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An Examination and Analysis of the Historical Development of the Local Church Movement from an Asian Woman’s Perspective

從亞洲女性角度審視和分析地方教會運動的歷史發展

In: Review of Religion and Chinese Society
Author:
Janice Chan School of Mission and Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary Pasadena, CA USA

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https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1156-7152
Online Publication Date:
02 Dec 2024
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Abstract

An examination of the Local Church movement reveals that the major revivalists in the early twentieth century were predominantly women. Yet, most historical sources identify and honor only men as founders and label women as helpers. This has significantly impacted how the church remembers women’s contributions. Although the Local Church often attracts criticism from mainline Protestants because of its unique contextualized theology, members of the communities vigorously defend and advocate for their standpoints. An analysis of the Local Church’s theological development shows that its ecclesiology has been dramatically influenced by the mystical tradition, the Brethren movement, and allegorized and unconventional biblical interpretations of the Local Church. This study engages in a theological dialogue with Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen to call for Christian leaders to widen, deepen, and rethink their understanding of the Local Church movement as its members continue to shape the development of ecclesiology and their practices in the Chinese diaspora.

中文摘要

在審視地方教會運動中揭示，在二十世纪初期，主要的教會復興領袖多為女性。然而，大多數的歷史資料只認定和尊崇男性作為創始人，而稱女性為助手。這深遠地影響了教會如何記念女性的貢獻。儘管地方教會經常因其獨特的本色化神學而受到主流新教人士的批評，而那些屬於地方教會的成員仍強烈地辯護和倡議他們的立場。在分析其神學發展顯示，其教會論深受奧秘傳統、弟兄運動，以及地方教會寓意式和非常規性的聖經詮釋影響。本研究與卡維里展開神學對話，籲基督教領袖擴闊、深化並重新思考對地方教會運動的理解，因為地方教會仍繼續塑造及影響在流散中的華人教會學的發展及踐行。
Title:
An Examination and Analysis of the Historical Development of the Local Church Movement from an Asian Woman’s Perspective
Article Type:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1163/22143955-12340024
Language:
English
Pages:
17–30
Keywords:
Chinese church history; Local Church movement; Brethren movement; mystical tradition; Chinese female evangelist; Watchman Nee; ecclesiology;
In:
Review of Religion and Chinese Society
In:
Volume 11: Issue 1
Received:
11 Oct 2023
Accepted:
12 Jun 2024
Publisher:
Brill
E-ISSN:
2214-3955
Print ISSN:
2214-3947
Subjects:
Religion in Asia, Religious Studies, China, Asian Studies, Religion, Sociology of Religion, Religion & Society, Social Sciences

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