Alpha: A Force to Be Reckoned With in the Catholic World?
I can't believe that I'm blogging at 7:52 am on a day that I'm due to travel. Usually my wake-up call on a travel day is at 2:45 am, I leave the house at 4:30 and take off about 6:00 am. I should be over the Dakotas by now. But the miracle of a 1pm direct flight changes everything. So I'm sipping a home made a "slim" Hazelnut latte and nibbling a home made wholewheat scone while I type. Such luxury!
Every once in a while, I like to check on the status of the spread of the Alpha course. Alpha is the nearly ubiquitous "low cringe factor" 10 week evangelization course that emerged out of charismatically oriented (and Toronto Blessing linked) Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Brompton (London) in 1992 and rapidly became a phenomenon.
How much of a phenomenon?
As of June, 2009, 13 million people had attended 42,530 Alpha courses in 163 countries. 2.5 million in the Uk alone. (To compare, it is helpful to know that about 8 million people have attended some form of Cursillo in the past 60 years. The only similar event that I am aware of that has outpaced Alpha would be the Life in the Spirit seminar which has had 60 million participants since the late 60's.)
1500 delegates from 100 countries attended the Alpha International Gathering in London in June.
25 of those delegates were Catholic bishops and archbishops. Because there is a whole track called "Alpha in a Catholic context." And there are now national Alpha offices all over the Catholic world: Belgium, Austria, France, East Timor, the Philippines, Spain, Poland, and Latin America. The Ireland office just opened in March, 2009.
The Alpha movement, as a whole, is so big that it is developing into an international network that contains some of the characteristics that we traditionally associate with a denomination. In parts of the Catholic world, Alpha functions much like a movement.
The spread of the Alpha course among Catholics in France is especially impressive. Sponsored by the French bishops, there are about 450 courses running in the country. 6,000 priests and lay leaders have been trained to run the course. I've seen stats that say that 1/5 of the parishes in Paris are using the Alpha course to evangelize their own and their neighbors. In French Catholicism, Alpha is a true force to be reckoned with.
Are there problems with Alpha's theology and ecclesiology? Sure. I outlined a number of them in this Siena Scribe article "When Evangelical is Not Enough" some years ago.
Is Alpha effective as an evangelizing tool? The answer seems to be unequivocally yes" - with the accompanying caveat that it is simultaneously a formation in "basic" Christianity and therefore, the basic proclamation of Christ is "framed" in an understanding of salvation and the Church that is seriously defective from a Catholic point of view.
So why are Catholics embracing it? Because they know that the overwhelming majority of our people - active or not - have never been evangelized, that the initial proclamation of Christ and challenge to follow him has not taken place.
We don't seem to know how to do that ourselves and Alpha works. (And in my experience, overwhelmed pastors just love stuff that works.) And Alpha comes in an attractive, well tested plug and play package. And has a formidable global marketing arm behind it. (FYI, a very effective and truly Catholic equivalent of Alpha is in the final stages of development in the diocese of Corpus Christi.)
And my point is?
Simply that there are significant forces at work in the Church that we aren't discussing or even aware of around St. Blog's. Beyond our tight culture war categories of "traditionalist" "neo-con", "liberal" and whatever. Like the Alpha course. Which is being held right now in thousands of Catholic parishes around the world with the support of their local bishops.
Because they are offering something that we find so difficult to do for our own. Proclaim Christ and invite people to intentional discipleship.
If we don't evangelize our own, someone else will do it for us. Sometimes in our own parish halls.
posted by Sherry W @ 7:52 AM
16 Comments
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16 Comments:
We've participated in Alpha, Cursillo, and Life in the Spirit, and have been inriched by all.
One thing that stuck with me from Alpha was the explanation of the temperal punishment due to sin; "He paid your debt, but he didn't do your time."
