 Denomination will explore recommending Alpha Program as resource for evangelism By Paula R. Kincaid The Layman Online Monday, June 2, 2003
The recommendation came from the Assembly Committee on Evangelism and Higher Education. A substitute motion, offered from the floor of the assembly's plenary session, asked the assembly to direct CMD to "review methods of evangelism that can be used as congregational resources and to relate such methods to material being developed by the Office of Theology and Worship and Discipleship that facilitate the sharing of the faith in a manner consistent with the Reformed tradition of the PCUSA." The commissioner who made the substitute motion said she strongly encouraged evangelism, but was concerned about the content of the Alpha Program. She said she believed material on evangelism for PCUSA congregations could be included in work already being done by the denominational staff and it would address concerns about evangelism without focusing only on the Alpha Program. That motion was defeated 217-290. Elder James McKinsey of Boston Presbytery spoke against the Alpha Program. He said the "need for evangelism is evident and pressing," but that when hearing arguments in support of the recommendation during committee debate, noting was brought before the committee to study, "just testimonials from churches that received new members." He said denominational resource people used words such as "problem, trouble and inconsistent with Reformed tradition," when they described the Alpha Program. "We heard on Saturday that we had losses of 40,000 members last year," said the Rev. Steve Olmstead of Alaska Presbytery, "Alpha Program is a proven program that works and churches are gaining members … [the recommendation] is asking our denomination to look at this program and see if it can be recommended to other congregations." He urged commissioners to look at the Alpha Program. "God is using it," he said, "and we would do well to get on board." A commissioner speaking against the Alpha Program said that "evangelism is a high priority for our denomination and we are Reformed people and we need to teach Reformed theology … to try and modify the Alpha Program is putting a paint job on a non-Reformed theology. … We have a chance to do this in a concise and theologically sound way and we need to be consistent in our process and do it right." The Rev. Tom Bagley from the Greater Atlanta Presbytery spoke in favor of the Alpha Program saying "it is a powerful program that God is using around this world to awaken unchurched people to Jesus Christ." He said that the program did need a balance of Reformed tradition, but the balance was easily attained." Benebo Fubara-Maneul, an ecumenical delegate from the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, urged commissioners to approve the motion on the Alpha Program. "The motion is not asking this house to approve the Alpha Program, but to direct the Congregational Ministries Division to explore the appropriateness of recommending the Alpha Program ... What would the church lose be exploring something that many churches are using?" The Alpha Program According to its Web site, the Alpha Program is a 15-session program that runs over 10 weeks to provide a practical introduction to the Christian faith. The material has been used by all types of churches, including Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Salvation Army, Free Church, Pentecostal, Assemblies of God and House Churches. On a weekly basis, people meet together for a meal and discussion on topics such as "Who is Jesus?," "Why Did Jesus Die?," "How Can I be Sure of My Faith?" and "Does God Still Heal Today?" The discussion is followed by small-group interaction. There are over 5,000 Alpha Program running in the U.S. and about 1,000,000 people in America and Canada have already participated. The Web site includes positive comments on the program from Bill Hybels, senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church; Bill Bright, president of Campus Crusade for Christ; J.I. Packer, professor of theology of Regent College, Vancouver, B.C., and Charles W. Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship Ministries. |
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