Church Organizations Research Articles

Differences in perspectives on the Christian revolution of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom in China

In terms of civilian casualties directly and indirectly caused by the war, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Movement was the largest war in world history in the second half of the nineteenth century and had a strong East Asian Christian background. This article adopts the ‘historical contextualism’ approach of the Cambridge School in the history of political thought, and through a comparison of the relevant views of Karl Marx, Max Weber and Kang Youwei, it reveals that this intentional omission comes from a specific combination of modernisation routes and modernisation political construction choices. In contemporary China, the study of Christian theory and the practice of church organisation still need to answer the question of the general public as to whether Christianity can bring about a better life, both materially and spiritually.Contribution: This article pointed out that three contemporaries, Marx, Weber and Kang, all evaluated the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Movement as a revolution of Christianity in China from the standpoint of ‘China’s need for modernisation’, but differed in their evaluation of the position and role of the religious reform factor in the process of modernisation in China. However, they differed in their assessment of the position and role of the Reformation factor in the process of modernisation in China. The article reveals that for Protestant Christianity in contemporary China, it is still necessary to carefully handle its relationship with the government and to satisfy the people’s real needs for a modernised material and spiritual life. Meanwhile, it sheds light on the issue of ‘heterocultural adaptability’ brought about by the expansion and spread of Protestant Christianity in East Asia, as well as on the question of whether Protestantism and Confucianism in the process of modern conversion can achieve peaceful coexistence.

Reimagining Mission in and from Africa: A contextual analysis of OM Mission Approach in Southern Africa

The activities of mainline Western missionaries in Africa have been discussed by scholars from various perspectives, but much attention has not been given to mission organizations that are not affiliated with any denomination. This article therefore focuses on the work and mission approach of Operation Mobilisation (OM) in Africa. The article is based on empirical data gathered through interviews with twelve OM country leaders in Southern Africa (Angola, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe). The key aim of the interviews was to establish from the OM leaders serving in the Southern African countries their self-understanding of the local context and the contextual implications for OM's work in and from the continent. It was to also establish some opportunities and challenges for missions for the African church and Western Established Mission Organizations WEMOs. The article argues for contextual consideration of OM’s mission agenda, missionary training, and discipleship approach in Africa.

A. A. Smirnov and the Christian point in Old Irish narrative tradition: a case of "nativism" in Early Russian Celtic Studies?

The article is devoted to the concepts contributed by Alexander Smirnov about the Irish Church and the role of Christian culture to the Old Irish narrative tradition in general. Archival records shows that so-called "Christian element" was entirely accepted by him and was emphasized in an initially neutral formula; later, however, passages about the ‘undoubted Christian influence’ related to some motifs were replaced by such markers as "late interpolations" or "artificial insertions". The turn from a comprehensive approach to an intensive search for the archaic "Celtic basis" has affected all aspects of Smirnov’s discourse: from the interpretation of particular motifs to the characteristics of Christianization and Irish Church organization in general. Due to these observations, we suppose to depict such Smirnov’s conceptions as the truly ‘nativist’ position.The author gives special gratitude to the National Library of Russia, the Institute of Russian Literature (Pushkin House) of the Russian Academy of Sciences for an opportunity to work and consult with their founds and record series.

Training, attitudes, segregation of duties and internal control of church finances: an empirical study in Indonesia

Church organizations are non-profit organizations operating in the religious sector. Church financial management requires good and adequate internal control to protect and secure church assets from fraud, damage, and waste due to ineffective use of assets. Sacralization is a factor that gives rise to blind trust in financial managers and spiritual leaders in the church. This study aims to analyze the influence of trained accounting personnel, attitudes toward the importance of internal control, and separation of duties on the level of internal control of church finances. The sample used was 115 pastors at the HKBP Church in Jakarta, Indonesia. Data were obtained by distributing questionnaires to pastors as respondents. The analysis technique is carried out using multiple regression. The results of this study show that trained accounting personnel, attitudes about the importance of internal control implementation, and the existence of separation of duties in church organizations have a significant effect on the level of internal control of church finances. The results of the study strengthen support for the implementation of effective church financial internal control, which requires increasing the competency of accounting staff through accounting training, the attitude of organizational members to support the implementation of the church’s financial internal control system to make it more accountable, and the existence of a clear separation of duties within the organization to avoid fraud.

