A Node in the Web of the Emerging Church

Emergent Village Coordinating Group

One can learn a lot about Emergent Village by clicking on the names below, and following the links to podcasts, blogs, and websites full of art, photos, and books. Feel free to contact anyone on the EVCG.

[This list is currently being compiled as people get us their bios.]

Carla Barnhill

Carla Barnhill is a writer and editor. She serves on the editorial advisory board for the emersion line of books with Baker. Carla edited a number of the books in the e/ys line, including Church Re-Imagined, The Out-of-Bounds Church, The Sacred Way, The Hidden Power of Electronic Culture, and Preaching Re-Imagined. She is also the author of The Myth of the Perfect Mother (Baker). Carla is the former editor of Christian Parenting Today magazine and continues to write and speak to parents about children and spirituality, depression and motherhood, and rethinking parenting as a practice of spiritual formation. Carla and her husband Jim attended Fuller Theological Seminary and they are the parents of three astonishing children. They are covenant participants at Solomon’s Porch in Minneapolis.

Ryan Bell

Ryan Bell, his wife Elysabeth, and his two girls, Zoe & Sophie, live in Los Angeles, California where Ryan is the pastor of the Seventh-day Adventist Church of Hollywood). He is also the co-founder and coordinator of the re-church network – a community of missional leaders. Ryan received his M.Div. from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University (Berrien Springs, MI) and is currently working on his D.Min. in Missional Leadership at Fuller Theological Seminary.

Troy Bronsink

Troy Bronsink is an artist-missionary-theologian tangled in the hope of Jesus Christ, curious about the breath of God, and returning to square one as a beginner- year after year. He lives with his wife, Kelley, and daughter, Eve, in Southwest Atlanta where he has worked as a community organizer, local coffee shop manager, house fellowship pastor, and singer songwriter. He is a Presbyterian minister, recently joining the Congregation of St. Andrew in their work of missional innovation in Sandy Springs as their designated pastor. He writes music, poetry, and theology, is a member of Emerging Theologians , has served as a consultant to mainline churches, and is currently working on a book, Church As Art: Sketches in a Missional Aesthetic. Troy helped organize the theological discussion with Walter Brueggemann and is spearheading the upcoming Mainline Emergent/s conversation in Atlanta, January ‘06. He initiated and co-leads the Atlanta cohort and you can download his music and follow his work at churchasart.

Craig Burnett

I am a follower of Jesus trying to figure out what that means. That search unfolds through a few channels. I am member of the Relational Tithe and sometimes I rant on my blog/podcast. Oh yeah, I’m also a husband, father, business person, and musician.

Adam Walker Cleaveland

Adam Walker Cleaveland is an M.Div./M.A. (Youth Ministry) student at Princeton Theological Seminary (will graduate in 2008) as well as a contributing author for the upcoming book, An Emergent Manifesto of Hope. Adam blogs regularly at pomomusings.com and does web and graphic design at cleavedesign.com. Adam has been actively involved in two Presbyterian (PCUSA) camping ministries and served as a Director of Youth Ministries at Living Waters Presbyterian Church in Wendell, ID for two years. Adam is on the Presbyterian ordination track and has been a part of the Emergent conversation for a few years. Adam and his wife Sarah currently live in Decatur, GA and Adam can be contacted at cleave@gmail.com.

Jordon Cooper

Jordon Cooper is a founding member of Resonate and a church planter in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. He is married to Wendy and they have a son and a rather needy dog.

