In the early 1960s, the Christian charismatic renewal movement of signs and wonders made the jump into the “mainline” – and Julia Duin, religion editor of The Washington Times, deftly chronicles its meteoric rise and collapse in the Episcopal Church, focusing on the saga of the Rev. Graham Pulkingham and Houston’s Church of the Redeemer.
Ms. Duin’s “Days of Fire and Glory: The Rise and Fall of a Charismatic Community” is both a frightening and fascinating look at the glory days of the renewal movement that, at its height, gave meaning to the lives of thousands, but eventually collapsed in a welter of sexual, financial and theological misconduct – or to use that wonderful but seldom used word: heresy.
Two decades in the making, and based upon 182 face-to-face interviews and an intimate knowledge of the people and passions at play, Ms. Duin’s book is a cautionary tale. For those touched by the charismatic renewal, it will reawaken memories of the passion and enthusiasm of the heady days when it seemed the power of God was made manifest.
It is also a frightening book….
The community of Redeemer, Houston was lost because of sexual sin. Satan revels in that.
Our family was benefited from one who was flung out from Redeemer explosion. Rev Jeff Schiffmayer was a godly pastor and created the closest thing to the Community of Acts that we have ever experienced in a church. We all benefit also from the many wonderful hymns penned by Betty Pulkingham.
I think the impact of Redeemer on TEC was important and is still with us. I guess we can write off the accomplishments of the church at Ephesus because it is no longer prominent.
“…[b]the anchor of the Bible had been severed. What God told him was no longer to be tested against Scripture … but was tested against his own experience and opinions.[/b]”
Can certainly be seen as a cautionary tale for those in TEC today. The “new thing” is tested against “personal experience”, not Scripture, and look where that has led.
He who has ears let him hear.
It’s worth bearing in mind that some two decades later a very different, theologically radical parish in Sheffield (UK) also imploded. St Thomas, Crookston, was founded and organized under the auspices of the creation-centred theology taught by Matthew Fox and filtered through a newly (and hastily) ordained priest in the Church of England who seemed to be very much a rising star. The lesson, I think, is that this kind of thing can happen to any genre of parish, and not just charismatic. The more stellar the leader, the more need for checks and balances.