes a way forward for the emerging church movement, and the Protestant church writ large.
Tony Jones visited eight emerging church congregations (Cedar Ridge Community Church, Pathways Church, Vintage Faith Church, Journey Church, Solomon's Porch, House of Mercy, Church of the Apostles, and Jacob's Well), facilitating interviews, focus groups, and surveys.
After interpreting the data, Jones pulls out the most significant practices of these congregations and judges them relative to the relational ecclesiology of Jürgen Moltmann. Finally, Jones proposes a way forward for the emerging church movement, and the Protestant church writ large.
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First published August 8, 2011
About the author
Tony Jones
131 books113 followersTony Jones is the author of The God of Wild Places: Rediscovering the Divine in the Untamed Outdoors (2024) and an award-winning outdoors writer. He’s written a dozen books, including Did God Kill Jesus? and The Sacred Way: Spiritual Practices for Everyday Life. Tony hosts the Reverend Hunter Podcast, and teaches at Fuller Theological Seminary. He served as a consultant on the television show, The Path, and he owns an event planning company, Crucible Creative. He holds an A.B. from Dartmouth College, an M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary. Tony is married, has three children, and lives in Edina, Minnesota.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 4, 2011
Tony Jones gives us a slightly abridged version of his doctoral dissertation here. Jones, an early participant and leader in the emerging church movement, has provided the movement with a much needed work. This book succeeds in providing good research into the emerging church movement (ECM) that is both scholarly and helpful to the average church leader.
The first chapter sets the stage, defining the ECM, giving a brief history and outlining the theology and philosophy that Jones uses as the basis for his research. Following this, the second chapter is an inside look at eight ECM congregations. In addition to visiting, his research included focus groups with members as well as interviews with staff. In the third chapter Jones then identifies practices of the ECM, based on his research on these eight churches. He divides these into concrete practices (Communion, Worship, Preaching, Community) and practices of virtue (Hospitality, Creating Art, Theology, Priesthood of all Believers, Sacred Space). The fourth chapter is a study of the ecclesiology of Jurgen Moltmann, one of the most influential theologians of the 20th century. As a sidenote, Jones' outline of Moltmann's theology was one of my favorite parts of the book, as I have read a little Moltmann and hope to read more. Jones puts the ecclesiology of Moltmann in dialogue with the practices of the ECM. Finally, the final chapter provides suggestions for the ECM moving forward.
This is quite a book. For those who say the ECM is all style and no substance, here is a work to show the error of that statement. For those who desire a better understanding of ECM congregations, this book opens that door. For church leaders who want thoughtful and refreshing ideas, this book will spur on their thinking. I think that primarily is where the value lies. Jones does not present the ECM as perfect, but the practices he identifies and the proposals for moving forward are relevant and important. Any church leader, hoping to build a community in our culture, should read this book just for that reason.
The first chapter sets the stage, defining the ECM, giving a brief history and outlining the theology and philosophy that Jones uses as the basis for his research. Following this, the second chapter is an inside look at eight ECM congregations. In addition to visiting, his research included focus groups with members as well as interviews with staff. In the third chapter Jones then identifies practices of the ECM, based on his research on these eight churches. He divides these into concrete practices (Communion, Worship, Preaching, Community) and practices of virtue (Hospitality, Creating Art, Theology, Priesthood of all Believers, Sacred Space). The fourth chapter is a study of the ecclesiology of Jurgen Moltmann, one of the most influential theologians of the 20th century. As a sidenote, Jones' outline of Moltmann's theology was one of my favorite parts of the book, as I have read a little Moltmann and hope to read more. Jones puts the ecclesiology of Moltmann in dialogue with the practices of the ECM. Finally, the final chapter provides suggestions for the ECM moving forward.
This is quite a book. For those who say the ECM is all style and no substance, here is a work to show the error of that statement. For those who desire a better understanding of ECM congregations, this book opens that door. For church leaders who want thoughtful and refreshing ideas, this book will spur on their thinking. I think that primarily is where the value lies. Jones does not present the ECM as perfect, but the practices he identifies and the proposals for moving forward are relevant and important. Any church leader, hoping to build a community in our culture, should read this book just for that reason.
October 17, 2011
Tony Jones takes an in depth look at the Emerging Church Movement. It's his Princeton dissertation, and at many points reads like a dissertation (I know wherein I speak). It compares and contrasts the practices, uses Moltmann as a sounding board, engages with eight specific communities -- one of which he is intimately related.
It's helpful, but needs to be edited!
It's helpful, but needs to be edited!
February 26, 2016
Good overview of the emerging church movement in its not quite earliest days. It would be good to know how things are different now. Jones goes into the ecclesiology of it, mainly through Moltmann. I found it a little too self-consciously aacademic; I think this was his PhD dissertation. But a good view of these new churches.
February 22, 2012
Some good research (a PhD dissertation) in an area where little has been done. The over-arching ideas are helpful. The author is biased and this comes out at times.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews