Parachurch organization
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Parachurch organizations are vehicles by which evangelical Christians work collaboratively both outside of and across their denominations to engage with the world in mission, social welfare and evangelism.
Through many decentralized organizations, parachurch organizations function to bridge the gap between the church and culture. These are organizations "alongside" (Grk: para-) church structures, and often seek to be less institutional, however over time, with growth and success, and in response to environmental pressures they can become more institutional.
The City Missions illustrated the strategy of many related autonomous bodies, however in response to government and economic pressure some such as Mission Australia have become large nationwide bodies.
The model had been pioneered in the Second Great Awakening of the 19th century, but it was perfected in the second half of the 20th century.
These bodies can be businesses, non-profit corporations, and private associations. They generally operate within the broad movement of evangelicalism without sponsorship of any particular church or association of churches, while attempting to avoid encroaching on roles traditionally belonging to churches alone. They offer centralized efficiency of mission and operation to accomplish specialized ministry tasks that independent churches without denominational or associational strength are not able to accomplish on a larger national or international scale.
Parachurch organizations generally require members or staff to agree to an evangelical 'Statement of Faith' or creed. These statements are used to define an organization's biblical and doctrinal beliefs, convictions, and mission distinctives. Some statements are deliberately general in nature to allow for maximum outreach to community or culture. Others are more specific and constraining, potentially excluding those who would disagree, but defining the organization by those who agree with its beliefs.
Whilst generally evangelicals have sought to remain within their denominations, there have been some alternative church-like arrangements set up in some places.
Evangelical house church projects have been established in some neighborhoods, which may even avoid using the word 'church' to describe their meetings. Special meeting places, a professional clergy, even the sacraments might be set aside by an evangelical church, in some cases: not necessarily on account of convictions that these institutions are wrong, but rather in order to extend outreach beyond traditional bounds.
[edit] Theological terms
In protestant and Catholic theology, parachurch organizations are termed sodalities, as distinct from modality, which is the term for the structure and organization of the local or universal church.
[edit] Roles and organisations
Roles undertaken by parachurch organizations include:
- evangelistic crusade associations (patterned after the Billy Graham Association)
- evangelistic and discipleship ministries (such as The Navigators, Campus Crusade for Christ)
- music and print publishers, radio and television stations, film studios, online ministries
- study centers and institutes, schools, colleges and universities
- political and social activist groups
- welfare and social services, including homeless shelters, child care, and domestic violence, disaster relief programs, and food pantries and clothing closets, and emergency aid centers (such as the City Missions)
- self-help groups
- Bible study groups
- house churches
