Sword of the Spirit

The Sword of the Spirit is an international, ecumenical association of Christian communities within the charismatic movement.[3] As of 2017, the Sword of the Spirit is composed of 82 communities, 45 of which are Catholic.[1] The member communities are composed predominantly of laypersons.[2] The Sword of the Spirit is one of the largest federated networks of communities to come out of the Catholic charismatic renewal.[2][Note 1]

For the charitable organization, see Progressio (organization).
The Sword of the Spirit
Formation1982
FoundersRalph Martin and Steve Clark
HeadquartersAnn Arbor, Michigan[1]
Membership
10,000, as of 2008[2]
Websitewww.swordofthespirit.net

History

Background
Further information: Catholic charismatic renewal

In the 1960s, two Americans, Ralph C. Martin and Stephen B. Clark, founded The Word of God.[4]: 80, 87  Clark was born in 1940, and studied at Yale University, the University of Freiburg, and the University of Notre Dame.[3] Martin was a friend of Clark's, and the two of them had been deeply impacted by the Cursillo movement.[5] After some success bringing the Cursillo movement to a network of college groups, Clark and Martin experienced the charismatic renewal, which they began to write and teach about.[6]

Cardinal Leo Joseph Suenens was a supporter of Clark, Martin, and other early leaders of the Catholic charismatic renewal.[7] In 1972, Suenens visited the Word of God community, endorsed it, and encouraged its international expansion.[4]: 84  In response, within the same year Clark and Yocum founded the Servants of the Word, an ecumenical celibate brotherhood[2][8][4]: 84  of men who committed to lifelong service of Sword of the Spirit communities around the world.[2] Russ Bellant reports 100 members of the Servants of the Word, including Clark, in 1988, and describes the brotherhood as a "quasi-religious order".[9] Throughout the 1970s, Martin, Clark, and other leaders traveled internationally, sharing about the charismatic renewal, and planting the seeds for intentional communities.[6]

Between 1980 and 1981, Clark instituted a training course that relied heavily on the teachings of his 1980 book, Man and Woman in Christ. Thomas J. Csordas, an anthropology professor, states, "Clark's course made minutely explicit prescriptions for proper comportment, gender-appropriate dress, child-rearing practices, and the domestic division of labor. In addition, it identified global trends presumed to threaten the community mission of building the Kingdom of God—Islam, communism, feminism, and gay rights."[4]: 87  The training course was guided by a philosophy that imposed high demands on community members, and several members were effectively shunned for a failure to adhere to its principles, creating tensions within the community that would reverberate for more than a decade.[4]: 89–90 

Founding

In 1982, the communities that had chosen to align with Word of God were federated into a unified, international association.[4]: 13, 87 [6] Member communities submitted to governance of a council headed by Clark.[4]: 87 [10] Other prominent early members were the communities in Gaithersburg, Maryland and South Bend, Indiana.[10]: 286  While the Sword of the Spirit consisted primarily of Catholics, its membership was open to other Christians.[10]: 286  By 1988, Sword of the Spirit included 45 branches and associated communities, 22 of which were in the United States.[4]: 13–14  By 1989, Sword of the Spirit newsletters reported 10 branch communities, 24 affiliate groups, and 13 associated communities.[11]

Russ Bellant reports that Fr John Bertolucci (a leader of the Catholic branch of Sword of the Spirit) and Ralph Martin each received support from Tom Monaghan for their respective TV ministries during the 80's. Monaghan is also reported to have supported Sword of the Spirit programmes in South America. Fr Patrick Egan, who was the Domino's corporate chaplain is also reported as involved with the Sword of the Spirit via the Word of God Community, and the Christ the King parish.[9]

Split with Word of God

In 1991, a schism occurred.[12] Martin effectively renounced the rigid vision that guided the training course,[13] while Clark, though conceding the course had been awkwardly implemented, believed that its principles were sound and worthy of continued adherence.[4]: 93–94  Several communities, including the Word of God (led by Martin), adopted a new "allied" status—maintaining ties to the fellowship while also reclaiming autonomy that had been surrendered to the fellowship's leadership council.[4]: 90  [11] Servants of the Word, led by Clark, announced that it was an autonomous community not bound by the Word of God's decision, choosing instead to remain firmly within Sword of the Spirit.[4]: 90–91 

