IN SEARCH of the EMERGING CHURCH --- To get a better feel for parish life today, Tom Roberts, editor at large for the National Catholic Reporter, has been on the road visiting Catholics along the way. While Internet sites such as Cathlimergent serve as a portal, which can acquaint people with the emerging church conversation, and an interactive forum for networking & conversation, Roberts' series provides an indispensable angle, describing concrete emerging church realities on the ground, to give us a better feel for trends in the church and parish life today. Be sure to check out Robert's dispatches for people one might imitate and approaches one might emulate.

The CENTER for ACTION & CONTEMPLATION located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, was founded in 1987 by Franciscan Father Richard Rohr, who saw the need for a training/formation center. It serves as a place of discernment and growth for activists and those interested in social service ministries. It's a place to be still, and learn how to integrate a contemplative lifestyle with compassionate service. The Center’s purpose, in addition to serving as a forum for peaceful, non-violent social change, is to provide a radical voice for renewal and encouragement. Be sure to check out all of the resources available from the Center.

If you check out Tom Robert's series and Father Richard Rohr's Center for Action & Contemplation, in addition to viewing the videos, below, by Fr. Rohr, Brian McLaren, Phyllis Tickle and Diana Butler-Bass, then Cathlimergent's purpose will be fulfilled. If you further exploit the many networking resources here on the site, then its original purpose will be happily exceeded!

The following excerpt is taken from a post in the American Catholic Council Forums, Significant Distinctions between katholikos and universalis, written by Sister Laurel M O'Neal, erem dio of Stillsong Hermitage in the Diocese of Oakland. Please visit The American Catholic Council and read about the council being planned for Pentecost 2011.

One of the better discussions of the nature of Catholicity or universality I heard distinguished between the Greek katholikos and Latin universalis. What was pointed out was that in either case there is an inclusive sense about the terms. However, the Latin notion perceives Catholicity rather as a large circle (perhaps nearly infinite in size), but with the drawback that it still has a boundary and one may find oneself (or locate others) outside it. The other notion, katholikos, means "throughout the whole" or "through the whole" and sees nothing as excluded from this reality, goal, and challenge. It is like leaven within bread. Our own approach to so many things would be vastly changed if we shifted from universalis to katholikos in our understanding of Catholicity. The application to ecumenism is clear, I think.

SUGGESTED READING:

DECREE ON THE MEDIA OF SOCIAL COMMUNICATIONS INTER MIRIFICA SOLEMNLY PROMULGATED BY HIS HOLINESS POPE PAUL VI

THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT: APOSTOLIC LETTER OF THE HOLY FATHER JOHN PAUL II TO THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR COMMUNICATIONS

Read this blog post about how the sun came up on Cathlimergent on one of the very first days of its presence in cyberspace: http://bit.ly/7vDJzk In other words, we didn't choose the flags above. They chose us.

Others in the Emerging Church Conversation

Agmergent (Assemblies of God).

See: The 6 Moments, Dynamics & Dialogues of the Emerging Church Conversation

Also, see: What do we mean by Convergence in the emerging church conversation?

Especially see: Catholics in the Emerging Church Conversation – Cathlimergent (an archive of articles)

In the Emerging Church: What’s all this fuss about nondual awareness?

The “Dead” Emerging Church – an Elvis sighting!

Cathlimergent Response to Deacon Hall’s Response to Is the Emerging Church Movement Waning? | Homebrewed Christianity

Lastest: Cathlimergent Response to Spencer Burke re: Theology After Google

Haiti and more: For those shaken in this time of enormous human suffering --- DOUBT: nagging late-night and early-dawn questions


Response to: The Earthquake in Haiti, God, and the Arbitrariness of Life

Emerging Church: What’s This About Nurturing the Creative Tension of Paradox?

Sartre, Camus, Huckleberry Finn & Jesus.// (and Walker Percy!!)


I’ve already got truth, beauty & goodness! Why bother with faith, hope & love?