Study Theological Approach on Abortion Actions based on Psalm 139:13 and the Responsibility of Today’s Church Leaders

The church is a community united by the Lord Jesus Christ, empowered to be witnesses, agents, and examples. However, reality shows that the church often tends to be closed off and does not consistently practice God's love and justice, whether towards its congregation, among church organizations, or towards the surrounding environment, particularly concerning the issue of abortion among teenagers and young people. This study aims to analyse abortion in light of Psalm 139:13 and outline contemporary church leaders' responsibilities. The methodology employed is qualitative, using a literature-based approach (library research) grounded in hermeneutical study. Hermeneutics universally refers to the theoretical and methodological process of understanding the meanings of signs and symbols used in verbal or non-verbal communication. The approach used is the grammatical-historical study approach. The results of this research indicate that abortion of unwanted foetuses is inconsistent with biblical teachings; therefore, contemporary church leaders have a responsibility to nurture the morality of youth to help them avoid engaging in premarital sex, which could lead to abortion.

The Problem of Denominational Identity of Churches in Modern Protestantism

This article examines the history of denominationalism – the division of Protestantism into a multitude of independent religious associations, freely competing with each other. This approach to typologising religious associations, initially adopted for Protestant communities within the United States, has become a global phenomenon. Since the early 1980s, there has been a vigorous debate in the sociology of religion about the contemporary meaning of denominations. There is a growing number of independent churches that do not wish to be associated with any of the Protestant denominations; megachurches are leaving denominations or trying not to emphasise their affiliation with any particular denomination; some megachurches and church organisations are growing into a transdenominational evangelical movement with worldwide influence. The article is based on an analysis of the work of sociologists of religion on the issue of denominationalism in Protestant organizations, ranging from Richard Niebuhr to researchers drawing on contemporary statistical data. The existing congregations that emphasize their denominational identity, none of them exist in a denominational isolated cocoon any more – worship practices and music, missional objectives and educational resources can be adopted from other non-denominational churches and trans-denominational evangelical movements. The very concepts of megachurch, independent church, and evangelical movement can be viewed as separate denominations. Using these terms, members of a congregation identify themselves as holding certain beliefs and engaging in certain practices in common with others around the world. The trend toward the emergence of independent churches is part of the new course of Protestantism – post-denominational Protestantism.

Strategi Efektif Dalam Manajemen Gereja Untuk Membangun Penatalayanan Yang Berdaya Dan Berdampak Bagi Pemuda Kristen

The author discusses effective church management in order to build stewardship to create empowered and impactful Christian youth. The author also classifies contributing elements, analyzes preventing elements, and discusses ways to get past barriers to effective strategies in the church management. Author also describes the progress and innovation made by the Church as a result of its management of youth. This research uses a literature study methodology, which looks at how the church handles stewardship for youth. The findings suggest that direction and guidance, creating a supportive and inclusive environment, and integrating community outreach and service plans are all necessary components for an effective strategy. This method has encouraged and engaged youth, resulting in increased participation and positive outcomes in each youth's faith and personal development. And also shows that management can be responsible for human and financial resources, and that good data administration and an effective ministry group notably influence the congregation's expansion, and this is a method of stewardship. With any luck, this writing can offer wider advantages as well provide appreciation for leaders of the church organizations, ministers, elders, deacons, teachers and all congregation members regarding effective church management to build empowered and impactful stewardship for Christian youth.