Meanwhile, throughout the 1990s, a number of Sword of the Spirit member communities were censured by Catholic bishops for excessively authoritarian practices. In 1990, for example, Bishop Albert Henry Ottenweller required the community in his diocese to separate from the Sword of the Spirit.[13][14] Similarly, the People of Hope, a Sword of the Spirit community in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, was strongly criticized by Archbishop Peter Leo Gerety and his successor Theodore McCarrick.[15][16] Accusations had been made against the People of Hope involving "abuse, mind control, elitist behavior and cult-like controls."[16] These concerns were addressed by 2007, when the People of Hope received official recognition from Archbishop John J. Myers.[16]

As of 2008, the Sword of the Spirit had 65 branches across 24 countries and approximately 10,000 total members.[2] In 2023, the Sword of the Spirit reported having 14,000 members.[17]

Description

The Sword of the Spirit describes itself as "a community of disciples on mission."[18]

Community life

The Sword of the Spirit is an association of 'covenant communities'.[19] In The New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements Thigpen describes the 'covenant' aspect of communities formed by Clark and Martin as involving "a commitment to at least some degree of sharing financial resources, regular participation in community gatherings, and submission to the direction of the group's designated authorities".[20]

After a period of formation and discernment, members have the opportunity to make a "public commitment", a commitment which "is open-ended in that members agree to remain part of the community unless the Lord clearly leads them elsewhere."[17] Occasionally, members "transfer their commitment from one SOS community to another, particularly when younger members marry between communities or are seeking to get established in a career and can do so better in another location."[2] Some member communities are Catholic associations of the Christian faithful.[1]

Gender roles

Gender roles within Sword of the Spirit communities have followed a conservative model of gender roles with patriarchal values, where males maintain headship over females within the communities.[4]: 118 

Leadership and organization

The individual members of Sword of the Spirit live in family households or households of single men or women. Each member is assigned a pastoral leader of the same gender.[2] According to Csordas, these pastoral leaders are similar to lay spiritual advisors, to which fully committed members are obedient on issues of morality, spirituality, and community order.[4]: 83  Members say that the possibility of coercion is mitigated by the fact that, generally speaking, the pastoral leaders give advice rather than orders, and that members usually have a close relationship with their pastoral leader.[4]: 83  Csordas speculates that this pastoral system is adapted from the Shepherding movement.[4]: 83 

According to Csordas, "community governance is organised at local, regional, and international levels. Leaders meet periodically at each of these levels, sometimes with separate meetings for male and female leaders. As one Sword of the Spirit Coordinator says, 'We try to do as much as possible at the local and regional levels'."[2] The communities are self-governing, but they share in the same support structure.[1]

Religious practices

Religious practice within the Sword of the Spirit include a range of practices from Pentacostalism. These practices have historically included Exorcism and Demonology, as well as practices seen elsewhere in Charismatic Christianity, such as Speaking in tongues, Spiritual gifts (or 'charisms'), Faith Healing and Prophecy.[21][22]

Outreach

In 2009, the Sword of the Spirit instituted a fellowship of celibate women called the Bethany Association.[2]

Kairos describe themselves as "the regional youth program of The Sword of the Spirit" with the objective of "serving Sword of the Spirit teens and their friends"[23] Kairos is linked with three global organisations: The Sword of the Spirit, University Christian Outreach and Saint Paul's Outreach.[24][25]

University Christian Outreach also describe themselves as an outreach of the Sword of the Spirit.[26] This organisation aims to achieve strategic outreach and community building at university campuses.[27]

The Brotherhood of Hope are a member community of the Sword of the Spirit dedicated to college campus ministry.[28][29]

NET Ministries were founded at the Community of Christ the Redeemer (which is a member community of the Sword of the Spirit). The current NET president, Berchem, is a coordinator at the Community of Christ the Redeemer.[1]

