Neo-charismatic movement

The Neo-charismatic movement is a category of Christian churches that emphasize the gifts provided to Christians, by the person of the Christian Trinity termed the Holy Spirit. The traditional charismatic Christian categories incorporate historic Pentecostal congregations (the "first wave"), the evangelical charismatic movement (the "second wave"), and now the neo-charismatic churches (the "third wave"). Neo-charismatis are now believed to be more numerous than the first and second wave categories, combined, as a result of the growth of postdenominational and independent charismatic groups.^[1] As of 2002, there were estimated to be approximately 295 million adherents or participants in the neo-charismatic movement.^[1]

Defining characteristics

It is critical to the understanding the various movements, or waves, of the charismatic movement, to understand the historic, practical, and theological distinctions of the various waves. Neo-charismatics, like Apostolics, Pentecostals and other charismatics, believe in and stress the post-Biblical availability of gifts of the Holy Spirit, including glossolalia (speaking in tongues), healing, and prophecy; moreover, they practice laying on of hands and seek the "infilling" of the Holy Spirit, although a specific experience of baptism with the Holy Spirit may not be requisite for experiencing such gifts.

In terms of congregational governance, no single form, structure, or style of church service characterizes all neo-charismatic services and churches. They consider themselves part of the Nondenominational Christianity.^[2] The general definition calls them "Christian bodies with pentecostal-like experiences that have no traditional pentecostal or charismatic denominational connections, (and sometimes only very slender—if any—historical connections)".^[1]

Adherents and denominations

By 2002, some 19,000 denominations or groups, with approximately 295 million individual adherents, were identified as neo-charismatic.^[1] Neo-charismatic tenets and practices are found in many independent, nondenominational or post-denominational congregations, with strength of numbers centered in the African independent churches, among the Han Chinese house-church movement, and in South American (especially Brazilian) churches.

Notable churches

THe following are examples of notable neo-charismatic movement congregations:

References