Okay, I’m going to make this short and sweet, only because I’m doing way to much thinking today and I just need a brain-dump so I can clear my head for a big weekend of seminar presentations and reading.

Nationalism: Emerging church bloggers discuss online and have mentioned to me in interviews that the ec movement/conversation/what-have-you has a tangible Australian character. Some have mentioned a focus on missional theology and praxis is evident in this country, distinct from the progressive theology of the movement in the US or the alt.worship movement of the UK. I would tend to disagree with this statement only in that I see all foci present in Oz blogs. Nevertheless, despite whether or not there may be a down-under flavour emerging in the movement, by no means is there any intention to bring about a formalised organisation that would consider itself the Australian emerging church. While many point to The FORGE Network as the Australian counterparts to emergent.com in the USA, many others (including FORGE itself) considers FORGE to be simply a training network, a connection of like-minded people for the ongoing development of church leadership and mission, and consists of members/participants who both do and do not identify with terms such as EC.

Globalisation: I believe the influence of emerging church voices in other parts of the English-speaking world (particularly USA, UK, NZ, Canada) is recognised in this country, and that Australian emerging church bloggers interact with overseas bloggers as much and as readily as they do with their compatriots. Yet I believe the search for an Australian “flavour” or “unique focus” (as mentioned above) is in reaction to perceived endeavours to create a global movement or identity that may be defined by people or organisations overseas.

Being “glocal”: is the negotiation of the problem mentioned at the end of Thesis 1 - how is incarnational theology and mission to be discussed, affirmed and made central to a movement in a forum where people are disembodied? Being “glocal” means sharing one’s experiences of religion in a local context with others in a setting without borders. It is a reaction to both nationalisation and globalisation, and a rebellion against the traditional denominational structures in which the modern church operates. Being “glocal” invites people from around the world to join in a local mission, rather than forming a global organisation.

Definitely needs more work, and I’d appreciate your comments.