Marking Time: Forming Spirituality through the Christian Year

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Mark i ng T ime : Formi ng Sp i r i tua l i t y through the Chr i s t i an Year

D. Level three: Specific church traditions : the founders of denominations and orders

1. Christians have expressed their faith in Jesus Christ in various ways through specific movements and traditions which embrace and express the Authoritative Tradition and the Great Tradition in unique ways.

2. Catholic movements have arisen around people like Benedict, Francis, or Dominic, and among Protestant people like Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, and John Wesley.

3. Note: Historically women have founded vital movements of the Christian faith (e.g., Aimee Semple McPherson of the Foursquare Church), as well as minorities (e.g., Richard Allen of the African Methodist Episcopal Church or Charles H. Mason of the Church of God in Christ, who also helped to spawn the Assemblies of God).

4. Regardless of the background of these founders, each tradition has sought to express its allegiance to the Authoritative Tradition and the Great Tradition in ways consistent with their time and situation.

5. Question: Were (and are) the founding of specific traditions the work of human beings or the work of the Holy Spirit?

a. View #1: Denominations are both ungodly and unnecessary.

b. View #2: Denominations are allowable but counterproductive.