His Holiness Patriarch Sergius, Metropolitan Gregory and the Theological Schools of the Moscow Patriarchy from 1944 to 2024

The article commemorates two significant events marking the 80th anniversary of the Russian Orthodox Church in 2024: the passing of His Holiness Patriarch Sergius and the establishment of the first theological schools in Moscow during the Soviet era. The question of establishing theological schools was raised by Patriarch Sergius following the Council of Bishops in 1943 and his subsequent election as patriarch. These schools were inaugurated just a month after his passing. It’s emphasized that the swift preparation for the opening of the Theological Institute and Theological and Pastoral courses was facilitated by the quarter-century journey of the patriarch’s long-time faithful colleague, Archpriest Nikolay Chukov (Archbishop Gregory of Saratov and Stalingrad), who authored the project for spiritual educational institutions of the Moscow Patriarchate. He had substantial experience in establishing and overseeing higher theological institutions in Petrograd-Leningrad from 1920 to 1925. For the first time, a diary detailing the activities of Archpriest Nikolay Chukov is published in the appendix. His endeavors, undertaken with the support of Metropolitan Sergius and the Synod from 1928 to 1930, aimed to establish a Theological Institute in Leningrad. Unfortunately, his plans were thwarted by his arrest in 1930. The entries in the published diary confirm Olga Vasilyeva’s assertion that Metropolitan Sergius’ interview, which sparked widespread protests due to its denial of Church persecution in the USSR, was a quid pro quo for allowing him to submit a memo to Pyotr Smidovich. One of the memo’s points emphasized the necessity of opening a theological school. This memo played a pivotal role in obtaining permission, which, in turn, significantly hastened the process of opening theological schools in Moscow in 1943–1944. The article concludes with excerpts from books and articles by a professor from the Department of Church History at Saint Petersburg Theological Academy. This academic offers a negative and ironic assessment of both the ascetic work of Metropolitan Gregory of Leningrad and Novgorod, and the martyrdom of Patriarch Sergius, who endured humiliation primarily to preserve a legalized church organization, which was essential for the establishment of theological schools within the Patriarchate. This aspect became particularly significant when considering the pivotal choice by the authorities between the patriarchal Church and the Renovationists in 1943.

Longing for Humanity: The Process of Leaving a Context of Perceived Spiritual Abuse

This study provides an account of leaving a context of perceived spiritual abuse within some Pentecostal fellowships in Norway. We discuss how our 16 informants discovered the need for change and sought support to navigate challenging departure processes characterized by emotional strain. Three empirical themes emerged: (1) God’s will, as conveyed by leaders, evoked shame, (2) there were various sources of help in leaving a context of perceived spiritual abuse, and (3) the acknowledgment of vulnerability provided space for new images of God. Throughout the leaving process, many informants underwent a profound shift in their perceptions of God, marked by a heightened awareness of their vulnerability. This transformation encompassed a deep-seated desire to embrace their humanity and to accept the relevance of their thoughts and feelings. Acknowledging their own vulnerability allowed them to have more humanized images of God. Our analysis employs Kenneth Pargament’s notion of orienting systems and his theory of religious coping to elucidate how their images of God changed. The process led to a perceived sense of freedom from spiritual abuse. We understand the informants’ experiences of leaving the church and affiliated organizations as instances of deconversion through what empirically emerged as “deprogramming” processes in our material. Deprogramming involves disentangling individuals from what they perceived was conveyed and thus “programmed” by spiritual leaders. Deprogramming processes emerged as a new exploration of images of God, shame, power, and human vulnerability.

Rosyjska dezinformacja jako element budowania wpływów w Europie: analiza i perspektywy

Zbrojna napaść Rosji na Ukrainę spotkała się ze zdecydowaną reakcją Zachodu. Jednak w przypadku kilku państw była ona spóźniona, co mogło świadczyć o istnieniu w nich rosyjskich wpływów. Celem badań była analiza możliwości oddziaływania przez Rosję na procesy decyzyjne w państwach zachodnich oraz wpływu takich oddziaływań na bezpieczeństwo Zachodu. Wyniki pokazały, że Rosja dysponuje wieloma narzędziami wpływu politycznego, do których można zaliczyć dyplomację, komunikację polityczną, rosyjską diasporę, Rosyjską Cerkiew Prawosławną oraz sympatyzujące z Rosją organizacje i ugrupowania społeczne i polityczne. Zostało również ukazane, że w celu wywierania wpływu Rosja wykorzystuje cały aparat państwowy, co stanowi zagrożenie dla szeroko rozumianego bezpieczeństwa państw Europy Zachodniej. Wnioski płynące z badań wskazują też na to, że Zachód może stać się ofiarą własnej tolerancji i poprawności politycznej, zwłaszcza w przypadkach kryzysów celowo wywoływanych przez Rosję.

