Neo-charismatic churches
Encyclopedia
Neo-charismatic churches are a category of churches in the Christian Renewal
movement. The Christian renewal movement incorporates Pentecostal, Charismatic
and neo-charismatic churches. Neo-charismatics include the "Third Wave
," but are broader—now more numerous than Pentecostals (first wave) and charismatics (second wave) combined, due to the incredible growth of post-denominational and independent charismatic groups.
, but were not specifically aligned with either. In the 1980s, C. Peter Wagner
coined the term Third Wave
to clearly distinguish the sort of charismatic spirituality he advocated from Pentecostalism. This represented a particular cultural need within the North American scene. Many neo-charismatic groups were also influenced by the Toronto Blessing
in the mid 1990s, which was itself a neo-charismatic phenomenon that arose out of the Vineyard Movement.
(speaking in tongues), healing, and prophecy. They also practice laying on of hands and the infilling of the Holy Spirit
, however, they may not expect a specific experience of baptism with the Holy Spirit
as a requirement for those gifts. There is no single form, governmental structure, or style of church services that can be identified as specifically Neo-charismatic. The clearest defining element is negative in that they are "Christian bodies with pentecostal-like experiences that have no traditional pentecostal or charismatic denominational connections, (and sometimes only very slender—if any—historical connections)."
and in Latin American, particularly Brazilian, churches. Neo-charismatic churches also include a number of recently established denominations e.g.
Renewal (religion)
Renewal is the collective term for Charismatic, pentecostal and neo-charismatic churches.- Neo-charismatic churches :The neo-charismatic denominations have more than a million members in China, some of them belonging to the local churches...
movement. The Christian renewal movement incorporates Pentecostal, Charismatic
Charismatic movement
The term charismatic movement is used in varying senses to describe 20th century developments in various Christian denominations. It describes an ongoing international, cross-denominational/non-denominational Christian movement in which individual, historically mainstream congregations adopt...
and neo-charismatic churches. Neo-charismatics include the "Third Wave
Third Wave of the Holy Spirit
The Third Wave of the Holy Spirit is a Christian theological theory first introduced by C. Peter Wagner to describe what he believed to be three historical periods of the activity of the Holy Spirit in the 20th century and beyond...
," but are broader—now more numerous than Pentecostals (first wave) and charismatics (second wave) combined, due to the incredible growth of post-denominational and independent charismatic groups.
History
The term Neo-charismatic was first applied, in the 1970s, to churches that embraced many of the doctrines and practices of Pentecostal churches and the Charismatic MovementCharismatic movement
The term charismatic movement is used in varying senses to describe 20th century developments in various Christian denominations. It describes an ongoing international, cross-denominational/non-denominational Christian movement in which individual, historically mainstream congregations adopt...
, but were not specifically aligned with either. In the 1980s, C. Peter Wagner
C. Peter Wagner
Charles Peter Wagner Christian missionary, writer, teacher, and church growth specialist, notable for his controversial spiritual warfare practices and beliefs...
coined the term Third Wave
Third Wave of the Holy Spirit
The Third Wave of the Holy Spirit is a Christian theological theory first introduced by C. Peter Wagner to describe what he believed to be three historical periods of the activity of the Holy Spirit in the 20th century and beyond...
to clearly distinguish the sort of charismatic spirituality he advocated from Pentecostalism. This represented a particular cultural need within the North American scene. Many neo-charismatic groups were also influenced by the Toronto Blessing
Toronto Blessing
The Toronto blessing, a term coined by British churches, describes the revival and resulting phenomena that began in January 1994 at the Toronto Airport Vineyard church, now the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship , a neocharismatic evangelical Christian church located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
in the mid 1990s, which was itself a neo-charismatic phenomenon that arose out of the Vineyard Movement.
Defining characteristics
Neo-charismatics, like Pentecostals and Charismatics embrace the gifts of the Holy Spirit including glossolaliaGlossolalia
Glossolalia or speaking in tongues is the fluid vocalizing of speech-like syllables, often as part of religious practice. The significance of glossolalia has varied with time and place, with some considering it a part of a sacred language...
(speaking in tongues), healing, and prophecy. They also practice laying on of hands and the infilling of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
, however, they may not expect a specific experience of baptism with the Holy Spirit
Baptism with the Holy Spirit
Baptism with the Holy Spirit in Christian theology is a term describing baptism in or with the Spirit of God...
as a requirement for those gifts. There is no single form, governmental structure, or style of church services that can be identified as specifically Neo-charismatic. The clearest defining element is negative in that they are "Christian bodies with pentecostal-like experiences that have no traditional pentecostal or charismatic denominational connections, (and sometimes only very slender—if any—historical connections)."
Adherents and denominations
There are approximately 19,000 denominations or groups identified as neo-charismatic with approximately 295 million individual adherents. Neo-charismatic churches comprise many independent, non-denominational or post-denominational congregations, with the greater strength of their numbers being found among the African independent churches, the Han Chinese house-church movementHouse church
House church, or "home church", is used to describe an independent assembly of Christians who gather in a home. Sometimes this occurs because the group is small, and a home is the most appropriate place to gather, as in the beginning phase of the British New Church Movement...
and in Latin American, particularly Brazilian, churches. Neo-charismatic churches also include a number of recently established denominations e.g.
- Church on the Rock- InternationalChurch on the Rock- InternationalChurch on the Rock-International, also known as the Church on the Rock or COTRI, is a neocharismatic evangelical Christian denomination...
- Vineyard Movement
- International House of PrayerInternational House of PrayerThe International House of Prayer is an evangelical charismatic Christian missions organization based in Kansas City and Grandview, Missouri that focuses on prayer, worship, and evangelism....
- Toronto Airport Christian FellowshipToronto Airport Christian FellowshipToronto Airport Christian Fellowship is a non-denominational neocharismatic Christian church in Toronto, Canada. It is affiliated with Catch The Fire and with Partners in Harvest group of churches...
- Bethel ChurchBethel Church (Redding, California)Bethel Church is a church that was established in Redding, California as an Assemblies of God congregation in 1954, and has since grown to an estimated weekly attendance of over 3,000 people...
- MorningStar Ministries
- Every NationEvery NationEvery Nation Churches is an organization of non-denominational Christian churches. Its name embodies its goal of reaching "every nation in our generation" with the gospel....
- NewfrontiersNewfrontiersNewfrontiers is a neocharismatic apostolic ministry network of evangelical, charismatic churches founded by Terry Virgo. It forms part of the British New Church Movement, which began in the late 50s and 60s combining features of Pentecostalism with British evangelicalism...
- Sovereign Grace MinistriesSovereign Grace MinistriesSovereign Grace Ministries is a group of Reformed, neocharismatic, Evangelical, restorationist, Christian churches primarily located in North America. It has been described as an apostolic network...
- New Life Fellowship AssociationNew Life Fellowship AssociationNew Life Fellowship Association, commonly known as New Life Fellowship , is a group of neocharismatic, Evangelical, Christian Churches primarily located in India....