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Assessing the Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa in the Light of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church

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Assessing the Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa in the Light of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church From Vision to Structure From vision to structure: Assessing the Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa in the light of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church. Daniël Nicolaas Andrew A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of doctor theologia in the faculty of arts, University of the Western Cape. Supervisor: Professor D.J. Smit November 2005 i From Vision to Structure KEYWORDS 1. Vision 2. Structure 3. One 4. Holy 5. Catholic 6. Apostolic 7. Experience 8. Tradition 9. Models 10. Dialogical ii From Vision to Structure ABSTRACT The intention of the AFMSA to revision its policies, processes and structures is the motivation for this study. The relationship between the vision and essential nature of the church and the structure or form given to it is central to all the chapters. The first chapter gives an analysis of the origins of the Pentecostal Movement and the AFMSA in order to reveal their original vision of the church and the way in which this vision became structured in their history. After a section on the importance of a clear vision and strategic structures for organizations today, the biblical metaphors that served as a foundation for the early Christians’ vision of the church are discussed. Our Christian predecessors’ envisioning and structuring of the church in each period of history are analyzed. This gives an idea of the need for reform and the challenges involved in this process, which are still faced by later generations. The historical survey reveals the development of the marks and the vision of the early Christians to represent the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church. In the conclusion, a preliminary dialogue is established between the vision of the early Pentecostals and the leaders of the AFMSA with regard to the structuring of the church and other expressions of the same vision. The next four chapters (2-5) address the significance of the specific marks in the Pentecostal Movement and the AFMSA. This is followed by a short analysis of the biblical foundation and the historical development of these marks in the history of the Christian church. The chapters are arranged according to the prominence of each mark in the Pentecostal Movement and the AFMSA. Chapter two therefore starts with the apostolicity that is followed by the holiness in chapter three, unity in chapter four and catholicity in chapter five. It becomes clear from chapter two that the Pentecostal Movement and the AFMSA want to restore the apostolic faith of the early Christians while the rest of the Christian church confess every Sunday through the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed that they believe they stand in the tradition of the apostles. The mark of holiness that is discussed in chapter three expresses the particular view of holiness held by Pentecostals. Biblical and historical connections are made between it and other Christian expressions revealing that we can all become true followers of Christ in holiness. Chapter four addresses the fact that the church has to accept that we exist as a unity in diversity. In chapter five, the linking of all traditions is established because all have the challenge to share their unique expression of God’s fullness with the universal Body of Christ. In chapter six, all the elements so far discussed: the vision of the church that was based on the Bible, and the history of the Pentecostal Movement, AFMSA and of the Christian Churches are summarized to gain an overall perspective. This is followed by an analysis of the vision of the church today and applied to the AFMSA. The AFMSA is encouraged to revision and restructure itself in the light of the apostolicity, holiness, unity and catholicity that are shared by the witnesses in Scripture and history so that it will be an example of God’s vision for the church and the world. iii From Vision to Structure DECLARATION I declare that FROM VISION TO STRUCTURE: ASSESSING THE APOSTOLIC FAITH MISSION OF SOUTH AFRICA IN THE LIGHT OF THE ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH is my own work, that it has not been submitted for any degree or examination in any other university and that all the sources I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by complete references. Full name : Daniël Nicolaas Andrew Date : ………………………………. Signed : ………………………………. iv From Vision to Structure ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1. Soli Deo Gloria – I give thanks to God for the ability and the opportunity to complete and share this thesis with others for His Glory. 