Comments on: Convergent Friends, a long definition

By: Robin Mohr

Robin Mohr — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 00:13:14 +0000

Martin, another too short version: thank you for writing this.
Good luck/have fun and be faithful at OYM©!
Robin

By: Liz Opp

Liz Opp — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 16:34:42 +0000

I've been out of the loop for a number of weeks, so I don't know how "warm" or "cool" this topic is. Martin, many of the points you bring up here are things I was half-waiting for when the word "Convergent" was first brought up: I had thought there'd be more... resistance... to naming whatever this connection/movement/trend/thingy was. But since I didn't know exactly what I was waiting for, and I saw no resistance from others, I became a witness to the growth we were finding among one another thru blogs, visits, etc. and worried less about what it was called. And I paid attention to the fruits that were emerging. I do believe the Spirit has been present among us... In this piece, you write, "we each were going out of our way to engage with Friends from other Quaker traditions and were each called on our own cultural assumptions." I agree with this, that these were some of the behaviors that fellow Quaker bloggers were experiencing. I would clarify that such "engagement" was done over email, within blogs, by phone, and through face-to-face meet-ups. I sense I have more to say, and I think it belongs over at Robin's own post, which you reference. Blessings, Liz Opp, The Good Raised Up

By: Martin Kelley

Martin Kelley — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 19:26:26 +0000

Hi Bill: I’m glad you found the long definition useful. In many ways you’re a pioneer of all this, having been deeply involved with Conservative Friends in Ohio and now with Brian McLaren’s church. Even just being a FUM-identified Friend in Baltimore probably qualifies as Convergent. All of your internet outreach, mostly lately with “Quakerinfo.com”:http://www.quakerinfo.com, has been a great resource for many of us. So I’m always interested in your take on all this convergence talk.

By: Bill Samuel

Bill Samuel — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 20:48:57 +0000

Some very helpful comments, I think.
It is very tricky to have an identity without it being tied to a rigid set of words. But it needs to be worked at, nevertheless.
There needs to be a direction for Convergent (or Converging, which I agree might be a better term) Friends that gives some idea about what the loose movement or network is about enough to give folks an idea of whether it’s something they’re in general harmony with.

By: Johan Maurer

Johan Maurer — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 14:10:36 +0000

I like Robin's definition, and it doesn't worry me that the "target" of convergence is not defined. It's really the dialogue, and the attitude of availability for dialogue, that seems crucial to me. I believe that Jesus Christ has come to teach his people himself, but much of the teaching occurs through dialogue. Postmodern people don't receive anything as self-authenticating--that's the challenge and excitement of evangelism in these times.

By: Kenneth Henke

Kenneth Henke — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 09:55:09 +0000

I especially liked the last paragraph, Martin.
Ken Henke, Moorestown Monthly Meeting