I was responsible for Adult Education in a Catholic Church and had a request to bring this (Alpha) to our parish. After a bit of investigation I thought that our RCIA process offered significantly more content and authentic Church teaching than Alpha. At the end of the day I felt most people wanted a social environment in which they could learn the Faith and not commit to a 9 month journey in RCIA.
I've done them all. First Life in the Spirit, then Cursillo, then Alpha, and presently my parish, along with the whole Archdiocese of Boston, is doing Arise Together in Christ, which is devised by Renew International. I've noticed that whatever touched you first, is what you think is best. For me it was Life in the Spirit. For most of my friends it was Cursillo. Some say Alpha. What I also noticed is that they're all intro courses. Whatever works.
As the head of evangelization at my parish, I have been interested in Alpha for some time. In fact, there is a local charismatic Catholic community that holds Alpha courses nearby my parish.
I really like a lot of about Alpha, but I'm uncomfortable with it as the Catholic answer to evangelization. It appears to me the Catholic version simply tacks on some Catholic beliefs and practices to the underlying Alpha structure, but I think that is a faulty way to look at it.
For example, how are the sacraments handled in Alpha? Are they seen as fundamental to our faith, or just something "extra" that Catholics do? When you speak of the death of Christ, I don't see how you can't include how we participate in that death (and subsequent resurrection) - through Baptism and the Eucharist. Likewise, when you talk about the power of the Holy Spirit, I don't see how you can do that without bringing in confirmation.
Again, I do think Alpha has many benefits, but I would love to see a similar program that is Catholic from the "ground up".
Whoa. Alpha, is "the anointed
instrument"? Riiight-riiiight.
No further information on "Alpha"
necessary, thank-you.
ALL, for The Greater Glory of GOD!
http://www.all4webs.com/x/w/all4yahweh
I've had an interest in Alpha for use in parish (on staff there) and have purchased the "package" but not gone all the way with it. I used 4-5 of the short version videos in my adult confirmation class last year that were well rec'd, using them as an initial proclamation of the evidence for Christ. I had the best result with that class of the past 5 years.
My chief reservation of ALpha comes from Sherry's concerns - I haven't reviewed it thoroughly again with her perspectives in mind - HOWEVER- my impression is that as a starting place it is an effective tool - and at least in the first several videos, there is no ecclesiology - just examination of the basic kerygma. I am anxiously awaiting the diocese of CC's work to be complete OR the Christlife organization in Baltimore to make their Catholic pilot available. I'd be more comfortable using a specifically CAtholic resource - but right now no one does this better than Nicky Gumbel (who by the way last year attended a Vatican conference on what movements can offer the church - small, by invitation only - Nicky has the attention of someone at the COuncil of the Laity)
Katie DAwson
Please steer clear away from this Alpha group, even if unfortunately some Catholics (including priests and bishops) promote it. It perverts Catholicism and confuses Catholics, who are not strongly rooted in their faith (many times through no fault of their own). It is in no way consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church. It is a very deceitful and potentially dangerous group to explore. Why? Click on the link below.
As for "Cursillos de Cristianidad". It is one of these ill-advised “renewal” ministries and one to stay away from as well. It basically consists of false ecumenism and modernism. It is an inter-faith gathering between Catholics and some of the approximate 35,000 protestant denominations out there. A Catholic must always keep in mind that while “reaching out” to other denominations is important, in an effort to point them to the right path toward their Eternal Salvation, our Lord calls us to “convert” - never to compromise. A Catholic should only be concerned with offending our Lord Jesus Christ, no one else.
Alpha group link: http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=4310
Haven't any direct experience with Alpha, but I used to be part of a Charismatic Protestant environment where it was much revered. The church I attended held the courses, but I don't really know about its long-term effects.
I visited Holy Trinity Brompton some time ago, just after I had decided to convert. It was quite appalling: Mr. Gumbel in shirt and trousers leading the congregation in modern P&W songs that - literally! - went on for hours on end, and 'Holy Communion' distributed by passing along the paten from congregant to congregant. Evidently there was no sense in the least of sacramental life or true awe in front of the Almighty; all about 'bonding' with God.
