Where have all the UK bloggers gone?
21 May 2008
I was asked the other day for a list of recommended UK church blogs/bloggers.
I have a few in my bloglines feed. But it struck me again, that when it comes to anything related to the emerging church (for and against, pragmatic or theological), they seem to be thin on the ground.
And I don’t mean someone who has a blog, but rather someone who blogs regularly, about emerging church related issues.
Then if we asked about female UK emerging church bloggers, and non white bloggers, the list seems to get even smaller.
So over to you, tell me the UK bloggers you know and are reading. I already know about Jonny Baker and Maggie Dawn (Andrew Jones is a kiwi).
Tagged: Blogs
19 comments
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Comment by GMD
8.45 am on 21 May 2008
I’ve been toying with starting a blog for a while now and finally got it up with my first post, my problem is getting into a routine to get those regular posts up. There’s no lack of subject matter (providing I remember to jot down ideas when they pop into my head) just lack of time and habbit I think.
What routines do you use to blog, do you have a planning system such as pre writing entries for later use or even just the subject titles?
When does someone with a blog become someone who blogs regularly? posting once a day, once a week, less , more?
Comment by gareth
9.22 am on 21 May 2008
http://www.mootblog.net – its a community blog but regularly touches on the emerging church as well as exploring what those who are part of the emerging church are thinking and reflecting about…
kester from vaux blogs at http://kester.typepad.com/signs
matt from home blogs at http://lostempireslivingtribes.blogspot.com
pete from ikon blogs at http://peterrollins.net/
ben from sanctus1 blogs at http://benedson.blogs.com/benedson/
ian from maybe blogs at http://inthebellyofthebigfish.blogspot.com/
though these may merely confirm you suspicion that most blogs are by educated white males… though the mootblog does have a nice gender mix of posters :-)
Comment by Jason Reid
9.43 am on 21 May 2008
I doubt my blog counts as emergent, more sort of missional really:
http://eccelsiaplymouth.blogspot.com/
Comment by brodie
11.41 am on 21 May 2008
I guess it all depends on how you would define an “emerging church blogger”.
Kester Brewin is still blogging as is Peter Rollins. A simple google search finds them.
I wonder however if there has been a case of blogger fatigue and ‘emerging conversations’ fatigue? Many of those who were blogging prolifically about emerging stuff 3 or 4 years ago (Si Johnston [who I think you know] springs to mind, although I’m not claiming to speak for Si here)have now established a network of like-minded people with whom they can journey without using the blogosphere. Added to this that people’s circumstances change and well they just don’t have the time/energy to blog.
Comment by Andrew Martin
4.05 pm on 21 May 2008
Hi Jason, as something of a “lurker” on your blog, it’s time for me to speak up :-). I’m blogging, but don’t really count because I feel as if I’m only on the edge of the conversation, and pretty ignorant (I expect that what I write would make a theologian cringe). Ooh, that sounds a little more self-deprecating than I would usually manage.
Anyhow, I scanned my blog roll and I don’t have much to add to your list. There is Krish Kandiah krishk.wordpress.com would you count him? Perhaps if you work for the EA you can’t be emerging.
Comment by Paul
4.30 pm on 21 May 2008
maybe the novelty factor is wearing off as it becomes more main-stream?
Or is blogging really that effective a medium anymore? Cetainly the interactions are dropping way off, unless it is something really contriversial/radical.
Comment by Jason Reid
7.45 am on 22 May 2008
Mine’s probably not emergent but might be a bit missional…
http://eccelsiaplymouth.blogspot.com/
Ciao
Comment by Liam
9.50 am on 22 May 2008
Speaking for myself as UK Blogger who used to (albeit very ineloquently) think about emerging/emergent church ideas on my blog, I found much of what I encountered useful but since there has been somewhat of a negative backlash and stereotyping of those terms I find them fairly unhelpful.
Mainly due to the fact that everyone thinks you agree and are an apologist for Brian McLarens writings.
I have now become much more of an eclectic blogger, blogging on music, technology and theology, though I just finished my degree in Theology so even that could slow down now!
Comment by Laura Anne
10.29 pm on 22 May 2008
I don’t know what constitutes as ‘emergent’ (maybe I shouldn’t admit to that since you’ve had me as a guest blogger – eek!) but I know of a couple more UK church ones. Paul and Priscilla Reid are a truly inspirational couple who lead a church in Belfast which has loads going on their community. Equally, Frog and Amy have written some fantastic books about their work in China and Afghanistan. They have an incredible passion for their church in the middle of Peckham.