'Brothers' from Servants of the Word are active in various youth outreaches such as Kairos, University Christian Outreach and Youth Initiatives.[30]

Sexual Abuse Controversy

Civil lawsuits were entered against the Sword of the Spirit and Servants of the Word leadership following the conviction of Jamie Treadwell for sexual abuse of children, and further allegations of sexual abuse of children against Ed Conlin,[31] both who were members of Servants of the Word at the reported times.[31][32] Sword of the Spirit and Servants of the Word leadership admitted to knowing of previous allegation concerning these individuals dating back decades.[31][32][33]

Reception

Margaret Atwood has said that her 1985 book, The Handmaid's Tale, was partially inspired by "a Catholic charismatic spinoff sect, which calls the women handmaids."[34] In other interviews, pointing to an Associated Press clipping from her archives, she identified that sect as People of Hope.[34] However, subsequent investigations revealed that the newspaper clipping Atwood shared in an interview was published after the publication of her book, calling into doubt whether the article actually served as inspiration for Atwood.[34][35]

In 1997, theologian Adrian Reimers, a former member of the People of Praise, wrote a scathing critique of the People of Praise, Sword of the Spirit, and similar groups, alleging "the abuse of authority" among the organizations' leadership.[36] Reimers claimed that such renewal groups, while containing many "positive signs," diminish individual autonomy and believe that the Catholic Church is "unable to support an authentic Christian life" apart from renewal communities.[37]

Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, who formerly described himself as "a strong adversary" of the charismatic movement, claims to have experienced baptism in the Holy Spirit through a ministry which would later become the People of Hope, which is now a Sword of the Spirit community.[16]

In a 2010 synodal proceeding, George Bacouni, an archbishop of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, commended the catechetical approach of the Sword of the Spirit as a model for the Eastern Catholic Churches.[38] According to George Bacouni, the Sword of the Spirit "is not solely aimed at education of the mind but rather at bringing the faithful to a personal relationship with Jesus, a discovery of their call and mission, and to a deeper communion with the Church."[38]

Notable members

See also

References

Explanatory Notes
  1. Other associations of communities to emerge include the People of Praise, the Emmanuel Community, the Mother of God Community network, the European Network of Communities, and the Catholic Fraternity of Charismatic Covenant Communities and Fellowships. Rush, Theophane (1994). "Covenant Communities in the United States". Pneuma. 16 (1): 233–245. doi:10.1163/157007494X00210. Retrieved 28 November 2020.