Деятельность судовых священников по организации библиотек на кораблях Российского императорского флота на рубеже XIX-XX вв.

The activity of the navy chaplains outside the framework of worship is still a little-studied aspect of the service of the Orthodox clergy in the navy. This article attempts, based on the analysis of various written sources, to reconstruct the activities of representatives of the naval clergy in organizing libraries on the ships of the Russian Imperial Navy in the late 19th - early 20th centuries. This is one of the least studied areas of ministry of navy chaplains. The authors, relying on personal sources, office materials and periodicals, analyze the existing practice in the fleet of creating and completing ship libraries, their types and features of functioning, and also determine the role of navy chaplains in these processes. It is important to note that many sources are introduced into scientific circulation for the first time. The authors came to the conclusion that, despite the frequent lack of initiative on the part of the officers or even with a certain opposition, the navy chaplains were directly related to the organization of both church and sailor's libraries. Some clerics acted quite effectively in this field, but they could not significantly change the general situation that had developed with librarianship on the ships of the Russian Imperial Navy.

Этноконфессиональные аспекты существования церковной кафедры Таматархи Зихийской в XI в.

The article attempts to examine the history of the Zich Archbishopric of Tamatarcha in the XI century in the con-text of ethno-confessional relations that developed between the autochthonous population and Russian settlers who arrived on the Taman Peninsula due to the formation of the principality of Tmutarakan, ruled by Russian dukes. The major scientific problem, which gave rise to a number of contradictory hypotheses and assumptions in modern science, is the question of the jurisdictional affiliation of the church organization of Tamatarcha in the so-called “Russian period” in the XI century. For the purposes of the study, the main facts of the Russian ethnic presence in Taman in the XI century are considered: the peculiarities of the exercise of princely power; relations with the autochthonous population and neighboring tribes of the northwestern Caucasus; relations between the Russian princes and the church community of Tamatarcha, for which in 1022 Prince Mstislav Vla-dimirovich built a votive church of the Mother of God. Particular attention is paid in the work to the Russian church hierarchy in Tmutarakan, among which the personalities of the Monk Nikon of Pechersk and Bishop Nicholas of Tmutarakan, who was the ruling bishop of the Zich diocese during a certain period, are singled out. The ecclesiastical administration of the Tamatarch diocese in the 2nd half of the XI century is studied in the context of the state-confessional policy of the “triumvirate of the Yaroslavichs” – the leading political group of Old Russian dukes in this period.

The Role of the Church in Low-Income Housing in Namibia

The paper examines the church's role in Namibia's low-income housing process. The study followed the qualitative method; data were drawn from journals, books, newspapers, and other relevant material. The article argues that the church in Namibia plays a positive role in low-income housing and promotes Sustainable Development Goals. The findings reveal that the church established a foundation for the current Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia, an umbrella body of savings groups that address housing issues for low-income groups. The church plays a significant role by building houses for the poor, donating materials, and helping low-income communities alleviate poverty. The study supports participatory planning efforts in housing, highlighting that the church and faith-based organizations have a place in promoting Sustainable Development Goals, particularly goals 1, 2, and 11. It augments literature in religious studies, the built environment, and sustainable urban development by investigating the church's role in housing provision. In contrast, most studies focus on the church’s involvement in politics, culture, and socio-economic development. The study will benefit stakeholders who want to contribute towards goal 11 (Sustainable cities and communities). Additionally, the contribution will grow as the research serves as a novel contemporary reference for future studies in the same field.