Paul Reid in Northern Ireland – http://www.cfc-net.org/paulblog.htm
Frog and Amy Orr-Ewing in London – http://notes-from-the-lilypad.blogspot.com/
I do blog on church issues but it is intermingled with the work I do in area of pregnancy crisis not to mention other random rambles about silly things I’ve been doing, films, music etc. And I’m female! Sorry I don’t have any qualifications in Theology though… :)
There are also several bloggers from the UK who are part of church that I’ve links to on my blog (Liam, yourself and others who blog here included!!)
Comment by ASD
9.56 am on 23 May 2008
Hi Jason
I have an emerging mindset, but tend to use my blog to discuss cultural issues, currents affairs et al to help shape spiritual and missional thoughts. Like, Jason Reid, I am not sure how emergent some of my meanderings are, but happy to be included, however I feel quite inferior to the likes of your good self, Johnny and Andrew.
I have been following the conversations since my interest was awakened by postmodernism from way back at LBC 92-95 and continue to do so very much today.
Lastly, thought it worth mentioning that I am also desperately working towards exploring a theology for rural ministry, which is a challenge for me – not least being a West Londoner! And a particularly a sad one after the footie this week! If anyone knows how how to direct me on my journey here I would be truly grateful. Books, sites welcome.
Wishing you well.
igod.typepad.com
ASD
Comment by Johnny Laird
12.40 pm on 23 May 2008
Thanks for the question, Jason.
..you’ve managed to bring our attention to some new blogs to check out.
J
Comment by James Henley
11.13 pm on 23 May 2008
I try to blog regularly (at least once a week-ish), coming from the direction of emerging church and missional youth work. I lead a missional community/emerging church of young adults and students in Newport, S. Wales.
http://jameshenley.typepad.co.uk
I also read Jonny, Ben, Maggi, Kester,
Ian Mobsby – http://ian-mobsby.blogspot.com/
and Mark Berry from Safespace Telford – http://markjberry.blogs.com/way_out_west/
Think there’s a fair few out there although not necessarily regularly updated or on the topic of emerging – think the conversation is beginning to shift beyond that label.
Comment by Chris Goan
1.56 pm on 24 May 2008
Hi Jason
We try to blog fairly frequently in relation to the stuff of our small emerging community in Scotland.
The blog is part of our site http://www.aoradh.org
We have tried to focus on both the life of our community, and specific issues that relate to new forms of church in our context.
We also started a facebook group for Emerging Church issues in Scotland on this link http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=11526988099
This has proved a great way to link up with folk, and there is talk of an Emerging Scotland event!
Cheers
Chris
Comment by Laura Anne
2.28 pm on 24 May 2008
Hurray! Another Scottish blogger! (Sorry, but there seem to be few of us!)
Comment by Jamie Arpin-Ricci
3.05 pm on 25 May 2008
A personal, daily read of mine:
http://whatsyourpointcaller.wordpress.com/
Comment by Bryan Riley
12.56 pm on 26 May 2008
Here’s a blog that a leader in YWAM england has begun: http://www.pauldhopkins.com/index.php
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3.33 pm on 26 May 2008
[...] feel free to read this review. The Archbishop of York leads hundreds to Christ in Scotland.Jason Clark asked about where all the UK Bloggers had gone and a few ones I hadn’t seen before were mentioned in the comments, check it out if you want [...]
Comment by Willy
6.50 pm on 26 May 2008
I wouldn’t count myself as emergent and I only started blogging recently. Having said that it appears that most of my posts so far seem to be related to the emerging church, plus I’m Scottish too and just wanted in on the act with the other Scots.
http://willyrobertson.wordpress.com
Comment by dgschof
10.23 pm on 28 May 2008
Great prod Jason
We are just wrestling with some of that ourselves -
http://engagesheffield.blogspot.com
Right now we are thinking
How do we enable a marginal voice to be heard in the blogosphere? (empowering communities with IT skills – or – is that perpetuating patronising paternalism that assumes my white middle class preference for blogging is right for all)
How do we give people who are engaged by this media (eduWASPS?) the chance to grow and flourish through it when, and lets be honest, saying things like ‘perpetuating patronising paternalism’(I said it deliberately -honest!) makes you sound like a %&$£ head to the less confident/literate/pretentious among us? We need to get better at accessibility
Also
Do we want to take on the label of ‘emergent’?
Want to network / need to network – badly. But not just with identikit people – though they make us feel warm inside.
So to anyone who has time – Come and visit, say hello, give us feedback, be kind, be honest etc. I am sure you’ll at least like the Gospel according to Parkour (together with amazing video) metaphor…
http://engagesheffield.blogspot.com/2008/05/gospel-according-to-parkour-do-we.html
Shalom
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