Show I r I C2 — The Herald Journal Logan Utah Thursday October 16 2003 'Emergent church’ attracts youth with the past BOSTON (AP)— His friends assumed his covert Sunday trips to a cross-tow- n Episcopal church were about a girl but Rick Bennett was actually looking fof some inspiring liturgy Bennett then a high school senior in Live Oak Fla had ' heard the rituals in the Episcopal service werelifeless but they seemed the opposite to him The parish priest sang prayers in Latin people knelt before God and shared communion from a common cup Bennett felt connected to his faith’s roots in a way he missed at the liturgy-fre- e evangelical Baptist service he was ditching “Something clicked" said Bennett 35 now pastor of a church that meets in his Boston home “You realize people have been on the (Christian) journey a long time" Almost 20 years later Bennett's desire to connect to the past has found a home in what’s known as the “emer--" gent church" a small but ' growing movement nation- I y y wide Consisting largely of younger Christians emergent churches cut across denomi-nation- al lines in an effort to reclaim the sense of mystery found in the ritual and sym-bo- ls of the faith’s ancient past But they’re also dedicated to engaging modern culture ' often in small communities that draw from various tradi tions to seek an experience of God in many ways — from painting during services to meditating on a forgotten ' '7 Celtic prayer 7Leaders cite the apostle - yy “ancient future faith” i j “We’re trying to be autneh-tic- ” Bennett said “We’re not trying to be cool but be real" The movement’s growth has been fueled largely by Christians meeting on die Internet or word of mouth Some emergent communities are growing within existing churches but others have started from scratch' Their members hold to orthodox Christianity but reject what they feel is a corporate overly simplified presentation of the faith in today’s evangelical churches said Robert Webber a professor emeritus at Wheaton College in Illinois who wrote a ' book about the 'emergent church “The Younger Evan- ignoring church because it seems irrelevant and phony' McKinney said The emergent churches she said “feel that the way j j churchds are set up today ! : ' they’re missing an entire gen j eration bf people” The move-- ' ment traces its roots to the 7 mid- - to among a concerned of group pastas about drawing yobnger people to church Dan Kimball a Santa Cruz Calif pasta and founder of one of the first emergent churches in the country gathered Christian and friends to sample a variety of church services and find out what was missing The consensus: Services were often too scripted and musically showy — like a performance — and the sense of the supernatural presence of God wasn’t evident he gelicals" said Paul as their guide noting he used the culture of his time to spread Christianity Some call emergent churches the -- late-199- non-Christi- an Jennifer McKinney a professor of die sociology of reliv at Seattle Pacific ' gion University said the emergent church is similar to other trends — such as the Jesus People Movement which embraced the hippie culture in the late 1960s and 1970s— in which young people defied the worshipping traditions of their parents’ generation In this case they’re reject“seeker”-church- es ing the that drew baby boomers by reducing religious imagery and offering simpli- fied messages to make church more accessible to people o wary of traditional worship ' she said The boomers’ chil-drai are now in their 20s and :f 30s and known for largely -- y 1 rv§ 0s : so-call- ‘ AP Photo S Kimball 42 began services geared toward younger peo-pi-e with changes such as the reintroduction of ancient liturgy abundant use of candles and a less formal structure that removed the pasta from an elevated pulpit He also tried to emulate die first-ce: tury church which wasn’t centered on a weekly service but a part of the local commu: nity every day Kimball thought he was'7£7 alone until he met others in : 1996 at conference in Col-undo Springs Colo for tors concerned about younger people The scattered leaders became a loose net- work that expanded through?the Internet and word of yy mouth V- v h-- r 7: -- - - 77wvf Get Involved yiiv Cl Continued from ” r ' jVI-6 In addition to dieir high ? standards mid leadership the Delta Phis' were known fer-: s And their their proactivity ‘choruses And dieir “Dream Girls” lovely young ladies the men officially honored for t f their upstanding character Delta Phi was the first £vf Greek organization in Utah' founded in 1869 but it dropped off the radar in 1904 It was one of Cache Valley’s ' favorite sons John A: Widt- ' soe who revived the brotherhood in 1920 to offer “a college man’s approach to religion” ' ' heartsA- a - ‘ ’ : Bennett’s church group meets weekly at his home in