Research Project: Ecumenism at the Five International Conferences of the Fountain Trust (1970-1980)

Objectives of the study

1. Theologically, to discuss the implication of the grassroots unity of the Charismatic Movement

It is admitted by most of the charismatics and theologians that the charismatic movement ignites a sense of unity among Christians of various denominations together with the Roman Catholics. In contrast to the official ecumenical movement which has been mainly launched by theologians of representatives of denominations, the unity in the charismatic renewal took place among laity whom the Holy Spirit mediated through His inner works such as the spiritual baptism and transformation of the individuals’ hearts regarding the others, and the outer works such as the gifts edifying one another. However, a profound discussion on this topic has not been done and therefore this thesis is aimed to widen and deepen the understanding of the area.

2. Historically, to fill in the gap and knowledge of the British Charismatic Movement

During 1970-1980, the Fountain Trust, the organization for the Charismatic Movement in Britain held five international conferences biennially, which are believed with strong reasons that they were the defining moment of the Movement. As Michael Harper, the establisher of the Trust, claims that the Guildford Conference in 1971 is the “coming of age” of the Charismatic Movement.[1] Peter Hocken also claims, “The high point of FT’s contribution to CR in Britain was from 1971-1976, the era of the major conferences: Guildford (1971), Nottingham (1973), Westminster (1975)” which gave “the movement a higher profile and a stringer sense of identity”.[2] Unfortunately, serious research of this period, especially the five international conferences has not been done yet. Therefore, this research is aimed at discovering the historical events of this period with a special focus on the five conferences to advance the knowledge of the British Charismatic Movement.

Thesis Outline

Introduction                                                                                                       

      1. Purpose of the study

      2. Methodology

      3. Definitions

          -Grassroots ecumenism

          -Unity

          -Charismatic Renewal

      4. Structure of the thesis

Chapter I  From the Genesis to the End of Fountain Trust  

      1. A historical review of the British Charismatic Renewal

      2. The genesis of the Fountain Trust and its nature

      3. Its commitments and works

      4. Its three directors and their contributions

    -Michael Harper

    -Tom Smail

    -Michael Barling

      5. Its relations with other Christian groups

          -Anglicans

          -Other mainline churches

          -Pentecostals     

          -The Roman Catholics

      6 Its end

Chapter II  The Five International Conferences     

      1. Aims

          -General aims

          -Two periods

            --Michael Harper—Fellowship, manifestation of the Spirit

            --Tom Smail—Social concern, evangelization

     2. General activities

     3. Themes

     4. Feedbacks and results

         -Feedbacks from delegates

         -Impact to CR in Britain

         -Impact to CR in churches (Anglican, Roman Catholic, other mainline 

           churches)

         -Impact to overseas

         -Theological awareness

         -Social concern

Chapter III  The Scenes of Grassroots Ecumenism in the Five Conferences   

      1. Ecumenical attendance

-Speakers

-Participants

      2.  Ecumenical activities

           -Worship

           -Communion

      3.  Ecumenical cooperation

           -Fountain Trust and the Roman Catholic National Service Committee     

      4.  Ecumenical conversions

Chapter IV  An Analysis of the Grassroots Ecumenism in the Five Conferences

1. Unity in layman level

2. The role of worship

3. The role of experience
4. The role of the Spirit
5. The Christological elements
6.  A healing of historical wound: the relation with the RCs

Chapter V  The Relation of the Charismatic Renewal and the Grassroots

                    Ecumenism    

      1.  Renewal and unity

-To stake a claim: unity is not a by-product of the CR

-Does “the fey of the CR” extinguish the spark of unity?

      2.   A theology of the Body of Christ in the grassroots ecumenism

            -The Body of Christ in the grassroots (1): unity and diversity

            -The Body of Christ in the grassroots (2): kononia

            -The Body of Christ in the grassroots (3): visible unity

      3.  “That the world may know”: evangelism in the grassroots ecumenism

      4.  “The Church” or “churches”?: the blurring of Christian identity

Conclusion: The Ecumenical Future     

1. The World Council of Churches and the Charismatic Renewal
2. Grassroots and institutional ecumenism