ABCs of faith: beginning with Alpha

Christian Century, March 9, 2004 by Debra Bendis

But there are, obviously, lots of appreciative users across the denominations. Thomas W. Bentum, pastor of two United Methodist parishes in New Hampshire, finds Alpha's theology "consistent with orthodox Wesleyan theology. I think Wesley would be pleased at its appeal to the heart and the head. It is intelligent and yet there is concern that we experience our faith in Christ."

Peg Donner, Alpha coordinator at Laguna Presbyterian Church in Laguna Beach, California, reports that her church has adapted the course to fit its Reformed theology. It has "condensed the three Holy Spirit talks into two.... We make a reference to the gift of tongues, but only as one of many gifts given to believers. We have no conflict with Alpha's emphasis on the centrality of Christ's redeeming work and the importance of reading the Bible to a growing faith."

David Jamir of Baker Memorial United Methodist Church in St. Charles, Illinois, is on his eighth round of using the Alpha series. "This course is a mission, a ministry. Alpha is a great exposure for those who are willing to be vulnerable and say, 'I need to learn about what I believe.' It is a first step toward learning something deeper. After Alpha, I encourage them to take something more solid, like the 38-week Disciple Bible Study."

Some pastors, including Paul Stunkel of Joy Community Presbyterian Church in Lake in the Hills, Illinois, find Alpha's discussion of the Holy Spirit "refreshing" and use it as an introduction to teaching on the Holy Spirit. He has used Alpha for five years in this newly developed church. When people visit Joy, he reports, they are invited to try an Alpha class. "The program jumpstarts people's faith," says Stunkel. "It creates community and small groups."

Others, such as Dan Baumgartner of Bethany Presbyterian Church in Seattle, Washington, have customized the Holy Spirit presentation for their churches. "While Alpha's lectures on the Holy Spirit don't conflict with our denominational theology," says Baumgartner, "some of our churches are more comfortable than others with the emphasis on the Spirit's charismatic nature. Acknowledging that this is a sensitive area, we derided to present our own material on the Holy Spirit instead of using the tape."

What happens at Alpha? Here's how it is described on the Web site:

6:15 P.M.: The team meets to pray and prepare while members of the task force set out the chairs, prepare the dinner, etc.

7:00: Supper is served and the guests eat around tables in small groups.

7:40: A leader welcomes guests and leads the group in several praise songs.

8:00: Leaders and guests watch a video presentation on topics such as "'Who Is Jesus?," "Why Did Jesus Die?," "How Can I Be Sure of My Faith?" and "'Does God Still Heal Today?"

8:45: Coffee and cookies are served.

9:00: Guests split up into small groups of 10-12, with one or two people leading and two others helping. Guests may study the Bible, discuss the talk and ask questions. As the weeks progress, they may decide to pray together.