Boston’s Jamaica Plain neigh-borhood that gathers once a r month with other hone groups The service on a ' recent summer Sunday fed- - V r - said “It’s die differoice between an art flick and a Jerry Brock-heimmovie” he joked most of the time no bad talk” LaRae said with a chuckle'-:V v " Chapters sprung up in all of the Utah schools Idaho State University Ricks College (now Brigham Young University — Idaho) and Arizona State University But in 1978 the successful organization came to an abrupt halt when the church announced that Delta Phi ' Kappa (the “kappa” was added in ’61) was to be absorbed into the student ward and institute programs In its almost 60 years of ' existence about 10000 returned missionaries left col- - er much to him go But Willis 7 said he isn’t sad it’s no longer - ! 3-- 7 : X ‘ ': i mates and Afton and LaRae were just beginning to steal 1 -- -- further progression live forey 'A1 At Solomon’s Porch in Minneapolis the mix of old new and varied traditions in the emergent church is clearly ' evident For instance Solomon’s Porch features an art lounge photo gallery and poetry readings Members pray in different postures — for instance 7 covering the heart in prayers tured readings from St Fran-- 1 cis of Assisi and Bennett led a discussion on devoting daily time to God As Bennett spoke in the liv- ing room his dog sat at his feet and his wife Kristi baked a quiche and tossed a salad in the kitchen fa a community meal The worship styles may dif--: fa but a substantive Christian faitii remains at the center of j die emergent church Barnett '' thar wound 77 ley authar of “Delta Phii - i :V Vj kid-Xwere “These A “She’s best she’s “It served its purpose” he ) Fraternity iny kidding Histety” Kappa guys Data Phia and Dreeim in all the worid” said “It started a legacy of ' v ding” Doug reassured At last Saturday’s reunion fr' Girts who were not notified ' James said “And since we the 60 so in attendance leadershq) arid service in the through die laughs v of the reunion but would like--- ' 5 relawere J the mature all class 1943 church and the community” 7 from olda the of ranged 'Ittomething they agreed ' to be part of a database for to one man who just finished future acthdtiM may contact i ' tionships were good” "Vv X on was that the brotherhood ' X And served as a canvas for “It gave them a chance to be helped its young members one friendship that’s survived up in 1998 John Willis at 752-9- 1 91 y: LaRae the to obedience half a century of One of the older Delta Phis email alumniOusuedu or somebody” piped up cling spirit ' “and it gave them associations with in carried the them in attendance a 1949 gradu9 fax (435) they 1Please?! ' like die ones they gained in mission field ate was L Tom Perry who is give your name' years you ' fe '? UTAH 7523072 mission field”'':: in were Delta Involved the “If someone was doing of the now a member Quorum ADULTS S3 00f CHILDREN 1200 The fraternity also offered something wrong” Doug said of the TVvelve Apostles in the yalln't LuxurKM the LDS was of someone mind to “than peace always LDS Church He stood after Discount him GREAT SEATS GREAT SOUNDB the time remind shouldat women she else he to broth-oyoung s lunch and addressed his GREAT PICTUPB — said like be on that” n’t carrying with a wide smile with a firm conviction that f 7 Perry admitted in his talk xrv “Knowing they’d been “This tradition must contin- - :: ‘returned missionary’ is a ' FINDING NEMOm were living that it was tough seeing the good 'j ue” he said “We must perpet- - badge of honor to be given and lives that had meant was so had good goals fraternity I uate it in our own children something better away — Matinees All Seats S200 — a really positive tiling” LaRae want you to wear the name like our pins” he said“It v said Delta Phi and share it with our should be a mark of distinc-tion- ” Afton agreed ' children" “You knew what they felt F! alcohol and tobacco When Looking out ova his preabout things” she said VWd Duurt Dty Al Shm USD audid became legal on Utah State’s dominately “There was no smoking no krdaiOkfai4AMnnDkAHan ence he acknowledged that campus he said Delta Phi Hut Una Tell The Herald Journal drinking and no bad talk” the Delta Phis are getting up took action To this day USU ART CINEMA LOGAN think and what you you'll in years but added that they remains a dry campus 795 North Main to entered win be still have work to do “That is a result of Delta American Splendor pq FREE groceries “With age comes great Phi” he said STADIUM 8 He spoke of memories the experience great insight lake Delta Phis shared especially great understanding” he said Hie Herald Journal “And we still have a la vitaliof dances where many of Reader Survey at 535 W lOO N ProvicUnc We shake and to need rattle them lost their pins to the ty ra Intolwobl N Main 2297 Cruelty ro-ibones