2. My wife Hazel and son Deinol for their patience and support during the time of reading and writing. 3. AFM of SA and all the churches that allowed me to learn from them what it is to be part of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church. 4. Sarepta Theological College and especially the students that allowed me to share my ideas on topics with them and to be enriched in return. 5. The bursary department of UWC and the face that represented it, Mr Errol van der Merwe. 6. The National Research Council for the financial assistance. 7. Lindie Jantjies, for the typing of the thesis. 8. Professor Dirkie Smit, who believed in my ability and taught me to love the church, academy, and society. v From Vision to Structure TABLE OF CONTENTS Page TITLE PAGE i KEYWORDS ii ABSTRACT iii DECLARATION IV ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER ONE FROM VISION TO STRUCTURE: ASSESSING THE AFMSA 1.1 Assessing the Pentecostal Movement and the AFMSA 9 1.1.1 Pentecostal Movement 10 1.1.2 AFMSA 22 1.2. From vision to structure 25 1.3. The role of the Bible 44 1.3.1 Elements that describe a Pentecostal reading of the Bible 45 1.3.2 Metaphors in the Old Testament 53 1.3.3 Metaphors in the New Testament 56 1.4 Historical development of the doctrine of the church 63 1.5 Conclusion 71 CHAPTER TWO Q - WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN APOSTOLIC CHURCH? 75 2.1 The AFMSA and apostolicity 76 2.2 The Bible and apostolicity 82 2.3 The history of apostolicity in the church 86 2.4 Conclusion 97 CHAPTER THREE Q - WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A HOLY CHURCH? 102 3.1 The AFMSA and holiness 103 3.2 The Bible and holiness 110 3.3 The history of holiness in the church 114 3.4 Conclusion 128 vi From Vision to Structure CHAPTER FOUR Q - WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE ONE CHURCH? 133 4.1 The AFMSA and unity 134 4.2 The Bible and unity 144 4.3 The history of unity in the church 150 4.4 Conclusion 163 CHAPTER FIVE Q - WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A CATHOLIC CHURCH? 169 5.1 The AFMSA and catholicity 169 5.2 The Bible and catholicity 177 5.3 The history of catholicity in the Church 179 5.4 Conclusion 196 CHAPTER SIX THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE MARKS FOR THE VISION AND STRUCTURE OF THE AFMSA 201 6.1 The implications of apostolicity for the AFMSA 202 6.2 The implications of holiness for the AFMSA 208 6.3 The implications of unity for the AFMSA 215 6.4 The implications of catholicity for the AFMSA 221 6.5 Conclusion 226 BIBLIOGRAPHY 231 vii From Vision To Structure INTRODUCTION The Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa (hereafter referred to as the AFMSA) is presently involved in a process of major restructuring. In this process their practical decisions are informed by their vision of what the church should be. For any part of the Pentecostal Movement such a process poses major challenges. What is the ecclesiological vision of the AFMSA, do they have such a vision and how does institutional restructuring make sense in such a Pentecostal vision? In this study the concentration will not be on the abstract theoretical question of the institutionalisation of vision. This question will rather form the framework from which the process of institutionalisation that is presently happening in the AFMSA will be discussed. My focus on the AFMSA is therefore intended to make a contribution to the current process of revisioning in the church. The process of the institutionalisation of such a dynamic movement like the Pentecostal Movement is a well-known complex social theoretical question, but in that broad and general sense it is not what the problem statement of this thesis is all about. This specific question, namely how the AFMSA could move from vision to structure, of course calls for an answer to the question what the ecclesiological vision of the AFMSA is? It will be argued, based on the history of the AFMSA that at heart four aspects characterise the original vision and self-understanding of the AFMSA namely that it envision to be apostolic, holy, one and a church of fullness. The remarkable truth about this vision is that it corresponds precisely with the classic ecclesiological vision of the early church as expressed in the Creeds. The initial question underlying this thesis is therefore whether and how the AFMSA could benefit from this classic vision and from the biblical and historical insights and contributions supporting and informing this vision. The second, more practical question flowing from that will be how these so-called marks of the church thus were understood and received in the AFMSA and the systematic question how it should be received and embodied? Page -1- From Vision To Structure This question will be answered within the methodology of a Pentecostal framework. This will be done through an explanation of what the vision is, that already lives within the AFMSA and on, which they call intuitively.
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