Alpha course

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The Alpha course is a course on the basics of the Christian faith, described as "an opportunity to explore the meaning of life".^[1] Alpha courses are currently being run in churches, homes, workplaces, prisons, universities and a wide variety of other locations. The course is being run around the world by all major Christian denominations.

Contents 1 History 2 Structure 3 Doctrine 4 Influences 5 Widely used 6 Critics 7 Books 8 Similar Courses 9 References 10 External links

[edit] History

Alpha was started by the Reverend Charles Marnham, a curate at Holy Trinity, Brompton, a Church of England parish in London. The name 'Alpha' was suggested by Marnham's wife, Tricia. It started as a course for church members on the basics of the Christian faith but then began to be used as an introduction for those interested in the faith. In 1990 the Reverend Nicky Gumbel, at that time a curate at Holy Trinity, took over the running of the course^[2] at the invitation of the Reverend Sandy Millar (the then vicar) and oversaw its revision and expansion.

In 2008 over 33,500 courses were offered in 163 countries by Anglican,Presbyterian, Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, British New Church Movement and Orthodox ^[2] churches and the Roman Catholic Church. By 2009 proponents claimed that over 13 million people worldwide had attended an Alpha course (two million in the UK).^[3]

[edit] Structure

The Alpha course is organized as a series of sessions over 10 weeks, typically preceded by an 'Alpha Supper' which often includes the talk "Is there more to life than this?" and with a day or weekend away which includes three or four of the talks asterisked [*] below. Each session starts with a meal, followed by a talk (often a video of one by Nicky Gumbel) and then discussion in small groups. The talks aim to cover the basic beliefs of the Christian faith. The complete list of talk titles, which follows the chapters of Gumbel's book Questions of Life, is:

Is there more to life than this? (previously Christianity: Boring, Untrue and Irrelevant?) Who is Jesus? Why did Jesus die? How can we have faith? Why and how do I pray? Why and how should I read the Bible? How does God guide us?

Who is the Holy Spirit? [*] What does the Holy Spirit do? [*] How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit? [*] How can I resist evil? Why and how should I tell others? Does God heal today? What about the church? How can I make the most of the rest of my Life? [*] [4]

Attenders are issued with The Alpha Course Manual, which contains an outline of each talk and space for making notes.

Special versions of the Alpha course tailored for specific demographics exist, including: Youth Alpha, Alpha for Prisons, Student Alpha, Alpha in the Workplace, Senior Alpha, Alpha for forces and Alpha in a Catholic Context. ^[5]

[edit] Doctrine

Alpha's teachings are intended to centre upon aspects of Christian faith on which all denominations are in general agreement. Gumbel says "What unites us is far greater than what divides us." Roman Catholic distinctives, such as those concerning the Virgin Mary and certain sacramental teachings are absent, as are Baptist teachings on baptism. Instead, individual churches are encouraged to provide follow-up courses of their own.

The New International Version of the Bible is quoted in the course materials. St Paul's reference to scripture being "God breathed" (2 Timothy 3:16) is referred to, although whether this view of scripture implies strict inerrancy is not made clear.

Within evangelical Protestantism the most controversial element of the Alpha Course is what is considered to be its charismatic slant. Three of the fifteen sessions are given to the person and work of the Holy Spirit and cover the infilling of the Spirit; speaking in tongues and healing via prayer. Conversion stories in the book of Acts (see 2:1ff, 9:17-19, 10:44-46, 19:1-6) are seen as normative.

[edit] Influences

A number of influences have been suggested, possibly the most influential has been the ministry of John Wimber who visited Holy Trinity Brompton a number of times during the 1980s and 1990s. It has also been suggested that Nicky Gumbel has been influenced by the ministry of E. J. H. Nash (Bash), an influential Anglican cleric who set out to evangelise "top boys at top schools",^[6] and who organised summer camps at Iwerne Minster in Dorset.^[7] It has been said that "Alpha can... be summed up as Bash camp rationalistic conservatism combined with Wimberist charismatic expressivism... this is a highly unusual, even paradoxical hybrid."^[8] Gumbel himself will only admit an indirect link.

[edit] Widely used

Although originating from the Evangelical Anglican tradition, it has subsequently been used by a variety of church traditions and groups. The Alpha course has been endorsed by a number of leaders, including many Roman Catholic cardinals, Anglican archbishops and bishops,^[9] and leading figures of all the main Christian denominations. The current Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams was an enthusiastic supporter when he was Bishop of Monmouth and Archbishop of Wales and has carried on his support into his new role,^[10] opening an Alpha conference and accepting an invitation to speak at an Alpha supper in London in 2004. He describes it as "a very special tool" and "a unique mixture of Christian content and Christian style".^[11] His predecessor, George Carey described the courses as "superb."^[12] Father Raniero Cantalamessa, a monk of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin and Preacher to the Papal Household for Pope Benedict XVI wrote a document praising Alpha in June 2005.^[13]

[edit] Critics

The Alpha course has been criticised for a charismatic emphasis. A particular problem for non-charismatic evangelicals is what is seen as Gumbel's emphasis upon the person and work of the Holy Spirit. As a result, some churches have chosen to teach a different view of the Holy Spirit, although this is discouraged in Gumbel's book How to Run the Alpha Course.

Because it has been recommended as supplementary reading, Gumbel's book, Searching Issues, has become a focus of criticism. There is a chapter criticising homosexual practice, although this is not unique to the Alpha course but part of the wider Evangelical context.^[14]

More conservative critics (especially from a Reformed and Evangelical perspective) have complained that the course does not adequately define sin and therefore does not properly explain the reason for Jesus's death and resurrection. The alternative Christianity Explored course is an attempt to go beyond what the Alpha Course teaches on sin.

The Revd Dr John Vincent of the Urban Theology Unit in Sheffield has suggested that Alpha presents too narrow a version of Christianity, and one too centred on what theologians have said about Jesus, rather than allowing students the freedom to draw their own inspiration from studying Jesus' life and teaching. "The Alpha course, because of its didactic style, its narrow-mindedness and its closed nature, doesn't facilitate alternative views," he says. "I happen to believe it therefore leads people into a self-centred religion which is not the same as the genuine Christian discipleship".^[15]

[edit] Books

Books for use with the course:

• Nicky Gumbel, Questions of Life (Kingsway Publications 2003). ISBN 1842911643
• Nicky Gumbel, Searching Issues (Kingsway Publications 2001). ISBN 0854767398
• The Alpha Manual (Alpha International Publications 2005). ISBN 1904074235

Books about the course:

• Andrew Brookes (Editor), The Alpha Phenomenon (Churches Together in Britain and Ireland^[16], 2007). ISBN 978-0-85169-331-6
• Stephen J. Hunt, The Alpha Enterprise: Evangelism in a Post-Christian Era (Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2004) ISBN 978-0-75465-036-2

[edit] Similar Courses

• Christianity Explored - based on the Gospel of Mark - a non-charismatic Conservative Evangelical alternative
• Living the Questions
• Cursillo a Catholic Movement
• Walk to Emmaus

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official Alpha Course website
• Website for those running Alpha Courses