little old our more” a marwwwpulseresearch laSdMTUOtlO young women they later ' (MOVIE HOTLINE 4 ' After the social two couples ried He recalled the night he ADUUStfU UNDSUBMUMUMEFJB xomhjnews O— MoiSl11i45 The Rundown ro--i sat across from one another in lost his own pin to his future IKSOMtMriMGOO ONaUONMMBKDn Ml 4:15 75 4:34 and the Afton wife But as precious as the lobby Doug imnt uh aai29i Dafanao roi Of Day Farrow and James and LaRae wrids nacnaasiu 1:50 413 memories are he said the XMUHMrniMB a ' remiAdams laughed and most important thing to HNDMGMMOO Kill Bill n nisced about their college 4BMPAMTI2M2UI 4 30 7:00 430 remember is that they are all MltBMWriW days in the early ’50s when returned missionariesOf Rock 35 School1:49 Doug and James were room- 4 30 09 “I want you to leave here r y& for protection — similar to religious traditions such as Judaism in which adherents are physically engaged in prayer Pagitt said At Kimball’s church people can paint write in a journal to express what they feel dur-in-g the service Music comes y f: from both an ogan and a disc jockey with a turntable The movement’s early suc-a- s seal this spring when “The Emergent Convention” in San Diego drew 1200 participants more than twice what organizers antici- - n- lege as Della Phi alumni according to William G Hart- Craig Lewiston of Cambridge Mass right plays guitar and sings with members of the City on HUt Christian Community including Rick Bennett of Boston rear during a service at Bennett’s home in Boston Bennett’s dog Mariey left Joined the group a - : 797-25- ’ PNr mis--sionar- t - fa " white-haire- 435733-190- I mm 1 Ininsfou n 793-644- Herald Journal ifeteigaii cancels appearance JACKSONVILLE Fla (AP) — The head of the Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold said Tuesday he will na attend a bishop’s consecration — an announcement that came days after Bishop Stephen Jecko of the his Diocese of Florida criticized Griswold insistence on participating The spat between the Episcopal leaders gets back to an ongoing debate within the denomination over gay relationships Griswold who has said the Bible does na forbid same-se- x relationships was to have joined the Nov 1 Florida consecration of the Rev Samuel Johnson Howard as bishop coadjutor On Nov 2 Griswold plans to consecrate the openly gay Canon V Gene Robinson as New Hampshire's bishop coadjutor The Roman Catholic Diocese of St Augustine had withdrawn an invitation fa the Episthe copal diocese to use its largest church Howard ceremony because Griswold would officiate The Catholics believe the Bible prohibits gay sex Jecko who opposed Robinson's confirmation wrote Griswold that he had “taken sides’ by backing Robinson He said this constituted “abuse of the office of presiding bishop” and ignoed the belief of the Florida Diocese and the worldwide Anglican Communion fa fa Mormon teacher claims religious harassment h rEn 1 rnrrf r- Good Boy4:00m 1:99 700 V ffrtrfa - - - ! Second bond lions ra 2:00 4:34 4:33 Out Of3 00Time 4 29 700 1 Ni Wine NAMPA Idaho (AP) — A Mormon teacher at a federal job training center has filed suit claiming religious harassment because he wasn't allowed to object to government recognition of a Gay and Lesbian Pride Month Kenneth Gee a member of the Church of Saints said superiors Jesus Christ of Latter-da- y at the Centennial Job Cops Center advised nt him to celebrate the month and sent Gee Clinton’s proclamation about the month with the comment “Morality is simply the attitude we adopt toward people we personally dislike" Gee said he rratified the superion he objected to receiving such material on religious grounds and was warned that his objection violated federal policy and could cost him his job Gee said he views homosexuality as immoral and forbidden by the Bible He claimed communications encouraging acceptance of homosexuality continued even after President Bush dropped recognition bf Gay and Lesbian Pride Month Gee wants the court to protect his right to object to government statements he believes promote homosexuality and to have negative materials about his objections removed from his personnel file then-Preside- 9 i iBlMDCDinsaiM Trmnrnrnn Religion briefs Episcopal Church head 4"-ti- me 15 Bhismil flrfcett XZX32IP IntolorabU Cruelty 9919 J3mw?00 4j2S7-OJ Rock School Of 710 40 Sun 309 VO-- Mm Mun or OiniSI hdM Kill Bill M 4 30 709 9 39 Sim 3 09 MbwettiiMtlkM Time ro--i Out Of 4:39 709 30 Sun Ate tastes m mmrnrnmt tMote Duplex 79ni 930 fun 300 The Rundown s 4 30 po-i- iCACHEiVALLBYs3i Matdwtick Men 0-- 1 7 00 a Sun tlnoerwend sq 30 m Freaky Friday 7 00 Sim 4 30 Cold Creek Mcnwt m 900 Pirates OfThe Caribbean ro-i- s 700 9dOa Sim 4 15 CINEMA i3 9U VWU 1 0O North Under The Vtcon Sun se-i- e 709 9 30 Seobuscuit ee-- 700 940 The Book Of Mormon Gdi loob Aebbb a Mow 5 ad Stodwm -- |