Church rules: How churches and individuals recreate and challenge compulsory Christianity in the Deep South

Conservative Christian spaces in the deep south promote compulsory Christianity, the belief that there is only one way to be Christian and individuals cannot be both Christian and LGBTQIA+. These contexts continue to remain hostile and intolerant for LGBTQIA + Christians. To understand, and thereby challenge and change the problems LGBTQIA + Christians in the deep south face, we interviewed 25 (23 white, 2 Black) individuals who identified as LGBTQIA + Christians, about their experiences in and with churches and the organizations influenced by churches. We analyzed their responses using an integrative theoretical perspective that examines the interplay of micro (individual), meso (organizational), and macro (culture) levels. Our findings demonstrate how the meso organizational level serves as a conduit between larger, often ephemeral cultural beliefs in religious doctrine to individuals and how LGBTQIA + Christian reconcile their Christian and LGBTQIA + identities, navigate church rules, policies, and practices, as well as challenge compulsory Christianity. Our findings demonstrate the weaknesses in anti-LGBTQIA + rhetoric in church organizations, the potential mechanisms for resistance and change, as well as how to challenge the stronghold of compulsory Christianity in the Christian deep south.

Community Poultry Farmer Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Contributing to Antimicrobial Resistance in High Density Areas of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Background: Antimicrobial use in poultry poses a risk of resistance and transmission thereof to human populations, and poses a global public health risk. No previous studies considered Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of community (backyard) poultry farmers in dense settlement areas in Zimbabwe Methods: We used self-administered questionnaires to assess knowledge, attitude and practice items in addition to general and demographic variables. We describe our findings and evaluate associations with practices. Results: Fifty-six participants completed questionnaires. A range of practices (good and bad) was reported. Practices with risk for antimicrobial resistance developing were associated with males, having previously experienced an incident of high mortality among the poultry, and if knowledge and attitude scores were low. Individuals trained by church organisations and practicing chicken farming as their only occupation was associated with good practices. Poor knowledge scores were predictive of poor practices in the study. The study also found that individuals who do chicken farming as their only occupation were more likely to adhere to international regulations than those who did it as a part time occupation. Factors associated with good practices were those that were trained by church organisations. Despite its limitations such as measurement bias, the study highlighted gaps in the one health concept which might reduce antimicrobial resistance in both clinical and community settings

II wojna światowa jako przyczyna zmian w podziale administracyjnym Kościoła katolickiego. Przykład diecezji Görlitz

War is a huge political change, which, in addition to its social, political, or economic effects, also has other effects. One of these may be the impact on churches and religious associations, especially on their organizational and administrative structures. An excellent example confirming this thesis is World War II, after which the organization of the Catholic Church in Europe was transformed and the Holy See revised the boundaries of archdioceses and dioceses in various countries for almost 50 years. In this article, the author addressed the specific case of the creation of the Diocese of Görlitz, which is the smallest diocese in modern Germany. Through his analysis he showed that the war has a huge impact on the functioning and efficient management in the Catholic Church and causes legal and interpretative difficulties in its administrative division and consequently, the division of competencies, while requiring delicacy, since strictly religious documents can be perceived in an explicitly political way.

리더-구성원 교환 관계(LMX)와 상호작용 공정성이 조직몰입과 조직충성도에 미치는 영향력에 대한 고찰: 교회조직을 중심으로

The purpose of the study is to propose an exploratory research model for identifying the factors influential to Christian church members’ organizational commitment and organizational loyalty. Church members have different characteristics and purposes when they join a church in a sense that they pursue not economic benefits but psychological, emotional, and ultimately spiritual values, which cannot be fulfilled by generous or common leadership. Proposing an alternative leadership model, I focused on the LMX, or Leader Member Exchange theory and the moderating effects of Interaction Justice which will positively affect organizational commitment and loyalty by church members. In consideration of the nature of church organizations, LMX and Interaction Justice are appropriate choices as independent variables, since these are addressing mental sides of leadership rather than physical ones. Hopefully, this study will be helpful for succeeding empirical studies which will contribute to enhance church leaders’ effective leadership.

Wolontariat na obszarze globalnego Południa. Organizacje i obszar ich działalności

The work of organizations engaged in social activities is an example of a solidarity-based response to some of the vital problems of the modern world. Polish entities involved in such activities include non-governmental organizations (mainly foundations and associations) and church organizations. The area of work for some of them is the so-called global South. The article aims to indicate which entities offer participation in volunteering in the global South and to identify those that engage in volunteering dedicated to educational activities. The achievement of this goal will e.g. enable more detailed research on the activities of various entities in the global South. This article presents theoretical considerations related to attempts to divide the world into the global North and global South, as well as the types of Polish entities undertaking broadly defined social activities. It also presents a list of entities that offer Poles to participate in volunteering in the global South with an indication of the thematic areas of volunteer activities.

