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cc-denomination

Page history last edited by PBworks 17 years, 9 months ago

Is Calvary Chapel a Denomination?

 

Calvary often bills itself as not being a denomination, but in fact meets all of the qualifications of a denomination. The standard work in the field, Walter A. Elwell's, Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, defines a denomination as:

 

An association of congregations ... that have a common heritage. A denominational heritage normally includes doctrinal or experiential or organizational emphasis and also frequently includes common ethnicity, language, social class, and geographical origin. However, many or all of these once common features have usually evolved into considerable contemporary diversity, especially in older and larger denominations.

 

Elwell later makes a further insightful comment that could have been written directly to Calvary Chapel:

 

One response has been to oppose denominations and to urge all true Christians to leave them and simply meet as churches of Christ, Christian churches, churches of God, disciples, brethren, Bible churches, evangelical churches, and similar inclusive names. Despite obvious appeal in times of denominational confusion, strife, and declension, the reality is that no such movement has anywhere attracted most Christians to itself. Instead this has been just another way of increasing the number of denominations --- and sects ---usually with the group's reluctance to admit it.

 

Sound familiar anyone? This page refers to Calvary Chapel as a denomination, since it is a convenient classification for this task. It also matches the reality.

 

Although Calvary Chapel claims to not be against denominations, many condemnations of both individual denominations and denominationalism can be found in Smith's sermons. These are documented here.

 

Pastor Chuck Smith was asked on June 6, 1997 on TEMAA why Calvary Chapel claims to not be a denomination. Smith responded with two reasons why Calvary Chapel in his opinion is not a denomination:

 

  • No central office/reports
  • No top leader

 

#1 is refuted here.

 

(For those not in the know, "Big Calvary" is Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa).

 

#2 - Is clearly refuted by the statements above. The very fact that Pastor Chuck Smith can set policy for the denomination and can throw out individual churches from the denomination disproves the point.


The Non-Denominational Denomination

Is Calvary a Denomination?

Dave Rolph wrote in the phoenixpreacher BLOG

 

The argument about denominationalism and Calvary could go on forever, without resolution. ... If you want to believe that CC is a denomination then you should at least concede that it is unlike any other denomination. No denomination that I know of is so loosely structured, with no support from its member churches, no requirements for ordination (and no central ordaining group), no central governing officials, no denominational office...

 

This is the case for what Dave considers Calvary to not be a denomination. Here's the reasons:

 

1. loosely structured

2. no support from member churches

3. no requirement for ordination

4. no central ordaining group

5. no central governing officials

6. no denominational office

 

 

Let's examine each of these and see if they are relevant to the question of whether CC is a denomination or not.

 

Loosely Structured

This is a pretty subjective definition. Calvary Chapel's share the same name and are a franchise like any other denomination.

 

Although CC does not have congregational polity, many churches which have congregational polity in their local churches are also loosely structured in their connection to the denomination. In many such cases the denomination cannot remove a local pastor since the call of a pastor comes from the church.

 

No Support from Member Churches

Perhaps it is true that Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa does not recieve regular offerings from the local churches but does that imply that the local churches do not support Costa Mesa? Costa Mesa publishes materials which the local churches purchase. Costa Mesa controls the Bible College which local churches send kids to. There is support for the denomination that goes to the denominational structures.

 

No requirement for ordination

Ordination does appear to be somewhat fluid in Calvary Chapel. It seems that the method of ordination with Calvary Chapel is to have pastors ordain other pastors rather than the ordination coming from the denomination. It may surprise Dave, but that has parallels to some other denominations. The pastors are part of the ministerium and are ordained through the ministerium not through the denomination. There is a one to one correspondence between the ministerium and the pastors of the denomination. Do Calvary pastors pay yearly dues to a ministerial association for Calvary Chapel pastors or do the costs of running the yearly pastor's conferences include this as a hidden charge?

 

No central ordaining group

There are other denominations which do not have a central ordaining group.

 

No central governing officials

Certainly this is the key point. Other groups have elected denomination official and separately elected ministerial officials. Calvary Chapel has regional pasts which seem to cover both.

 

No denominational office

What is the CCOF but this?

 

How does CC describe itself?

CC describes itself as a "church", a "movement" and a "fellowship".

 

Definition of Denomination

The definition of denomination from wikipedia is:

 

A religious denomination, (also simply denomination) is a large, long-established subgroup within a religion that has existed for many years.

 

What Makes CC a Denomination?

 

1. A sense of a cohering self identity.

2. Certification by a central authority of who is CC (the CCOF).

3. CC has distinctives. These are available in a book form.

4. Distinct form of church governance - polity.

5. The distinctives include a certain position on particular subjects, such as a rejection of five point Calvinism and an acceptance of a Dispensational framework for eschatology.

6. A written history "A Venture in Faith" of the church.

7. CCCM houses CCOF.


Another view of Calvary and denominationalism

 

Someone commented that:

 

I still crack up when CC claims to NOT be a denomination. Why, then, the Distictives book? It shows how CC is different from all the other religious organizations. There is an authority structure that is followed in (most) all CC’s - i.e. monarchy, and basically each CC service is run the same - they say the same things, teach the same stuff, quote each other, sell each other’s books - sniff,sniff - just like DENOMINATIONS!

 

Maybe we could think of it this way.

 

Calvary Chapel is not a denomination since denominations don't have their policies set by one person, they have committees to determine policies. Calvary Chapel has Chuck to set all policies. He doesn't need external council since he's all knowing.

 

Calvary Chapel is not a denomination because denominations get to vote on new policies and at Calvary Chapel there are no votes. Chuck decides what the new policies are and you get an email telling you that your church has just become more restrictive.

 

Calvary Chapel is not a denomination because in denominations the President is elected by the pastors and or members of the church. At Calvary Chapel the leader is Chuck Smith and he's elected for life.

 

Calvary Chapel is not a denomination because denominations have accountability structures in place to investigate abusive situations up to the very top level. Calvary Chapel has no accountability in place at any level. The only accountability is downflowing, not upflowing.

 

Calvary Chapel is not a denomination because it is a personality cult.

 


 

Even more thoughts on this

I think I’ve made a strategic mistake over the years by trying to convince CCites that they are really a denomination. If we take them at their word then they are not a denomination. If they were a denomination they could put in place ethical standards. Since they are not a denomination they are unable to police themselves.

 

The wiser strategy is to characterize them as a sect, which they are, since they are sectarian. They are a disorganized sect.

 

I think we should encourage them to organize into a real denomination so that they can deal with things like this.

 

Legal Issues

Nobody should downplay the legal aspect. As long as the Great Leader keeps this organization a non-denomination he can always distance himself from any problem. I don’t think it would survive legal challenge but I would not be surprised to see the Great Leader bankroll lawsuits against rogue elements in order to keep himself from being named. He really is the deep pocket in all of this.

 

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