|PIC1|2. History of Charismatic Renewal Movement

Charismatic Renewal Movement rose at 1960s, not only in many denominations of Protestantism, but also in Orthodox Church and Catholic Church as well. The beginning of this movement rose in United States and England at the nearly same time. And the movement rapidly expanded to the whole around the world. Consequently, tongues speaking and other manifestations of the biblically described gifts of the Spirit, break out of their now labeled 'classical' Pentecostal denominational boundaries into many mainline Protestant denominations, the Roman Catholic Church, and by the 1980s, evangelical Protestant groups.

Charismatic Renewal Movement is to be distinguished from the 'outpouring of the Spirit' in the early 1900s, especially at the Bible School of Charles Parham, Topeka, Kansas in 1901 and at the Azusa Street Mission in Los Angeles in 1906-9, which resulted in early 'classical Pentecostalism' and in the establishment of Pentecostal Church, such as Assemblies of God and Pentecostal Holiness Churches. However, Charismatics were convinced that they should remain in their own churches, although to varying degrees they borrowed theological ideas and worship styles from classical Pentecostalism.

There were many influences which had much effected on the expansion of charismatic renewal, and the most important work was the ministry of the Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship International established by Demos Shakarian. This fellowship was international and inter-denominational, and the main purpose of that was for the spreading the blessings and gifts of Holy spirit to the whole world. The leaders of Charismatic Renewal acted especially in 1960s and 1970s through the tool of charismatic TV broadcast.

The most influential leaders of the charismatic movement were some well-known evangelists like Oral Roberts, Kathryn Kuhlman. Roberts, Pentecostalist himself, led many revival meetings focusing the ministry of divine healing. Because of their inter-denominational activities, they were dubbed 'neo-pentecostal' by old-line members of the pentecostal movement.

The Council of Vatican II finished at December, 1965, and the Catholic Renewal Movement began in 1967. In Vatican II treatise Lumen Gentium, we can see the distinct declaration like below;

(1) One of these decisions was that the Catholic church should become a full and active participant in the ecumenical movement. The positive assessment of the Christian values to be found among 'separate brethren' surely was an important factor in the acceptance of the idea that Pentecostalism might have something to contribute to the spiritual renewal of the Catholic church.

(2) Another decision of Vatican II that opened the way to the acceptance of a charismatic renewal in Catholic church was the recognition of the vital importance of charismatic gifts in the life of the church.

(3) A third decision that contributed to the acceptance of the charismatic renewal in the Catholic church was its insistence that the call to holiness and to active sharing in the building all of the lay faithful as well as clergy and those with religious vows. If it had not been for the new emphasis given by the council to the role of the laity in the life of the church, it is doubtful that the priests and bishops would have been so open to a movement of spiritual renewal whose origin, growth, and leadership owe so much more to the initiative of lay Catholics than to that of the clergy. Actually, the function of Laity was significant in Catholic Charismatic Movement from the beginning, and throughout the process.

Many books concerning the Spirit Baptism published in 1967, Roman Catholicism gave birth to the organization that the Life in the Spirit Courses at last. This movement was expanded very rapidly, because many professors and students of Duquesne, Notre Dame and Michigan University were mainly joined in this movement. Priest Francis MacNut acted for Catholic Renewal Movement as one of the most influential preachers and authors.

More than 10,000 Catholic charismatic gathered at Rome in 1975 by the invitation of Pope Paul Vl. Pope gave them unformal approval which permitted the using gifts of Holy Spirit. Then, John Paul II, the successor of Paul VI, also convinced the content of this approval. Some years later, some protestant denominations and Orthodox Church also agreed this content of approval. Kevin Ranaghan, at the standpoint of Roman Catholics, said about the Charismatic Renewal Movement at 1960s like below;

At the end of the last century, while Pope Lep XIII was leading Catholics every where to pray for the renewal of the Holy Spirit, many evangelical Protestants were avidly seeking a renewal in the Spirit. Secondly, the ecumenical thrust of Vatican II was a principal component of the new Pentecost prayed for by the whole Catholic church before and during the Council. Thirdly, when the Pentecostal renewal began among the Catholics in the late 1960's, the same renewal of baptism in the Spirit, charisma, and mutual service and love, where simultaneously evidenced among Christians from other ecclesial communities throughout the world.

Since 1972, the Vatican has been in conversation annually with representatives of the classical Pentecostal and Neo-Pentecostal movements, with theologians from both side contributing. They were agreed on this statement; The essence of Pentecostalism is the personal and direct awareness of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, by which the risen and glorified Christ is revealed, and the believer is empowered to witness and worship with the abundance of life as described in the Acts and the Epistles. The Pentecostal Experience is not a goal to be reached, nor a place to stand, but a door through which to go into a great fullness of life in the Spirit. It is an event which becomes a way of life which often charismatic manifestations have a place. Charismatic of this way of life is a love of the word of God, and a concern to live by the power of the Spirit.

Dr Bonjour Bay

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Dr Bonjour Bay is a Researcher in Spiritual Movement, and is the Church History Professor at Sungkyul University, South Korea. Dr Bay has published numerous books on Church History and Pneumatology.

'Charismatic Renewal and Its Inter-Denominational Dialogue' is a six-part series to be published by Christian Today, of which this piece is the second.

Please view the first here: Part 1.1