John R. Franke

John R. Franke is professor of theology at Biblical Seminary in Hatfield, PA. He holds the DPhil degree from the University of Oxford and is particularly interested in engaging postmodern thought and culture from the perspective of missional Christian faith in order to explore the opportunities and challenges presented for the witness and ministry of the gospel in the contemporary setting. In addition to teaching at Biblical, John has lectured and taught on the relationships between theology, mission, and culture in the United States, Canada, England, Australia, and New Zealand. He is actively involved in research and writing and in addition to publishing numerous articles and reviews he is the coauthor of Beyond Foundationalism: Shaping Theology in a Postmodern Context (Westminster John Knox Press) and the author of The Character of Theology (Baker Academic) and Barth for Armchair Theologians (Westminster John Knox) as well as the editor of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1-2 Samuel (InterVarsity Press) in the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture series. His most recent book, Manifold Witness: Truth and Christian Pluralism is forthcoming from Abingdon Press and is scheduled for release in 2007. John serves on the coordinating group for Emergent US and has been appointed as a representative of Emergent US to the Faith and Order Commission of the National Council of Churches. He also serves as chair of the Evangelical Theology and Postmodernity study group of the Evangelical Theological Society and chair of the Evangelical Theology Group of the American Academy of Religion. He enjoys reading, traveling, hiking, and following his favorite sports teams, the Chicago Blackhawks (NHL), Minnesota Vikings (NFL), Cincinnati Reds (MLB), and Arsenal Football Club (English Premiership).

Dwight Friesen

In addition to teaching practical theology at Mars Hill Graduate School in Seattle, Dwight is the founder and community-curate of Quest: A Christ-Commons which is a life-salon/simple church, serves on the Faith & Order Commission for the National Council of Churches and occasionally blogs at DwightFriesen.com. Dwight can often be found researching, writing or speaking about network theory, orthoparadoxy, social-self, and the human embodiment of the perichoretic Trinitarian life. Dwight, Lynette and their son Pascal live in Bellevue, Washington.

Brad Jackson

Brad Jackson is husband to Stacy and the father of the two most beautiful girls in the world, Genesis and Trinity. They have recently moved back to the Minneapolis area to be near family. Brad is now on staff at Christ Presbyterian Church as the Associate Pastor of Outreach. Previously, Brad was the Lead Pastor at The Well in the Philadelphia area and helped start and lead the Philadelphia Emergent Cohort.

Steve Knight

Steve Knight is International Communication Coordinator for global missions agency SIM (Serving In Mission). He blogs about communication and mission on his Kingdom Journalism blog, and he contributed a chapter to the first Wikiklesia book. Steve is co-organizer of the Emergent Village cohort group in Charlotte, and he blogs regularly on the Emergent Village weblog. Steve and his wife Becky have three children—Olyvia (2000), Hayden (2003), and Elliot (2006). They live in Gastonia, N.C., and are among the 5% of Christians worldwide who are “churchless” (in this case, “post-congregational”).

Jeff Kursonis

After a decade in NYC as an artist Jeff planted Communion of the Arts a faith gathering in the NYC creative community. Besides pastoring artists and trying to experience communion in a crazy place like Manhattan, he is working on a theology of art and new forms of artistic liturgy (and he blogs). He is passionate about emergent friendships and the conversations that lead to good things – so he leads the Cohorts Team here at Emergent Village and would love to help you start one in your area, or to make yours even better.

Scot McKnight

Scot McKnight is a widely-recognized authority on the New Testament, early Christianity, and the historical Jesus. He is the Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies at North Park University (Chicago, Illinois), where he is also the Department Chair and the Director of the College of Christian Life and Thought. A popular and witty speaker, Dr. McKnight has given interviews on radios across the nation, has appeared on television, and is regularly asked to speak in local churches and educational events. Dr. McKnight obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Nottingham (1986).

Luke Miller Trying to make the urban lifestyle work, Luke lives and works within the city limits of Dallas, TX with his beautiful and talented wife, Kerri. He also shares life with his family of choice, a faith community called Journey, where he teaches some, prays often, tells frequent bad jokes, and serves as an Elder. Luke is also the North American Coordinator for Amahoro Africa, a global network of friends working together toward the hopeful future of Africa.

