The idea that the Church might work best as an Emergent system is an idea that sets most notions of orthodixy on their heads. The idea that the Church is intended to move toward a bottom-up growth pattern SEEMS heretical inlight of being “led by the Spirit” and all. But when taken in the context of thinking like “the Kingdom of God is within you” or “The Kingdom of God is among you”, then it is not so much of a departure. The idea that something grows that is greater than its parts is understandable in this kind of slant. That there is something which happens “among us” when we “tell our stories” and when we set up opportunities and encouraging, nurturing structures in which to explore our sense of mission; this is an indicator to me that the Web and social software are important for extending our activity and contemplation into the online world, where we can keep in touch when we are not FTF.

And if there are a lot of others like me, which I think there are, then a lot of people WANT ways to be in more constant touch with the conversations that motivate them, encourage them, and make them feel a part of a siginificant whole.