Next Meeting: August 26th, we’ll be discussing The Great Emergence

News about our upcoming get together:

The usual time: 7pm, August 26th
The usual place: High Point Coffee, 1735 W 7800 S, West Jordan

We decided to discuss as a group the book The Great Emergence, by Phyllis Tickle, so you’ll want to get it and read it before the meeting. Last I looked it appears to be available in most Barnes & Nobles and Border’s Books in the Salt Lake Valley.

Here are some additional resources you may want to check out: Here are some videos related to the book and a study guide available to download. Also you might want to check out some of the other videos available online of Phyllis Tickle discussing The Great Emergence.

Meeting: This Wednesday, July 22nd

This is a reminder about our upcoming get together this week:

The usual time: 7pm, July 22nd
The usual place: High Point Coffee, 1735 W 7800 S, West Jordan

Maybe we can read and discuss some of the faith jarring stories found in Peter Rollins new book The Orthodox Heretic.

And we might also discuss the current wallet jarring economic crisis and it's "theology". Here are a few articles worth checking out:

Praying for a revolution in economics, guardian.co.uk

Is the Economic Crisis a Sin?, Newsweek

The Market as God, by Harvey Cox

Vaticanomics: The Holy Father Tackles Globalization, The Wall Street Journal

The Episcopal General Convention and Utah

From today's Salt Lake Tribune there's a brief article on some of Utah's roll in the recent General Convention in Anaheim, CA.

Utah's Episcopal representatives joined the majority at this week's Episcopal General Convention in backing a measure to allow individual dioceses the option of choosing a gay or lesbian bishop.

"We want everything in our church to be open to all people," Bishop Carolyn Tanner Irish said in a phone interview from Anaheim, ... "Our diocese has always been progressive on social issues, mainly because the state is so conservative."

Hmm.... Since our Bishop is retiring here soon, I wonder if this decision will play any roll in the Bishop selection process now going on?

Happy Birthday, John Calvin!

It's a happy 500th today for theologian John Calvin, a whole half a millennium old. Check out some of the souvenir idols they've made of him for the celebrations this year (above), and a bobblehead (below). I wonder if John Calvin would approve. Hmmm.

Man, I need to find a way to collect these kinds of trinkets, maybe ebay or something. I need this kind of comedy classic junk for show and tell.

Here's some more to get into the spirit of things here.

Our Salt Lake Emergent Cohort is now on Goodreads

I started a group on Goodreads for us to maybe have another avenue to network with other like minded readers and to see what each others is reading, what we hope to read, book recommendations, etc. So sign on up and check it out.

Review: The Great Emergence, by Phyllis Tickle

The Great Emergence: How Christianity is Changing and Why by Phyllis Tickle

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
The first part of the book about Christianity having a reformation every 500 years or so is a bit contrived. I don't think history really shows that pattern. But her thoughts on what is happening right now, that we are going through a kind of new Reformation, as she calls it 'The Great Emergence', I think she makes some really good points here. A book worth meditating on.


View all my reviews.

Last night’s interfaith lament over SB81

SB81 goes into effect today. Here is some of the press coverage on last night’s interfaith service/lament. The Salt Lake Tribune had an article, and KSL had a report (video below). Representatives from the Lutheran, Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Episcopal churches spoke at the service. Also, Aaron Petterborg of the new Missionaries for Compassion toward Immigrants (Salt Lake Tribune article, facebook and web) showed up, it was good to finally meet him.

Video Courtesy of KSL.com