Thankfully, I only came in at the end of the service; I had assisted at the Latin OF Mass at the Brompton Oratory just next door, complete with Gregorian propers and polyphonic ordinary (which I actually at the time found a tad stuffy, but I've changed my mind since). Incidentally, I noticed that the Oratorians also offered Alpha courses. Go figure!
I think the jury is still very much out on Alpha. For helping people to relate to God and commit to faith in Him, it seems a good tool. But if it is not grounded in a solid Catholic understanding of Truth and of the sacramental life, the relationship will tend to be confused. I've seen this so much in my evangelical friends: they love Christ dearly and are such kind-hearted people, but they are also very theologically and often spiritually and emotionally confused - and have great trouble accepting that the purpose of worshipping God is not to make themselves feel good.
Interesting article.
Yet, as someone very, very close
to explained: I didn't leave the Catholic Church. It, left me.
My plane is delayed for 3 hours (I do wish they could have told me before I made the march to the airport.)
So I have the chance to respond to your very interesting points.
First of all, it is interesting how many Catholics in this country and out are aware of Alpha, involved with Alpha, etc. I hope that we'll get a better idea as people comment. So if you are considering Alpha or have some direct experience with it, please share your experience and conclusions with the rest of us.
Eric:
Alpha refers to two sacraments: baptism and communion. Since this is intentionally an ecumenical venture, it makes sense but hardly covers the Catholic waterfront. And as I pointed out in my "When Evangelicalism Is Not Enough" article (linked in the post), one could easily come away with the idea that baptism did not make you a Christian and that your experience of conversion did.
Anon: I too had a chance to speak to a very prominent leader in the British charismatic movement in LA on Labor Day weekend about
Alpha. (Not Michelle Moran). One of the things that I have experience with some Catholic Alpha enthusiasts in the US is the idea that Alpha is "the anointed instrument". Some people do react if you critique Alpha at all as though you were raising your hand to the Lord's anointed, This UK leader had experienced the same thing.
What I do think we are seeing is the rapid "evangelicalization" of British mainline Protestantism, including Anglicanism through the impact of Alpha. The broad church folks are leaving in droves and many of the Anglo-Catholics are either becoming Catholic or hivving off into separate groups. A charismatically hued evangelicalism is becoming the primary Anglican party. The only group standing its ground and engaged in significant mission outward.
Tom: Catechesis is great - but we do need to attend to the issue of people's lived relationship with God as well as their knowledge of doctrine. That's the vacuum that Alpha is filling and it must be filled somehow. Filling it with really effective and fully Catholic approaches to initial proclamation and evangelization would be the ideal..
That's why we have spent so much time on our Making Disciples seminar.
I'm a Spanish catholic journalist. I met Michelle Moran, current international head of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Holy Brompton, London Alpha center, three years ago, and she told me that the English CCR is currently doing more Alpha courses than Life in the Spirit Seminars. LitS were designed from Cursillo in the 70's, when most people were churched but without "fire". Alpha is beter for our times of unchurched and even unbaptized people.
In Spain, the typical Alpha week-end includes a mass, confession, etc... to many people is his first mass and confession in many years. People are encouraged to go to confession before asking for the Spirit.
Anyway, in Spain the Alpha courses are being promoted by charismatic catholics, but the CCR as a whole does not use it... and I think this is a mistake. Alpha has a very low risk of "protestantism" in a Catholic context, and a great use as evangelization tool.