Судьба григорианского архиерея: митрополит Виссарион (Зорнин) (по материалам архивноследственного дела)

One of the structures into which the Russian Orthodox Church split up in the 1920s was the Provisional Supreme Church Council, nowadays commonly referred to as the Gregorian Schism, which is equated with Renovationism. In our opinion, such an approach is not entirely objective, and the VVC can rather be attributed to the right-wing opposition to Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky), along with the Josephites, "true OrthodoX Christians" and "non-remembering". Founded in 1925, this movement existed for about 12 years and in 1937 was defeated by the state security agencies, which was accompanied by the physical destruction of the vast majority of its figures. The pretext for this was a case fabricated by the chekists about the so-called "All-Union Anti-Soviet Church Organization", allegedly headed by the head of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky), the head of the Renovationist Church, Metropolitan Vitaly (Vvedensky) and the chairman of the Supreme Church Council, Metropolitan Vissarion (Zornin). At the same time, the first two of the listed figures were not subjected to repression — presumably due to the fact that the chekists had other plans for them. The VCU was significantly inferior to them in terms of the number of supporters, and, obviously, the "authorities" recognized that its further use in the internal church struggle was inappropriate. For the entire period of the existence of the VVCC/VCC, it was headed by only two people: Metropolitans Grigory (Yatsovsky) (1925–1932) and Vissarion (Zornin) (1934–1937), and the second of them is relatively little known. Interesting information about him is contained in the investigative case of 1937, now located in the Central Archive of the FSB of Russia, the materials of which have not been published anywhere until now. This work, in particular, contains the full text of a very voluminous protocol of the bishop's interrogation from this case, dated October 20, 1937. Metropolitan Vissarion (Zornin) was shot on November 25, 1937, on the basis of a resolution of the Troika of the NKVD in the Moscow region. To date, his life and work should be recognized as worthy of further study by historians.

Adaptivity of Church Leadership: A Case of Two Pentecostal Churches in Mwinilunga District of Zambia

Transition in churches has propelled the atmosphere of conflicts which exerts pressure on leadership for years now. This brings about a ball in the court of leaders; each leader catches new dimensions and revelation as the world is dynamic. Christianity as a religion is sub-divide into branches, then into denominations (or schools) and finally congregations; this reflects the multiple ways in which religious ideas and experiences get played out by society with different understandings, temperaments, cultural, historical and personal histories. Adaptive challenges are typically grounded in the complexity of values, beliefs, and loyalties rather than technical complexity and stir up intense emotions rather than dispassionate analysis. Hence, this proves to be impossible for authorities to solve an adaptive challenge by issuing a directive or bringing together a group of experts, because the solutions to adaptive problems lie in the new attitudes, competencies, and coordination of the people with the problem itself. The purpose of this study was to investigate the causes of adaptive challenge in church Leadership in religious transition in Mwinilunga churches. The objectives were to assess the resilience of church leaders and their capacity to engage in problem-solving in the midst of adaptive pressures; to determine the gap between espoused values and behaviour in church leadership during religious transition. A descriptive survey method was employed in which a structured interview guides and questionnaires were used to collect data from a sample of 50 respondents. The respondents consisted of 10 Pastors, 10 Church Elders, 10 Deacons, and 20 church members. The findings revealed that leaders lacked resilience and capacity to engage in problem- solving in the midst of adaptive pressures that they faced during the transition – constitution amendment. The relationship between the espoused values and behaviour in church leadership during religious transition was parallel – there existed a wide gap. The study also revealed that leaders did not share the burden of keeping work at the centre of the people’s attention and lacked critical qualities. Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations were made; Leaders need to develop policies and critical qualities to effectively govern their ministries and organisation to reduce on ignorance and as well prevent try and error in leadership. Church organisation or ministries should embrace strategic planning in the running of religious activities. During adaptive challenges leaders should depend on God who manifests his glory through the instrumentality of wisdom and be exemplary and play a vital role as the salt and the light of the world.