The SBC North American Mission Board partners with emergent church planting conference?

The North American Mission Board is a proud sponsor of the 2007 National New Church Conference. According to the NAMB website,“This conference is designed to connect, encourage, equip, and challenge church planting leaders.”

Certainly seems innocent, even essential. However, upon perusal of the guest list, one has to wonder why the NAMB is associated with the proponents of the seeker sensitive, purpose driven, emerging and ecumenical church movement.

The line up of presenters looks more like a Who’s Who in the Church Growth Movement.

Some of the more familiar faces:

Seeker Sensitive Sensation Bill Hybels.
Creativity and Church Stage Master Mark Batterson.
Emergent Church Leader Mark Driscoll.
Inter-denominational church planter Steve Childers.
Allen Hirsch, author of "The Forgotten Ways", endorsed by Brian McClaren & Leonard Sweet. Sweet says “Hirsch discovered the formula that unlocks the secrets of the ecclesial universe…”
Ron Silva, Director of Purpose Driven Planting.
THE NAMB’s own Ed Stetzer, proponent of the emergent and ecumenical website, THE OOZE , Rick Warren & Leonard Sweet.

(The OOZE is promoted by Lifeway Resources. The OOZE also sponsors a 3 Day Conference led by a Roman Catholic priest).

Interesting to note a similar "religious demographic" in the recently formed
Red Letter Christians. Certainly, the emergent, ecumenical community would require a political entity to complete itself as a true religious system.

Sponsors of the event include:
The founding fathers of the Emergent Church, Leadership Network, with whom Lifeway Resources has partnered; the Willow Creek Association and Church Planting Networks.

It is evident that The Emergent Church Movement is now an industry.

Is your church emerging to grow an audience ?

More updates on the inroads of the Emergent Church and the Southern Baptist Convention.