Jake Myers

Jake Myers is a pastor/church planter living in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2005 he moved to the city in the hope of starting a missional, holistic, organic, eclectic Christian community in the Little Five Points area called Trinitas (www.trinitaschurch.org). He also serves as the Coordinator for Missional Community at Wieuca Road Baptist Church (www.wieuca.org). In addition to his work with Trinitas and Wieuca, Jake co-leads a group called Emerging Phoenix (www.atlantaemergence.blogspot.com/), which is a local cohort of pastors, church-planters, artists, and other Christ-followers who are conversing and mobilizing in order to participate in the mission of God in Atlanta. He frequently writes and speaks about the church in a postmodern, post-Christendom culture, especially within the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (www.thefellowship.info). He enjoys spending time with his wife, Abby, and his baby daughter, Taylor; traveling; kayaking; hiking; volunteering as a skilled supervisor with Habitat for Humanity; running; and playing Texas Hold’em. Jake’s rants and ramblings can be found at www.theofragen.com.

Tony Myles

With a fierce passion for Jesus Christ and his Church, Tony Myles has served in a variety of roles over the years involving pastoring and writing. His hope is to be an authentic man of God, a Christ-honoring husband, a spiritual leader to his kids, and an integrated Storyteller of Scripture so that the Church has the healthiest future possible. In however he has served he has found that there is nothing like following Jesus Christ, no matter where you are. Tony and his wife, Katie, love raising their two boys, Joshua and Daniel (and hanging out with their very neurotic dog, C.K.) in Medina, Ohio, where he serves as the lead pastor of Connection Church.

Damien O’Farrell

Damien and his wife Jennifer live and work in Riverside, CA.. Long term, Damien and Jenn are pursuing a sustainable life in which they can live as social entrepreneurs, who create space within the community for transformation in to the way of God through incremental steps of cultural change, including movements within the arts, holistic health, political reform, and social networking of individuals and organizations working toward the social good. Other pursuits and involvements for Damien and Jenn include The Relational Tithe, theology, writing, photography, the One campaign, Compassion International, and intentional travel.

Joni Grace Powers

Joni Grace Powers has her roots in the wilds of West Texas and now lives in Dallas. She is a frequent lecturer, a retreat speaker, and an ordained minister. Her adventure travels are the source of many photographs used in this website. Joni and her husband, Tim, are holding on for the ride as they raise two teenage daughters.

Bob Pyne

Robert Pyne hails from the beautiful desert of Arizona and now lives in Dallas. Formerly a professor of theology, he currently oversees leadership development for African Leadership and Reconciliation Ministries. ALARM equips African pastors and leaders for community transformation. Robert is the co-author (with Joni Grace Powers) of LifeSpace: The Practice of Life with God. He and his wife, Julie, valiantly attempt to keep up with four teenagers.

Courtney Perry

Courtney Perry is a freelance photojournalist living in Dallas, Texas—her work is displayed here. She shares her home with photographer-turning-biologist husband Chris Hamilton, 2 dog-children and 40+ tarantulas and scorpions. Her involvement with Emergent Village began through connections made at Journey, Courtney’s home faith community in Dallas. She is eager to see the expansion of the Emergent Village conversation, as well as increased unified action for positive social change in the world.

Holly Rankin Zaher

Holly Rankin Zaher lives and breathes in the Charleston, SC area. She has been a part of emergent village for the past four years as part of some iteration of the Coordinating Group. She’s been involved with student ministry for the past sixteen years, is a part of multiplying young Christian leaders through Rock the World), teaches as an adjunct at Trinity School for Ministry, was part of instigating threenails (a creative Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh), loves connecting cultural studies with typical human development, and enjoys being a friend, wife, and mom.

Mark Riddle

Mark Riddle is the husband to Pam and the father to Zach, Jaden and Mikayla. With 15 years of youth ministry experience, Mark works for The Riddle Group, a youth ministry coaching and consulting firm. Mark lives in Oklahoma and enjoys starting water balloon fights with his kids and teens in the neighborhood. He is a part of the Emergent Tulsa Cohort and he has dedicated his life to supporting people in their ministry to families with teens.

David Robertson

David Robertson is the producer for the Emergent Podcasts. He is also husband to Beth, father to Rachel and Hannah, partner in a technology services company, elder in the PC(USA), middle school leader, avid reader of books, and (recently) a rider of motorcycles.