Citations
  1. Klemond, Susan (15 July 2017). "Families, Young People Strong in Faith Are Fruit of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal". NCR. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  2. Csordas, Thomas J (2012). "A global geography of the spirit: the case of Catholic Charismatic communities". International Social Science Journal. 63 (209–210): 171–183. doi:10.1111/issj.12024.
  3. Thiselton, Anthony C. (2013). The Holy Spirit: In Biblical Teaching, Through the Centuries, and Today. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. p. 369. ISBN 978-0-8028-6875-6.
  4. Csordas, Thomas J. (2001). Language, Charisma, and Creativity: Ritual Life in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. University of California Press.
  5. Kangas, Billy (29 September 2020). "Amy Coney Barrett, Stephen B. Clark and the Origins of "Covenant Communities"". The Orant. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  6. Kangas, Billy (3 July 2022). "Charismatic Ambassadors: How the Charismatic Renewal Fueled the Rise of Covenant Communities". Liturgy. 37 (3): 20–27. doi:10.1080/0458063X.2022.2085969. S2CID 251286266.
  7. Diamond, Sara. Spiritual Warfare: The Politics of the Christian Right. London: Pluto Press. pp. 126–127.
  8. Roberts, Judy (2002-05-19). "Charismatic Renewal Moves Into Church Mainstream". National Catholic Register. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
  9. Bellant, Russ (November 18, 1988). "When Right Goes Wrong". Vol. 25, no. 5. National Catholic Reporter.
  10. Bernard, David K (1999). A History of Christian Doctrine (PDF). Word Aflame Press.
  11. Rush, Theophane (1994). "Covenant Communities in the United States". Pneuma. 16 (1): 233–245. doi:10.1163/157007494X00210. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  12. Csordas, Thomas J. (December 2009). "Growing up Charismatic: Morality and Spirituality among Children in a Religious Community". Ethos Journal of the Society for Psychological Anthropology. 37 (4): 414–440. doi:10.1111/j.1548-1352.2009.01067.x. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  13. Jones, Arthur (18 April 1997). "Communities falter under heavy hands". National Catholic Reporter.
  14. Gillis, Justin (13 April 1997). "Rise and Fall of a Religious Community". Washington Post.
  15. "Sect Causes Split in Jersey Parish". New York Times. May 4, 1986. p. 64.
  16. Allen, John (22 February 2007). "Charges of 'cult-like' behavior against NJ charismatics resolved, Myers says". National Catholic Reporter.
  17. "About Us". Sword of the Spirit. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  18. "Our Call". The Sword of the Spirit. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  19. Csordas, Thomas J. (2012). Language, charisma, and creativity : ritual life in the Catholic charismatic renewal (1st pbk. ed.). New York: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 80–83. ISBN 9780230341104.
  20. Paul, Thigpen (1988). Dictionary of Pentecostal and charismatic movements (PDF). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Regency Reference Library. p. 190. ISBN 9780310441007.
  21. Csordas, Thomas J. (2001). Language, Charisma, and Creativity: Ritual Life in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. University of California Press. p. 87.
  22. Clark, Stephen (2011). The Life in the Spirit Seminars Team Manual (PDF) (Catholic Edition (2011) ed.). 4828 S. Hagadorn Road East Lansing, Michigan 48823: Tabor House. Retrieved 6 December 2020.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  23. "About". kairos-na.org. Kairos.
  24. "Our Global Network". kairos-eme.org. Kairos.
  25. "Kairos North America Youth Culture newsletter" (PDF). kairos-na.org. Kairos.
  26. "Support a Missionary". ucoweb.org. University Christian Outreach.
  27. "Mission". ucoweb.org. University Christian Outreach.
  28. "Come and See: Our Personalized Approach to Discipleship with College Students". Living Bulwark.
  29. "Then & Now: Special Moments in Our History". brotherhoodofhope.org. Brotherhood of Hope.
  30. "Evangelism and Youth Outreach". servantsoftheword.org. Servants of the Word.
  31. Smith, Lindsey (June 14, 2023). "More sexual assault survivors connected to Michigan-based religious groups surface". Michigan Radio.
  32. Smith, Lindsey. "Man investigated by Michigan Radio sentenced to probation, will be on sex offender registry". Michigan Radio.
  33. Smith, Lindsey (Jan 30, 2020). "Multiple families accused man "living single for the Lord" of child sexual assault. He's still free". Michigan Radio.
  34. Grady, Constance (October 27, 2020). "The false link between Amy Coney Barrett and The Handmaid's Tale, explained". Vox.
  35. Deignan, Tom (May 16, 2017). "How a little known sect is Jersey's own 'Handmaid's Tale'". NJ.com.
  36. Shimron, Yonat (6 July 2018). "Judge Amy Coney Barrett and her ties to the People of Praise and Catholic charismatics". Religion News Service. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  37. Reimers, Adrian J. (1997). Not Reliable Guides: An Analysis of Some Covenant Community Structures. South Bend, IN. pp. 126–134.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  38. "Bulletin Synodus Episcoporum: Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops". www.vatican.va. October 24, 2010. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  39. Smith, Peter. "Father Scanlan's legacy: a conservative Catholic citadel on the Ohio River". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  40. Cahiles-Magkilat, Bernie (15 June 2022). "Ex-DPWH chief Singson is new MAP president". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  41. Chee Kee, Raoul J. (18 August 2013). "Chito Sobrepeña–Why giving back to society has been his life's work". Lifestyle.INQ. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
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