I did an Alpha course through a Catholic Parish about ten years ago. Most attendees were as far as I could ascertain, practising Catholics. The broad thrust that struck me was that for folk looking to learn about Christianity, they were coming away with what they already surmised: a) they had a spiritual side and b) Jesus was a great teacher - probably the greatest. But I didn't gain the sense from it that Jesus was "The Word", the Word made flesh who gave us Himself and expected us to do the same to those we meet. Alpha falls short (IMHO) of hitting us with the Eucharistic Jesus. To my way of thinking it isn't tough enough - it's not designed to eject folks out of their "easy chairs". By rights it should make us feel that given the choice we would choose to read 30 minutes from the New Testament ahead of sitting down to watch the TV News.
Stephen Sparrow
I am presently going through RCIA after being a Protestant for 31 years. My background was mainly in Pentecostal and charismatic churches. I have learned much about the Catholic church that I love in the past six months, but I know I have much more to learn. I find this clash between traditionalist and neo-orthodox quite interesting.
I will have to approach any charismatic element with humility because for years I was immersed in it and it is a major reason I ceased going to church for several years before coming to Catholicism. My experience with charismatic Christianity is that it is a shallow and error ridden movement that recoiled against any real thoughtfulness. I know that is a broad statement, and I did know exceptions. But I could not survive in it as a movement and I cannot tell you how glad I am to be free of it.
Basically I'd like to get a rest from knee-jerk reactions of every type, emotionalism or deadness and a universe that can't be imagined except as existing between book ends called liberal and conservative.
I was the faculty sponsor for the Newman Center at a small university in Texas a few years ago. Someone (I forget who) thought it would be a good idea to start a Bible study group, so at my own expense I bought about a half dozen copies of Steve Ray's St. John's Gospel: A Bible Study Guide and Commentary for Individuals and Groups. Like Ray, I am a convert from the Evangelicals, and I believe that his study guide was just what the doctor ordered. Unfortunately, a different priest was assigned to the parish, and as I recall he basically prevented this from developing. He also discouraged the established habit of the group to say the rosary at the end of each meeting, claiming to prefer the Liturgy of the Hours -- but all he did was to destroy one pious custom without replacing it with another. It wasn't long before I left the Newman Club and switched to a different parish.
I guess my point is that the problem may be less with the absence of good Catholic materials and more with pastors (and, yes, bishops) who are essentially Protestant in their real beliefs.
FOllow up to my previous mention of Christlife in Baltimore - the pilot program they have been developing - Discovering Christ - which is a specifically CAtholic evangelization program - is now complete and they are offering a training conference in November.
website - christlife.org
Katie Dawson
Another perspective from someone with no direct experience of the course itself -- although it has run in our big suburban parish for years, its not my cup of tea and nor my Mennonite husband's either -- but with a critical take on the big-budget ad campaign currently running in our diocese:
http://danforthchurch.ca/images/alpha_mountain.jpg
Last night I was in traffic behind the rear end of a city bus that had the 10ft square Alpha ad (no mention of what "alpha" is, no Christian context, no church name. Me? I thought - 'sect' like in 'scientology'), and then along side on the left flank the 20 ft long ad for new CW TV series for (mature audiences?), Vampire Diaries
http://socialitelife.celebuzz.com/bfm_gallery/2009/07/promotional_photos_from_the_vampire_diaries/gallery_main/gallery_main-vampire-diaries-promos-07272009-04.jpg
driving through a neighborhood that has billboard ads for Showtime's latest series of the show, Dexter, with frightful connotations of a baby in dire danger:
http://ww2.cox.com/wcm/en/myconnection/image/watch/showtime/showtime-dexter-showcase.jpg
I'm not so sure that the material is up to the challenge of the state of affairs in the culture! Pray for the unchurched, they need warriors not 'church ladies who send picture postcards of mountains' or 'jesus-is-my-boyfriend lonely hearts who use i-phones'!
Apologies for the sarcasm... but I teach the kids in CCD of the adults you're trying to reach, and they're growing up in this culture, stewing in it neck-deep, and its not pretty - its not about "more?" but rather
"Kaputt -- so what, Who gives a damn?"
...libera nos a malo.
Amen.
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