First, let me say that I really enjoy the music of the David Crowder Band (DCB). When I recorded a CD a few weeks ago, I played some of his songs. But, the general consensus (at least from the people I was talking with this past week) is that the Emergent Convention would do better to branch off from the DCB. Other than the people off in a corner doing the bicycle labyrinth, you really couldn’t tell much of a difference in the General Sessions between the Emergent Convention / National Pastor’s Convention / National Youth Workers Convention. There is the same stage, hype, music, worship-style, etc. I’m just not sure I get it.
People will still come to the Emergent Convention even if the DCB does not come. I do have to be honest, and say that I was pretty stoked that the DCB was going to be at Nashville. However, as soon as they started playing at the first General Session, and as soon as he started doing his same “schtick†between worship songs, I really felt that something was not right here. It just didn’t seem to fit…at all.
Last year’s General Sessions even seemed to be a bit more “emergent†(for lack of a better word) than this year, and I’m wondering the reasons for the changes. Last year, Tony Jones did a meditation or prayer exercise during each General Session. I know that Yaconelli had a strong presence and role in mediating between YS & Emergent, and I wonder if him not being around brought about any of these changes.