Nanette Sawyer

Nanette Sawyer is an artist, writer, and minister ordained by the Presbyterian Church (USA). She has a Masters of Theological Studies in comparative world religions from Harvard Divinity School, and a Masters of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. Currently, she is pastor of a PC(USA) new church development in Chicago, called Wicker Park Grace. The Grace community gathers in an art gallery on the west side of Chicago.

Tim Samoff

Tim Samoff is a follower of Jesus, husband of Julianna, father of Josiah, musician, artist, filmmaker, reader, writer, thinker.

Samir Selmanovic

Samir Selmanovic grew up in a European Muslim family and served as a pastor and community organizer in Manhattan during 9/11 and its aftermath. Samir pastors, writes, teaches, advocates, and speaks nationally and internationally. He serves on the Coordinating Group for Emergent Village, on the Faith and Order Commission of the National Council of Churches, and on the Leadership Team of Re-church Network. He holds graduate degrees in religion, psychology, and education from Andrews University. Samir, his wife, Vesna, and their daughters, Ena and Leta, practice hospitality, advocate for Africa, admire Ena’s writing, laugh at Leta’s jokes, and cheer for Samir at marathon races. Contact Samir at www.faithhousemanhattan.org.

Will Samson

Will Samson is presently pursuing graduate studies in theology and sociology. He holds a BA with concentrations in Biblical Studies and Communications from Liberty University, and an MS in Information Systems from The George Washington University. Will, his wife, novelist Lisa Samson, and their family are participants in the life of Communality , a missional Christian community in the city of Lexington, KY. Will serves on the
coordinating group of Emergent Village and is on the Board of Advisors at Relational Tithe. He and his wife are the authors of the upcoming book, Justice in the Burbs. Will maintains an active blog and can be reached via email at will at willsamson.com.

Andrew Seely

Andrew Seely is chasing Christ in the midst of Southern California. He works with students at a Presbyterian (USA) church, which keeps him thinking he doesn’t need to grow up. Someday he’ll grow up (just enough) to head to seminary to pursue an MDiv degree and seek ordination (but that doesn’t mean he’ll grow up or stop loving students). In his spare time he enjoys such things as ultimate frisbee, snowboarding, cooking, poker, and underwater basket weaving. He blogs at AndrewSeely.com and can be reached at andrewseely at gmail dot com.

Ryan and Holly Sharp

Holly and I have been a part of the whole Emergent conversation for about 3 years or so now. The community we encountered in New Mexico (at the Gathering) has had sustained life-giving significance to us…and has in fact kept us from chucking our faith all together. After finishing a 9-month pilgrimage across the US and Europe, we now live in San Francisco (please say “hi” if you’re passing through), playing music, making art, helping direct a redistributive community called the Relational Tithe. We also do freelance graphic design.

Mark Shivers

Mark Shivers is in the process of getting a Ph.D. in Homiletics and Liturgics at Vanderbilt University. Mark aligns himself with a fellowship known as the Cooperative Baptists and is Director of Longridge 2.0 and S|O, a summer camp and spring retreat respectively, for students in South Carolina. The person Mark would most like to have dinner with is the 16-time World Heavyweight Champion, Ric Flair.

Danielle Grubb Shroyer

Danielle Grubb Shroyer lives in Dallas, TX, where she pastors Journey, leads the Dallas cohort, supports all things green, fights for justice, and reads far too much Moltmann. She’s a loving wife to Dan, a devoted mother to Mia and Grant, and a great friend to all she encounters.

Anthony Smith

Anthony Smith lives in Charlotte, N.C. Anthony is the “Resident Emerging Theologian” of the Charlotte cohort group. He facilitates a blog, Musings of a Postmodern Negro, that is an investigation into the intersection of theology, philosophy, race, popular culture, politics, and emerging culture.

Welcome to the Reader's Forum

Add Emergent Village to

Join our mailing list: