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WEEK IN RELIGION 5/2/80

CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT ENTERS NEW PHASE,

BECOMING MORE INTEGRATED INTO CHURCHES

Charismatics, above, at an earlier renewal meeting in Hopewell Junction,

N.Y., speak in tongues. Regional leaders of

renewal say the movement is now entering upon a new phase in the 1980's

-- with some areas reporting less attendance, fewer new participants

replacing drop-outs and a perceptive trend back to practicing Christian

commitment through more traditional structures. Many officials speculate

that participation had peaked in 1977, after a decade of growth, when a

record crowd of 50,000 charismatics -- representing every theological

tradition -- jammed into a conference in Kansas City, Mo.

A recent Religious News Service survey, however, reveals that other renewal leaders

now believe that the trend is not so much a decrease in attendance, as a

diversification of church interests among them. Dan Malachuk of the Logos

Journal, said, "There's a greater infiltration into the system," with

charismatics operating more as "persuaders rather than evangelicals within

the system. And that's a big difference because they don't come on like

gangbusters." Others, including the Rev. Kevin Ranaghan, head of the

Catholic Charismatic Renewals (CCR) national committee, believe that "many

large prayer groups have decreased in the number of participants, but there

seems to be a growth in the number of smaller groups." He notes that out

of 2,800 prayer groups included in the CCR directory, 1,300 are new listings.

A recent Gallup poll, showing that 19% of the U.S. population is charismatics,

"astounded" Dr. J. Rodman William, a professor at Melodyland School

of Theology, who declared, "It shows a great number of people are not

identifying themselves as charismatics to church leaders or to charismatic

groups." He believes others may have become involved through television's

so-called "electronic church."

For the first time the upcoming Lutheran Conference on the Holy Spirit, will

include on its agenda such topics of social concern as homosexuality,

ERA, inflation cults and abortion -- subjects which have been shunned in the

past as potentially too divisive by charismatics.

Among other recent charismatic developments, have been efforts to heal tensions

that emerged as Christians from the more institutional churches began to

pray in forms used for a half century by the Pentecostals. Serious

divisions within the charismatic community have also surfaced regarding the

question of "shepherding" -- the concept that those in prayer circles make

a "covenant" to follow the spiritual direction of the whole group -- or even

a single leader. Critics are concerned lest such policies weaken the entire

charismatic movement and congregations themselves, by

splintering groups into cults that go their own way. Many observers feel

that the recommendations of organizations like the People of Praise --

an interdenominational South Bend, Ind. group -- may produce the most settling

results. They urge their members to remain active and faithful to individual

denominations while fostering strong interpersonal relationships among

themselves.

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RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO

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